North Shore Coalition Against Substance Abuse fundraiser to help efforts to stop youth substance addiction

The North Shore Coalition Against Substance Abuse will hold its largest fundraiser of the year when the organization’s second annual golf outing tees off on Aug. 28.

The golf outing features a breakfast buffet in addition to a cocktail hour and dinner with various auctions.

CASA is a nonprofit organization which seeks to reduce the use and abuse of dangerous and addictive substances in the North Shore School District. CASA holds public workshops and discussions with addiction and parenting specialists, and coordinates with the school district to organize speakers and educational programs about addiction and drug use.

Last year, the organization held its first golf outing at the Brookville Country Club, where they will return this year. The first outing was organized with another local charity group, Good Graces, which hosted a similar event in 2021 to support the family of Paul Salinas, who was dying from pancreatic cancer.

Good Graces co-founders, Sean and Alexa Trager of Sea Cliff, now sit on the board of CASA. Sean said the event has been a great way to spread the word and support for the organization amongst the community.

“Addiction is something that’s been so deeply stigmatized that people rarely discuss it,” Sean said. “So our efforts with CASA are in large part to help destigmatize that and open the conversation within everyone’s household.”

Last year, the event was a huge success for CASA, raising enough money for the nonprofit to hire its first permanent employee, a director of communications. CASA president Alison Camardella added that this year is shaping up to be even better.

So far, over 100 participants signed up for the sold-out golf outing, with local organizations and businesses such as the Sea Cliff Fire Department coming out in solidarity. The fundraising goal is $20,000, which Camardella said will be used to continue CASA’s local outreach efforts and increase its membership to over 1,000.

“So our goal this year is to extend our community outreach,” Camardella said. “We feel that we’ve been very successful in reaching those people that know about CASA, but we feel that now is a great time to extend our reach to so many people in our community that are still not aware of the work we do and how it can benefit the lives of their families and their children.”

Camardella said non-golfers, who want to contribute, can do so by purchasing an open-bar cocktail hour and dinner ticket, which is separate from the golf outing.

So far, over 50 additional dinner guests have registered to join the event that will also feature several auctions.

The prizes for the auctions range from golf foursomes at Brookville and other local country clubs, a week-long staycation at the Sea Cliff Yacht Club, Mets tickets and more. Residents who want to support CASA and their work who can’t attend either event can also put in bids online in advance.

CASA Vice President Kevin McGilloway, noted that the event represents the culmination of the last six years of work by the organization.

While fentanyl, vaping and underage substance use and abuse remain pressing concerns in the community and across the country, he added that through the community’s support and fundraisers such as this, CASA will continue to work towards ensuring young North Shore residents stand the best chance at facing them.

“A lot more people are now saying ‘I better get educated on this, and I better make sure my kids get educated on it,’” McGilloway said. “We view this (outing) as a major win, and the community has been very, very supportive over the last few years.”

Those interested in signing up for the cocktail hour and dinner or participating in the evening auctions can visit e.GiveSmart.com/events/wWN/. To learn more about CASA, their work and how to contribute go to nscasa.org.