Lions Cup golf tournament raises $144K for athletic scholarships

Lions mascot Yeo with dignitaries and student-athletes at the 19th annual Lions Cup golf tournament. From left: Bart Zemanek (associate director, advancement - Athletics & Recreation), Julia Cuccia (women's hockey player), Matthew Richards (track and field athlete), Guy Burry (co-chair, Lions Cup), Corrado Messina (senior relationship manager, Ontario Market Lead, TD Insurance), Lexy Anonech (women's hockey player), Alexis Grewal (women's basketball player), Abdullahi Abdullahi (track and field athlete)
Lions mascot Yeo with dignitaries and student-athletes at the 19th annual Lions Cup golf tournament. From left: Bart Zemanek (associate director, advancement – Athletics & Recreation), Julia Cuccia (women’s hockey player), Matthew Richards (track and field athlete), Guy Burry (co-chair, Lions Cup), Corrado Messina (senior relationship manager, Ontario Market Lead, TD Insurance), Lexy Anonech (women’s hockey player), Alexis Grewal (women’s basketball player), Abdullahi Abdullahi (track and field athlete)

It was a successful day on the golf course on June 1 as York University Athletics & Recreation raised $144,000 for athletic scholarships at the 19th annual Lions Cup presented by TD Insurance.

More than 100 golfers took to the links at the Wyndance Golf Club in Uxbridge, Ont., and golfers came together for an important cause: student-athlete financial support. Many of York’s student-athletes who have received financial aid to support their studies were on the course to run fun, sport-specific activations and interact with the golfers. Their participation gave them an opportunity to network with professionals in the careers they aspire to have after graduation.

“This event continues to be an annual highlight for me, and I am thrilled that we were able to once again raise a substantial amount of money for athletic scholarships, especially now after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic,” said Guy Burry, the Chair of the Lions Cup, a long-time supporter of Lions varsity athletics and one of the tournament’s principal donors. “York’s student-athletes are incredibly hard-working individuals who dedicate significant amounts of time and effort to both their academic pursuits and their athletic goals. Being able to assist them with their finances so they can focus on their dreams is a tremendous honour.”

The Lions Cup was first held in 2001 as the Chair’s Cup. Marshall Cohen, then-Chair of the York University Board of Governors, and his wife, Judi, envisioned creating a “friend-raiser” as well as a fundraiser, to rally friends, alumni and other supporters around raising money for students. In recent years, the event has shifted its focus to supporting varsity student-athletes, and now all money raised from the day goes directly towards athletic scholarships for the Lions.

The scholarships are possible thanks to the generous donations of several new and returning sponsors at this year’s tournament. Their contributions play a vital role in helping to provide excellence in athletics and recreation, and give tomorrow’s athletes the opportunity to achieve their academic and athletic goals.

For a full list of this year’s tournament sponsors and donors, visit the York University Lions website.