Nearly one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. The Wild Dunes Men’s Golf Association has sought to make a positive impact by supporting those researching a cure.
WDMGA’s annual PCF Golf Fundraiser held May 11 at Wild Dunes Resort raised $620,000 to bolster the Prostate Cancer Foundation’s life-saving prostate cancer research. The figure was made possible thanks to a generous match from an anonymous donor.
Now in its 11th year, the event has raised approximately $2.2 million, which goes directly to funding prostate cancer research. It has grown to become the largest single private fundraiser for the PCF in the world. Wild Dunes Director of Golf and WDMGA committee member Jeff Minton was part of the initial group of men who helped launch the fundraiser in 2013, along with his father, Bob. Isle of Palms City Council recognized Minton by proclamation in April for his outstanding contributions over the past decade-plus supporting the PCF charity tournament.
Minton served as the honoree for this year’s event, during which the city presented the official recognition. “That’s pretty cool,” said Minton.
The golf fundraiser bears special significance to Minton, who lost his father to prostate cancer in December 2014. Bob played in the 2013 tournament and was able to attend the 2014 event. The inaugural fundraiser featured around 60-70 golfers and raised about $10,000. “It just started progressing every year since,” remarked Minton. In 2024, 260 people participated.
“It’s pretty incredible how Wild Dunes, they’ve taken it and obviously a lot of our members are impacted by it,” Minton added. “So it hits home for a lot of people. Not just my father, but a lot of other people who we’ve lost because of it who are members.”
Mark Perlson, a WDMGA committee member and diamond level sponsor whose accounting firm Perlson LLP contributed $10,000 to the cause, said the fundraiser “has taken on a life of its own.”
Both Perlson and Minton credit WDMGA chairman Mike Muzzy with taking the PCF fundraiser to another level and making it the island’s cause. “It became infectious,” said Perlson. “The whole community rallies around this thing.”
Perlson, too, has a personal connection with prostate cancer. Cantor Israel Goldstein, who he described as “like a second father to me” and a mentor, died from prostate cancer. “That is one of my motivating factors to give.”
Perlson said being part of the single largest private fundraiser for prostate cancer is “tremendously gratifying.” Besides serving as a diamond sponsor, Perlson and his wife sponsored the music, Charleston bluegrass band Dallas Baker and Friends.
While most individuals fortunately survive prostate cancer, thousands still die annually from the disease, which primarily impacts older men. “So we need to find a cure,” added Perlson.
By Colin McCandless
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