Hitting the Green Pre-Covid Style
The 2021 MIRA Golf Outing resembled the events of past years, pre-covid, with the dinner back inside the ballroom at Fox Hills Golf and Banquet Center in Plymouth. This year, 230 golfers teed off and hit 18 holes – each sponsored by a different company.
“This is a great event,” said Mark Seman, an avid golfer. “I get invited to play by Ron Garmo of Running Right Heating & Cooling and MIRA always puts on a top-notch golf outing. Fox Hills course is a great course to play.”
“It is one of the best golf outings in town,” said Andrew Perlin, golfing in the Running Right foursome. “Our team loves golfing this course and attending this event. The food is always good and the raffle prizes are items you want to win.”
This year’s event resembled more of the golf outing pre-COVID. “A big difference this year from last year was having two courses since we were only able to have one last year,” said Andrea Hesano, MIRA event coordinator. “Covid hit us hard last year and we were able to overcome the challenges this year.”
Like in past years, MIRA raffled off several prizes including a TV, an iPad, a Dyson Vacuum, liquor baskets, a fire pit, a Bose speaker, Apple Watch, Apple Airpods, Apple Homepod Mini, Keurig, Lg 55” TV, Bose Soundlink Mini, two liquor baskets, Red Wings Basket, Golf Basket, Coolers & Firepit.
Every year there is a list of companies that support the annual outing; 25 different companies sponsored the event this year.
“We have been sponsoring it for 15 to 20 years,” said Tony Franchi, senior vice president of sales forLipari Food. “It so great to get back to normal and be back inside the banquet hall here. It is such a fun event, meeting with people in our industry. It is why we attend. I golf, not particularly good, but it’s always a great time.”
His sons golf but Saad Abbo attends mainly for the conversations. “This golf outing is the best place to meet people in the industry,” said Saad Abbo, owner of US Ice. “It’s in the top best five events to attend every year. No one should ever miss this outing.”
“Prairie Farms believes in supporting the community,” said Dave Orlando, regional sales manager at Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. “We have been part of MIRA for many years. It is a great organization that gives all members a platform and we will always support MIRA and their events.”
The former president and CEO of MIRA attended the event as the president and CEO of Benchmark Beverage Company and a sponsor of the golf outing. “MIRA was created to help retailers and Benchmark was created with the same ethos, said Auday Arabo, president of Benchmark Beverage. “When they asked us to sample some of our products, we were happy to supply the samples because our philosophy is ‘liquid to lips’ meaning the more people who try it, the more people like the products. We sponsor the event because it’s a win/win scenario.”
In addition to the raffle prices, MIRA also offered a cash prize raffle. The winner of the 50/50 raffle took home a $1,000. “Thank you to all of our sponsors of today’s event,” said Ed Weglarz, president and CEO. “Thanks to all of you – our golfers – who come out and support this event ever year.”
