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The 28th Annual Gillette Charity Golf Tournament brought together passionate supporters, community partners, and friends of Gillette Children’s in support of the James R. Gage Center for Gait and Motion Analysis. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors and 31 foursomes of golfers, $156,663 was raised for the cause.
At the event, Dr. Tom Novacheck, MD, pediatric surgeon and Medical Director of Integrated Care Services, shared that Gillette’s gait lab has become one of the busiest and most respected centers of its kind in the world. Since 2004, the lab has provided care for more than 10,000 patients - including families from every state in the U.S. and 24 countries.
Funds raised at this year’s tournament will help expand research by adding a Machine Learning/AI developer to transform our latest research findings into practical applications that will directly enhance patient care. This innovation builds on Gillette’s legacy as the first accredited motion lab in the U.S., ensuring children everywhere continue to benefit from the expertise and advancements pioneered here.
Former Gillette board member Jim Rechtiene and his wife Julie launched the tournament, and supporters Tim Dunleavy and former board member Bob Folkes hosted and planned this year’s event. Gillette is deeply grateful to all who made the day a success.
Wes Jackson, Patient Ambassador for the 28th Annual Gillette Charity Golf Tournament, and his father, Jay Jackson.
Community partners host tournaments benefiting Gillette
Gillette also receives support from tournaments hosted by community partners, including Marathon Petroleum and Alliance Insurance Advisors. Since its start in 2011, the Alliance Golf Classic has directed 100% of proceeds to causes they support, and Gillette is honored to have been the beneficiary since 2016. Thanks to the leadership and dedication of organizers Adam Seely and Chad Fuenffinger - both of whom have personal connections to Gillette’s mission - the tournament continues to grow each year, raising thousands of dollars to help children and families receive the care they need. The Alliance Golf Classic benefiting Gillette returns at Dellwood Country Club in 2026.
Marathon Petroleum Corporation’s St. Paul Park Refinery also has a years-long commitment to supporting Gillette through their annual charity golf tournament, held most years since the early 2000s. One of those years, Marathon boasted the largest single-day charity tournament in the state, with more than 400 golfers. Organizers Jeremy Allan and Jeff Sieben say the Refinery chooses Gillette as the beneficiary because it benefits the local community and provides crucial specialty healthcare for children, adding that a number of local colleagues have personal experience with Gillette through family or friends.
In addition, Jeremy says, “All three of my children have received care at Gillette, and the quality of that experience is what fuels my desire to give back. Our annual golf event is both a celebration and a chance to help ensure other families can experience the same level of care my family did.”
A huge THANK YOU to all our golf planners, participants, and sponsors for believing in Gillette's work!
