ILWU golf tournaments raise money for local community
Two recent annual ILWU golf tournaments—the Tri-Party Golf Tournament in Southern California and the Wesley Furtado Golf Tournament in Hawaii—provided participants with a fun day of golfing while doing the important work of raising money for local communities.
Wesley Furtado Golf Tournament
The Second Annual Wesley Furtado Golf Tournament was held on August 9 in memory of longtime ILWU International Vice President (Hawaii). Wes passed away on March 15, 2020, at 64. He was a second-generation longshore worker from a working-class family. He became a widely respected leader within the ILWU and the labor movement for his fierce commitment to unions, devotion to social justice, and considerable organizing and negotiating skills.
The Wesley Furtado Golf Tournament raises money for a scholarship created in Furtado’s name that benefits students from the Hawaii longshore community with preference given to Native Hawaiians and qualifying students based on financial need and academic merit.
Tri-Party Golf Tournament
The 19th Annual Tri-Party Golf Tournament was held on September 14 and 15 at the Indian Wells Golf Resort in Indian Wells California. 275 golfers from Canada, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Alaska and – California enjoyed two days of golf, a reception, and a banquet with a prize drawing and live auction of art created by the children undergoing treatment at Miller Women’s and Children’s Hospital. The tournament raised over $100,000 this year with the funds going to the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Institute, the Pediatric Recovery Center, and the Childlife Art Program.
The annual tournament is organized by a committee led by Local 63 member Mark Grgas who took over organizing the event after his father retired. Mark reached out to his longshore brothers and sisters and formed a solid team committed to making the Tri-Party Golf Tournament a success. The committee began working on a tournament that focused on providing the participants with an exceptional experience and maximizing the donation to the hospital each year. The results speak for themselves, with over $1 million raised for Miller Women’s and Children’s Hospital since the first tournament 19 years ago.
“This tournament brings everyone together to support a worthy cause,” Grgas said. “Without generous donations from the Local 142 Longshore Division, The Coast Longshore Division, ILWU Credit Union, and ILWU Locals 13, 63, 94, 63 OCU, and the support of the shipping companies and local businesses, we would not be able to hold the tournament.”
Grgas thanked his wife, Ronnie, for her support and the members of the Tri-Party Golf Committee for their hard work: Nick and Lori Rugnetta (Local 63 OCU), Greg and Jeana Viramontes (Local 13), Mike and Tina Carranza (Local 63), Denise and Shasta Paris (Local 63 and 94), Gil and Shannon Garcia (Local 94), Sebastian and Alyce Terzoli (Local 94), and Robert York from the ILWU Credit Union.
“The Tri-Party Golf committee is already planning a bigger tournament in 2025 to celebrate 20 years of golf, coastwide unity, and giving back to our community,” Grgas said. “I hope all the ILWU Locals on the West Coast, Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada will help Tri-Party Golf celebrate its 20th Anniversary next year”