Swing & Soiree attendees dream big and help non-profit raise $1 million for charity

At the sold-out Lucky Duck Foundation Swing & Soiree event on Sept. 28 Co-Founder Pat Kilkenny announced that if the event raised $350,000 he would not only match the donation, as he has done in years past, he would make up the difference between funds raised and $1 million. The event’s auctions, raffles and paddle raises collected over $450,000 and now the Lucky Duck Foundation’s beneficiaries will be receiving their largest sums from the organization to date.

One-hundred and thirty-six golfers attended the shot gun shamble golf tournament at the Santaluz Club and nearly 300 people attended the evening party in a tent decorated by Haute Fetes Weddings & Events. The theme of the night was “Dream Big” and attendees did just that opening their hearts and wallets.

ESPN Sportscaster Neil Everett emceed this year’s evening program and NBA great Bill Walton gave a touching tribute to Fanconi Anemia Research Fund founder Dave Frohnmayer and Fanconi Anemia Research Fund supporter Mark Sciarretta. Both passed away this year from cancer.

The Swing & Soiree is an annual golf and fundraising event at the Santaluz Club put on by the non-profit Lucky Duck Foundation. Pat and Stephanie Kilkenny started the organization in 2005 to raise funds and awareness for charitable causes. The $1 million raised will be divided between the Lucky Duck Foundation’s four beneficiaries, the Helen Woodward Animal Center, the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, Father Joe’s Villages and the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Check presentations will happen this fall.

The proceeds raised at the 2015 Swing & Soiree brings the total amount of money raised by the Lucky Duck Foundation since its founding to just under $6,000,000.

Photos by Scott Martin.