Vero Beach Golf Tournament Raises $195,000 for Families Facing Homelessness

The Bernard & Betty Egan Memorial Golf Classic raised $195,000 for Samaritan Center in Vero Beach at its 20th annual tournament. Proceeds go directly to transitional housing and support services for Indian River County families on the edge of homelessness.

A dollar-for-dollar match on all sponsorship contributions from The Bernard A. Egan Foundation, the event's presenting sponsor, effectively doubled the impact of every corporate dollar raised.

Samaritan Center operates as a 24-hour residential facility exclusively serving homeless families with dependent children in Indian River County. The center provides temporary shelter alongside case management, educational programming, and life-skills training — a structured, step-based approach designed to move families toward long-term independence rather than cycling them through emergency services.

"For two decades, this tournament has reflected the incredible compassion and generosity of the Vero Beach community," said Ellen T. Wayne, Ed.D., Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Charities Diocese of Palm Beach, which operates Samaritan Center as a core program. "The continued support shown through this event helps ensure the center can remain a source of safety, stability, and hope for families facing difficult circumstances."

Catholic Charities Diocese of Palm Beach serves more than 15,000 individuals and families each year across five counties, including Indian River, through 11 programs covering housing stability, homelessness prevention, disaster recovery, and support for vulnerable seniors. Samaritan Center is also a funded partner of United Way and the Indian River County Children's Services Advisory Council.

Housing instability has intensified across the Treasure Coast as rents have climbed sharply in recent years, making programs like Samaritan Center a critical backstop for families whose budgets have run out of room.

"Events like the Bernard & Betty Egan Memorial Golf Classic play an important role in helping families in our community access stability, support, and hope during difficult times," said Renee Bireley, Development Manager for Samaritan Center. "We are deeply grateful for the continued generosity of the Egan family and everyone who supports this longstanding tradition."

Families seeking information about Samaritan Center's services or those interested in supporting next year's tournament can visit ccdpb.org.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.