On September 9, 2024, Autism New Jersey teed off its 26th Annual Applied Underwriters Golf Invitational, and it was nothing short of a hole-in-one! Under sunny skies, nearly 300 golfers hit the greens at the stunning Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club and enjoyed a fantastic day on the links. By 11:00 am, players were fueling up with a classic BBQ lunch, setting the stage for an unforgettable event.
With all three courses in play, the fairways were filled with friendly competition as participants took part in a best-ball scramble and a variety of contests, including Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin. But the highlight for many was the chance to fire off a shot from the air cannon—talk about a blast!
A huge shoutout goes to our amazing golf committee, led by Co-Chairs Mike Aquino and Steve Pellegrinelli, along with members Kevin Doherty, Jackie Kelly, Tim Kane, Mike Maron, Jamie McGovern, Josh Pini, Robert Stoute, and Gino Valiant—many of whom are parents of children with autism. Their dedication drove this event to success!
The online auction also crushed it, raising a record-breaking $46,000, shattering last year’s $28,000 mark! The highest bid? A jaw-dropping $13,000 for a 5-Day South Hampton Retreat, generously donated by Fred and Jennifer Gross.
As the sun set, golfers celebrated with a variety of delicious appetizers, Fiddler’s famous pizza truck, and food stations galore. Awards were presented to the top foursomes on each course, and we took a moment to honor the memory of our beloved guest, Peter Berryman. To cap it all off, the crowd sang a rousing Happy Birthday to committee member Gino Valiant.
View more photos from the event:
After catching our breath, we’re already looking forward to next year’s event! Until then, we’ll be working on our swing and planning to make it even bigger and better. Thank you to everyone who made this day a grand slam for our autism community!
Save the Date!
27th Annual Applied Underwriters Golf Invitational
Monday, September 8, 2025