Geno Auriemma’s
Fore the Kids Charity Golf Tournament

Hartford Golf Club, West Hartford, CT
Monday, June 24, 2019
Program Booklet 2019 Photo Gallery

In June, golfers at the 17^th Annual Geno Auriemma’s Fore the Kids Charity Golf Tournament “teed it up” for babies like Ava and Isabella Caramata, raising funds for a new transport isolette needed to transport premature and critically ill babies to Connecticut Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) in Hartford and Farmington for expert care.

This year, tournament sponsors, 184 golfers and 230 dinner guests came together to give $388,000 toward the purchase of a new NICU transport isolette for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit transport team, as well as a highly specialized spinal surgery table for patients undergoing complex spine surgeries in the Division of Orthopedics. Over the past 17 years, the Geno Auriemma Fore the Kids Charity Golf tournament has raised more than $2 million to benefit patient care at Connecticut Children’s.

In addition to hearing the Camarata family’s story, attendees heard from 13-year-old Shemar Williams, a patient of Jeffrey Thomson, MD. Shemar was born with scoliosis and is undergoing successful treatment with MAGEC rod technology, which uses external magnets to make spinal adjustments instead of surgeries.

Other special guests at this year’s tournament included Booger McFarland, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, an ESPN personality and co-host of Monday Night Football. He and Geno joined golfers on a par three.

Read on to learn how the transport isolette played a critical role in saving Ava’s life and keeping the Caramata family together.

Schedule of Events

10:30 a.m.
Brunch and Driving Range Open

12:00 p.m.
Shotgun Start, Shamble Format
Food, Drink and Entertainment Stations on the Course

5:00 p.m.
Cocktail Hour featuring a Closest to the Pin Shootout with Geno Auriemma and special guest!

6:00 p.m.
Dinner Reception by Geno’s Grille Silent Auction and Awards

Where will the proceeds go?

Geno Auriemma’s Fore the Kids Charity Golf Tournament will provide Connecticut Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with a new transport isolette: a self-contained, high-performance transport incubator. As a Level IV NICU, the highest level trauma certification, the Medical Center treats the sickest infants in the region. Last year more than 300 newborns were transported to Connecticut Children’s from regional hospitals, and this new isolette will enhance the care we can provide to these tiny patients on their way to Connecticut Children’s.

Proceeds will also fund the purchase of a highly specialized Spinal Surgery Table for patients undergoing complex spine surgeries while being cared for by Connecticut Children’s  Division of Orthopedics. Surgeons will be able to more easily position, rotate and stabilize their patients using this highly specialized device. This equipment will bring next-level care and positive outcomes to children with spinal issues and deformities.