By Laura Lane
But mostly, the 250 people came to the Cherry Valley Club in Garden City to show their support for the Sloane family, who lost their eldest son, Scott, in a car accident last March. The 17-year-old died from injuries sustained after he lost control of his car on Old Country Road while driving to Chaminade High School.
Although no witnesses came forward, police surmised that the accident was caused by rain-slicked road conditions, which they believe may have caused the car to spin out before it hit a LIPA pole just east of Glen Cove Road.
The loss to the community was as unlikely as it was tremendous. The popular teen had not only been a stellar baseball and basketball player as well as a top-notch student, but from all accounts, he was an all-around nice kid.
Devastated by the loss, members of the community pulled together to organize the Oct. 12 golf event. Their hope was to both comfort the family and honor Scott Sloane.
"We all felt helpless and wanted to take away the family's pain, but couldn't do anything," said Brian Sheehan, an event organizer and Central Nassau Athletic Association board member. "We asked Steve [Sloane, Scott's father, also a board member of CNAA] if he would be comfortable with this, and when he said yes, we went for it. We wanted to do something positive to make sense out of a senseless situation, something positive to remember Scott."
In a matter of months, the fund-raiser blossomed into a foundation. "The Scott Sloane Foundation was created from the love for life we all shared with Scott," said his mother, Debbie. "His positive outlook and charming ways inspired us to reach out to others."
The schedule at the first Scott Sloane Foundation Annual Golf Classic included brunch, golf, a cocktail hour and dinner. The event boasted many fine raffle prizes, including a trip to Puerto Rico, opera tickets, play tickets and a golf excursion to Hilton Head Island, S.C. Local merchants donated gift certificates, and many people from the community either attended or donated money to the foundation.
"The 18th hole was sponsored by Scott's friends and dedicated to him," Debbie said. "Some who couldn't come sent donations from college, and others are here today, like A.J. Voelpel, Dan Carr and John Matuzzi."
Gerard Gordon, another CNAA board member and friend, helped organize the event. He helped create the event brochure and logotype. Gordon also had experience handling sponsorships for CNAA.
He, Sheehan and fellow organizers found 20 sponsors who donated thousands of dollars and 40 tee sign sponsors who had their names displayed on signs at the various holes. Gordon had some blank signs on hand at the event as well, for anyone who wanted to add to the total. Overall, the event raised about $50,000.
"This was beyond our wildest dreams, the number of people we have here and the amount of donations we have received," Gordon said. "For every category of sponsorship, we have received multiple sponsors, and up to the last minute the community has asked what they can do. This was great that Debbie and Steve could transfer their grief into a positive cause."
This year, the foundation chose to lend its support to the Long Island Head Injury Association. Debbie said the Sloane family chose this organization because they could relate to families with children suffering from head trauma.
The foundation will continue to pursue its goal, to assist families who are faced with tremendous medical challenges, in the future. Debbie is also looking to create a defensive-driving program for Nassau County and hopes to not only support the program with foundation money but also receive grants. The costly program, which is offered out West, teaches maneuvering skills in all types of weather and road conditions and is specifically geared toward new drivers. Debbie believes it could help save young lives.
Trinka Irwin has known the Sloane family for many years. At Cherry Valley, she helped register the golfers. Describing herself as someone who knew Scott well and was his "math buddy," she said she missed him. "I think he would have approved of this," Irwin said, as she looked up toward the sky and smiled. "I think he's smiling."
To donate to the Scott Sloane Foundation, mail checks to 7 Polo Lane, Westbury, N.Y. 11590.
