DFA Golf partners with Miami Dolphins to raise $1 million to fight cancer

DFA CEO Jerome, and wife Debbie (from right) present the ceremonial check for $1 million to Sylvester Director Dr. Stephen D. Nimer, Executive Director Javier Sanchez and Dolphins Challenge Cancer, along with other members of the Falic family.

The 2023 DFA Charity Golf Tournament, partnering with the Miami dolphins football team, scored a win in the fight against cancer by successfully raising a record $1 million to support leading-edge research and treatments at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

This year the monies raised by the event sponsors—the Falic Family Foundation and Duty Free Americas – were matched dollar for dollar by the Miami Dolphins football team, a long-time supporter of the Sylvester Center.

Several hundred of DFA’s key friends, colleagues and suppliers from across the travel retail industry gathered February 8 at the Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami for a sold-out 18-hole scramble golf tournament followed by an evening reception with cocktails, dinner, and a silent auction and raffle.

 “We could not be more proud of this year’s ambition to raise $1 million in conjunction with the Miami Dolphins in support of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center,” said Jerome Falic, Chief Executive Officer of Duty Free Americas and a principal of The Falic Family Foundation.

“Duty Free Americas’ Annual Golf Charity Tournament is part of our ongoing commitment to give back to our community by funding initiatives such as those that seek to understand and overcome devastating diseases like cancer.”

DFA worked closely with the Dolphins Challenge Cancer (DCC), the fundraising initiative of the Miami Dolphins Foundation, with each organization made a $500,000 commitment to Sylvester.

The partnership between the DCC, Duty Free Americas, and The Falic Family Foundation was announced at the Miami Dolphins vs. Green Bay Packers football game on December 25, with an on-field presentation in anticipation of the $1 million joint gift to be presented to Sylvester at the golf tournament.

The DFA/Falic Family at the Miami Dolphins football game in December with an on-field presentation in anticipation of the $1 million joint gift to be presented to Sylvester at the golf tournament.

Javier Sanchez, Dolphins Challenge Cancer Executive Director, and Sylvester Director Stephen D. Nimer, M.D., who is also the Oscar de la Renta Endowed Chair in Cancer Research and executive dean for research at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, were guests of honor at the event, where they received the check before a standing room only crowd.

DFA CEO Jerome Falic

Miami’s hometown football team has been a major donor to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center through its Dolphins Challenge Cancer (DCC) organization since 2010, and has raised more than $52.5 million for the hospital. Its main event is the annual Dolphin Challenge, which has become the #1 fundraising event in the NFL in support of local life-saving cancer research. This year’s 5 K run/walk, 100 mile ride and virtual event, which is taking place on Feb. 25, already has more than 5,000 registrants and is aiming to raise $10 million, which includes the donation from the DFA Golf Tournament.

Speaking eloquently from the heart, Jerome Falic thanked the industry for its participation, and talked about his personal long-time connection to the Miami Dolphins, and how important it is to fight against cancer, which has personally touched nearly everyone:

“Giving back to the community is very important to me, and my family and together with the DCC, we are part of the ‘one team, one fight’ changing the narrative of cancer,” he said.

Duty Free Americas VP Spirits & Wine Jonathan Bonchick, who has been a major force organizing the DFA Golf events since the beginning, with DFA CEO Jerome Falic.

Now in its 8th year, the DFA Charity Golf Tournament has grown in scope and popularity each year it has been held.

The 2022 DFA Charity Golf Tournament raised $375,000 for the Mourning Family Foundation (formerly known as Alonzo Mourning Charities), and its Overtown Youth Center and Honey Shine initiatives, and attracted several hundred members of the duty free and travel retail industry.

Duty Free Americas Vice President Spirits & Wine Jonathan Bonchick, who has been a major force organizing the DFA Golf events since the beginning, said that interest was so strong this year that they had to close registration for both the golf tournament and the dinner because they reached capacity.

 

 

The duty free industry came out in force to sponsor the event.

The Sazerac & Duty Free Global teams.

The ladies of the Beam Suntory team, the only all-female foursome in the tournament, with golf pro.
The team included Simone Luke, Monica Fisher, Mercedes Chester and Catherine Restrepo.
Essence Corp’s Jean-Jacques and Antoine Bona, with Glorimar Figueroa, DFA Director of Marketing.
The Essence team.
Liz Taylor, representing sponsor Wella’s Sebastien Haircare.