Eli Manning To Host Yorktown's Guiding Eyes For The Blind Golf Classic

YORKTOWN, N.Y. -- New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning will once again return to Westchester and Fairfield counties this June to host Yorktown-based Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s 37th annual Golf Classic alongside the country’s best blind golfers and Guiding Eyes dogs, the organization announced Tuesday.

Eli Manning will host the Guiding Eyes for the Blind Golf Classic for the eighth time.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

by Eric Gendron

04/16/2014 4:00 a.m.

The two-day outing, anticipated to raise more than $700,000, will be held at Mount Kisco Country Club in Mount Kisco, N.Y. and Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, Conn.

Founded by World Golf Hall of Famer Ken Venturi in 1977, the Guiding Eyes Golf Classic has raised more than $8 million since its inception.

As part of the Classic, Guiding Eyes will also present the Corcoran Cup, the “Masters” of blind golf, on Sunday, June 8. Fourteen of the country's top blind golfers will vie for the coveted trophy, each with the help of a coach who aids in club selection, alignment, setup and distances. On Monday, blind golfers will challenge their sighted counterparts to experience golf as a visually impaired person by inviting them to take a shot at hitting the ball blindfolded.

Manning was first introduced to Golf Classic through family friend and 24-time Corcoran Cup champion Patrick W. Browne, Jr., who taught his son, Patrick III, and Eli, how to golf as boys.

“This is my eighth year hosting Guiding Eyes’ Golf Classic and it’s very special to me,” Manning said in a statement. “Since I’ve been a part of this, I’ve learned so much about how these dogs affect lives. Every year, I listen to people tell their story about how they’re able to accomplish so much more, and to fulfill so many different talents in their lives because of having guide dogs. That’s been very rewarding for me.”

During the Classic, Guiding Eyes will honor John DeVito as Sponsor of the Year and London Nielsen as Volunteer of the Year. DeVito, a Katonah resident and owner of A. DeVito & Son, is a long-time Guiding Eyes supporter and is leading the building of the organization’s future Canine Development Center. Nielsen, a manager at PepsiCo, volunteers as a home socializer for Guiding Eyes’ puppies, collaborates on marketing strategy and has taken the lead to support volunteer building project days.

Check back with the Daily Voice later this spring for more information about the Classic.

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