Back to Golfing Even during the Pandemic

Golfing demands and helps develop adaptability. Thanks to this skill, organizers and players at the 19th FIDEC Open Golf in Miami proved to be up to the challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and prevented the interruption of this traditional fund-raising event to support the Foundation’s programs. The tournament was held on October 10, 2020 at Trump National Doral.

Due to the sanitary situation, a double tee start was used in this competition, unlike previous ones. This helped players keep social distancing and follow the protocol for COVID-19 prevention and control. A total of 84 competitors were from Miami and only 3 traveled from Argentina. Among them were professional golfer Andrés Romero and retired tennis player Juan “Pico” Mónaco. Kaluz sponsored lunch as in 2019, and Kamsa gifted beverages that were distributed while golfers waited to tee off.

The warm and sunny day was also ideal for tasting some refreshing ice cream donated by Freddo. As the game progressed, the joy of golfing peaked for Federico Arrosa when his precise stroke earned him a hole in one  (par-3). He gained not only the admiration of the other players, but also the 15,000-dollar prize courtesy of Fortune International and awarded by Bruno Ricci.

At the end of the day, players took home a bottle of wine, courtesy of Graziano’s, to enjoy during the virtual award ceremony via Zoom. In compliance with COVID-19 restrictions, this alternative allowed the participation of many spectators from other countries, who were unable to assist due to the pandemic. It also reminded everyone a bit more of the warmth that characterizes the face-to-face ceremony.

Before the award ceremony, Dr. Daniel Stamboulian referred to COVID-19 and summarized the main achievements of FIDEC and FUNCEI between 2019 and 2020. Afterwards, Norberto Spangaro, who collaborates with the Open Golf since its first edition, handled the auction and the draw, and announced the winners. We would also like to highlight the support of Argentine businessman Oscar Korovaichuk, who not only helped with the awards ceremony, but also with the charity campaign that FIDEC carries out in Chaco.

The funds raised in 2020 were used to buy medical supplies that FIDEC donated to Dr. Arturo Illia Rural Hospital in El Sauzalito, a town in the province of Chaco (Argentina). In April 2021, FIDEC arranged for FUNCEI’s team pediatrician Micaela Sogga to visit El Sauzalito, deliver the supplies, and examine over ninety children living in extreme poverty. She concluded that malnutrition is one of the main local problems  and that it should be urgently addressed. This situation led FIDEC to draw up the campaign Primeros 1.000 Días de Alimentación Para Una Vida Sana (First 1000 Days of Nutrition for a Healthy Life), which will be financed with the funds raised at the 20th Open Golf. This campaign includes virtual meetings and regular visits from specialists in pediatric infectious diseases, in order to train mothers and healthcare workers on how to prevent infections during a vital stage in child growth and development.

As in every event, we would also like to acknowledge the collaboration of FIDEC’S volunteers: Sossie Stamboulian, Gustavo Kardjian, Valeria Rotholc, Luján Soler, Paulina Montes, Laura Regalini, Karina Pineda, Vanesa Carusso, María Paz Victoria, and Caroline Schmidt. High-school students also generously helped during the event. Their time and effort were crucial for organizing the tournament.