300 Golf Balls Fly High at 25th Annual Golf Tournament to Benefit Greater Lehigh Valley Red Cross

Ted Rosenberger, president and CEO of Target Software in Allentown, piloted his Rolls-Royce powered Enstrom 480B helicopter and dropped 300 golf balls onto a makeshift green in a 50/50 cash contest to benefit the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

More than 100 Golfers, Brookside staff and Red Cross volunteers and employees stood on the club's terrace as Rosenberger's craft made several passes at approximately 100 feet above the target. Onboard the helicopter, volunteers Kevin Sprague and Eric Markovcy did their best to drop the balls near the pin. Of all the balls "chanced off," it was lucky ball #109 - ironically, purchased by Rosenberger and Sprague - that landed closest to the pin. The pair donated the winnings back to the Red Cross.

"We're so appreciative of Ted's generous contribution of his amazing piloting skills and helicopter to this successful fund-raiser for the Red Cross," said Brad Greenawald, financial advisor for Smith Barney, chairman of the golf committee, and Red Cross board member. "When we approached him months ago about the idea, he enthusiastically agreed to do it. He worked one-on-one with Brookside Country Club and the Red Cross to ensure that the event would be safe and entertaining for all involved. I can't thank Ted and the staff at Brookside enough for making this 25th anniversary golf tournament so special."

John Hughes, executive director of the Red Cross, was equally impressed with Rosenberger's generosity and that of the tournament sponsors and players. "Special fund-raising events such as this one are important in helping the Red Cross continue to provide much-needed services to our community. This has been a particularly challenging year for our chapter. The number of disasters - the majority of which are residential fires - has increased 30 percent compared to last year at this time. The number of people we have provided disaster assistance - hotel accommodations, food, clothing, shoes, medication replacement and emotional counseling - has increased 35 percent. Thanks to the help of today's tournament sponsors, individual golfers and people like Ted, we are able to continue to do what we do best: assist our community in times of disaster."

Nearly 100 golfers participated in the tournament to benefit the local Red Cross. Classic sponsors were: the Haffner-Trinkle Foundation, and Morgan Stanley/The Haddad Group and The Gehman-Yanders Group in Allentown. Proceeds from the event help the Red Cross continue to provide local disaster relief services and lifesaving programs and services to residents in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties.

In celebration of its silver anniversary, each golfer received a commemorative soft-side cooler bag filled with refreshments and golf amenities. In addition, golfers took their best shot at three hole-in-one prizes: a 2007 Honda Accord LX compliments of Lehigh Valley Honda, a set of Callaway Big Bertha irons, and a Sharp LC Flat-Screen Television.

This year's putting contest offered a $10,000 cash prize. Tom O'Neill of sponsor UGI Utilities beat out other contenders in the contest for the chance to sink a 55-foot putt to win the cash prize. As a crowd watched, O'Neill's ball came close, but it wasn't meant to be.

Stephen Calder of DHL won the closest-to-the-pin contest (4'-2") and went home with a three-night, all-inclusive stay at Grand Lido Braco in Jamaica compliments of Liberty Travel in Whitehall.

In lieu of mulligans, foursomes could purchase a "lifeline," 25-feet of string that could be cut to any length to reposition a ball for a strategic shot. The idea was the brainchild of Red Cross board member and golf committee member Al Haddad, senior vice president at Morgan Stanley. Lifeline, in its true sense, is a personal medical alert system for seniors and the physically challenged, offered by the American Red Cross.

At the awards ceremony, Bob Gedney, long-time Red Cross volunteer and former board member from Macungie, received a certificate of appreciation in memory of Ed Jalowiecki, husband of Red Cross employee Joanne Gantz-Jalowiecki. "Ed believed that forming friendships on the golf course was more important than winning," said Gantz-Jalowiecki, at the awards dinner. "Ed loved the game of golf and cherished the friendships he made at the Red Cross and on the course. Today, in Ed's memory, I would like to present to Bob Gedney, a small token of appreciation for his friendship and continuing support of the Red Cross golf tournament."

Committee members are: Chairman Brad Greenawald, Smith Barney; Cheryl Davis, Sovereign Bank; Scott Friedman, swb&r; Al Haddad, Morgan Stanley; George Hlavac, Tallman, Hudders & Sorrentino; Donna Murphy, D+B Murphy Enterprises, Inc.; Pat Stumpp, East Penn Bank; Tamantha Yanders, The Morning Call; and Sandy Gaspar, Beth McKinney, and Janice Osborne of the American Red Cross.

Major sponsors of this year's tournament: Haffner-Trinkle Foundation; Morgan Stanley: The Haddad Group - Allentown, and The Gehman-Yanders Group - Allentown; DHL; East Penn Bank; Liberty Travel; The Morning Call; UGI Utilities; Air and Chemicals; Lehigh Valley Honda; Millennium Wealth Management; AAA East Penn; Campbell, Rappold & Yurasits; Gross, McGinley, LaBarre & Eaton, LLP; Harvel Plastics; Klunk & Millan Advertising; Smith Barney/ B. Greenawald; Smith Barney/ W. Greenawald; Sovereign Bank; SWB&R; and Viamedia.

About Theodore A. Rosenberger

He graduated from Moravian Academy, Bethlehem, Pa., in 1984. In 1988, he graduated from Lafayette College (Easton, Pa.) with a Bachelor's of Science in computer science. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1989 where he earned an M.S.E. in computer and information science.

Rosenberger began his professional career at IBM, then Air Products. In 1991, he co-founded Target Software in Allentown. Target Software builds innovative software applications for the pharmaceutical industry. In 2000, the company released Target Mobile, a novel handheld sales force automation and regulatory compliance solution for pharmaceutical sales. Today, more than 80 pharmaceutical companies benefit from Target's software.

In 2005, Target Software was acquired by the Cegedim Group of Paris, France. Rosenberger continues to run the company as president and CEO. Target Software currently employs nearly 100 professionals in its offices along Cedar Crest Boulevard and continues to grow.

Outside of work, Rosenberger owns and pilots both a twin-engine airplane and a turbine helicopter. He bases his aircraft at Allentown's Queen City Airport. He has more than 2400 hours of flight time and holds commercial, multiengine, instrument and helicopter ratings.

Rosenberger is a trustee of the Allentown Art Museum. He also supports Moravian Academy, the Allentown Rescue Mission, Second Harvest Food Bank, Lehigh Valley Hospital, the Fund to Benefit Children and Youth, and the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 800,000 residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training; Lifeline, a personal response service for seniors; and emergency relief to more than 23,000 Greater Lehigh Valley residents. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.