Root Center Hosts First Golf Tournament

April 20th, 2026

Our FIRST EVER Charity Golf Tournament was a Hole in One! This event was so special to us, and we are so thrilled to have been able to host such a successful day for all of our golfers and guests! We're also excited to be able to donate 100% of proceeds from this fundraiser to Executive Director Maryellen Shuckerow and St. Vincent de Paul Middletown to help them continue their amazing and crucial community work.

Pictured: Jenn Succi, CFO, Maryellen Shuckerow, SVDM Executive Director, Margaux Farrell, COS, Ashley Hickey, COO, Steven Zuckerman, CEO and President, Gene Lucera, Mayor of Middletown,

Paul McLaughlin, Root Former CEO, and more!

Despite a rainy forecast, we hosted nearly 100 golfers! Luckily, most players were able to finish their games by the time the rain started, or were having so much fun they kept playing anyway!

After the game was a lovely banquet catered by Lyman Orchard Golf Club. We also heard speeches from Root CEO, Steven Zuckerman, St. Vincent de Paul's Executive Director and Board President, and the new Middletown Mayor, Gene Lucera!


We also held raffle drawings for our more than 30 prizes! From paintings to spa services, and even luxury vacation vouchers, we had some great gifts donated.


At the end of the day, everyone went home with their very own famous Lyman Apple Pie. To add to the goodness, all pies not taken home were donated to St. Vincent de Paul's food kitchen, and we were told they were a huge hit!


Check out the video from the day (and some amazing swings from our players!)

This event was such an honor to put on, but we couldn't have done it without the support and love from our communities. We received more than 30 unique sponsors, many donors supporting multiple sponsorships, and all of our raffle prizes were charity donations. Even our volunteers, registering players, selling mulligans on the golf course, and helping keep the day running smoothly were so important to the success of this tournament, and we couldn't be more grateful.

At the end of the day, Root Center was able to raise $25,000 to donate to St. Vincent de Paul. Maryellen and her organization have been crucial to Root Center's success in Middletown, from testifying on our behalf during Town Halls when we were working to bring our services, including methadone treatment, to recommending our services to clients when they need mental health care. We couldn't think of a better organization to donate 100% of the proceeds of this event to, and we are so grateful to be in partnership with SVDM. We know this donation will help St. Vincent de Paul continue to do the life saving and invaluable community work they do every day, to help our communities live well-fed, warm, and dignified lives, especially in an emergency or crisis.

So thank you again to everyone who made this event possible, from sponsors to players, and everyone in between!

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