HUNTINGTON, NY – The 2024 Big Daddy Celebrity Golf Classic was a hole in one for competition and camaraderie between actors, athletes and celebrities who participated June 23-24, 2024 on the shores of Long Island, NY. More than $200,000 was raised to benefit the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®: Finding cures. Saving children. ® during the two-day, star-studded event.
More than 25 celebrities joined event founder Rich “Big Daddy” Salgado, and participated in the tournament to ensure that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel housing or food so they can focus on helping their child live. Salgado, CEO of Coastal Advisors Insurance Consultants and insurance broker to the stars, is a long time St. Jude supporter and volunteer.
In 2010, Rich ‘Big Daddy’ Salgado personally organized gatherings with friends and colleagues to support families at St. Jude, taking time to visit the campus in Memphis and understand the importance of uniting others for a greater good. St. Jude was founded more than 60 years ago because of support like this from entertainers, celebrities and donors who make a difference in the lives of children here in the U.S. and around the world.
More than a decade ago, a special bond was formed between Salgado and St. Jude patient Tyler after meeting at St. Jude in Memphis. Tyler, who was diagnosed in 2013 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, became an inspiration to Salgado and they became fast friends. Tyler received two-and-a-half years of chemotherapy, physical and occupational therapy and is now a high school graduate and avid runner who completed his first marathon, St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend, in 2023 while fundraising to help other St. Jude families. Tyler attended the Big Daddy Celebrity Golf Classic this year where he shared his cancer journey with attendees.
Donate to St. Jude to support kids like Tyler or learn more how you can get involved with the mission.
About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and it won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.
