Celebrity Golf Event Raises $400K for East Palestine

POLAND, Ohio – More than $400,000 was raised for East Palestine at Monday’s celebrity-filled golf event at The Lake Club.

Golf icon Annika Sorenstam and her husband, Mike McGee, produced the event with Ed Muransky, owner of The Muransky Companies.

McGee, the son of pro golfer Jerry McGee, grew up in East Palestine, which is still recovering from the February derailment of a train that spilled hazardous chemicals.

The daylong event included a round of golf in which players interacted with Sorenstam and pro golfers Jason Kokrak and Ben Curtis. Other celebrities from the world of sports, included former Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops, former Ohio State football coach (and Youngstown State University president) Jim Tressel and former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar.

Jeff Ryznar, owner of 898 Marketing of Canfield, was an integral part of the team of organizers of the event. He called the event a success but said more work remains to be done.

“Challenging times are opportunities for people to unite, and yesterday’s event showed the community of East Palestine that they are not alone as they begin to rebuild,” Ryznar said. “It’s hard to find the words to describe how amazing it was to see the Mahoning Valley come together … to create an event that raised over $400,000 to support our neighbors in need.”

The money will be funneled through the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley and The Way Station of East Palestine and put toward the most urgent needs.

Donations are still being accepted at AnnikaForeEastPalestine.com.

Pictured at top: The celebrity guests at Monday’s event included, front row from left, Doug Phillips, Jim Tressel, Annika Sorenstam, Mike McGee, Austin Carr and Jeff Ryznar; back row from left, Mike Tomczak, Ben Curtis, John Banaszak, Ed Muransky, Bernie Kosar, Jason Kokrak, Warren Sapp, Bruce Drennen, Bo Pelini and Bob Stoops.

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