VIRNA 2018 April-June

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IN BRIEF
6
Giving Back
Thousands of walkers descended upon the Virginia Beach Boardwalk
onOct. 8, 2017, for the10th Annual JTWalk and CountryMusic
Beach Party. Their goal: to have some family fun time while raising
awareness and money for several causes. Presented by Diamond
Resorts™ and The Virginia Gentlemen Foundation, the event was
created when Josh Thompson, son of local resort developer Bruce
Thompson, was diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s
Disease). Over the past decade, the JT Walk has raised millions of
dollars for stem-cell research to fight ALS, as well as for other causes,
including Wounded Warriors and Gold Star families.
A portion of the 2017 donations — US$1.1 million — went
toward the development of JT’s Camp Grom, a 70-acre (28.3 hect-
ares) beach-style adventure camp in Virginia Beach. Activities and
facilities fromwakeboarding to archery are designed for all, including
children and adults with disabilities.
PGA pros, celebrities, and other players teed up for charity at
Orlando’s Tranquilo Golf Club between Jan. 12 to 14, raising
US$801,000 for Florida Hospital for Children. The 54th annual
Diamond Resorts Invitational Golf Tournament drew more
than 20,000 spectators to the Four Seasons fairway, with a host
of famous names and faces golfing for a good cause. Pro golfer
Scott Parel birdied nine holes for US$125,000, and former tennis
champ Mardy Fish took home US$100,000, winning the tourney’s
celebrity division for the second time in three years.
Passages
Jamie Klein , president of The Lore
Institute, passed away on Jan. 25, 2018,
in San Clemente, California. Klein, a
three-decades-plus veteran of specialty
real estate sales and marketing lead
management, was recognized for spear-
heading shared ownership campaigns
for hospitality brands including Marriott
Vacation Club, Four Seasons, and the St.
Regis Residence Clubs. He was a public
speaker, consultant, and author of Lead
Domination: 21 Proven Strategies for Effectively Generating Leads
and Converting Leads Into Sales. “Jamie was an important part of
the St. Regis network, and we have such a great product because
of his leadership,” says Serge Rivera, president and CEO of ILG
Vacation Ownership. “He will be missed.”
Jamie Klein
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