News
2nd Annual Liam Johnson Golf Outing & Benefit Dinner – Sig Ep Penn Delta Alumni Support
To those who know, our brother Kyle Johnson (W’06)’s family lost their second born and first son, Liam, to Early Infantile Epileptic Encephalopathy. “KJ,” his wife Heather and their daughter chose to honor Liam’s memory by partnering with the Epilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN) at CHOP who were so impactful for the Johnsons during Liam’s short time with us.
Sig Ep brothers Jon Karmel (C’05), Tommy Richards (C’05), Andrew Gray (C’06), Josh Link (C’06), Brian Long (C’06), Brian Savage (C’06), Joe Ahearn (C’07), Pat McGrath (W’07), Jim Saksa (C’09), Tripper Sivick (C’08), and JJ Anthony (C’09) actively supported the inaugural Liam Johnson Memorial Golf Outing and Benefit Dinner.
Following the success of the event, Heather and Kyle now meet monthly with the ENGIN Team, and created the Love For Liam Foundation loveforliam.org, (and we from KJ learned that Tripper Sivick (C’08) and chapter president from 11/06 to 11/07) is on the 14 member board), to support pediatric genetic epilepsy research and treatment.
For the second annual Liam Johnson Memorial Golf Outing and Benefit Dinner (conveniently north of Philly, about 15 minutes from Sesame Place on May 5th, which is happily noteworthy, given that Pennsylvania Delta Foundation president, Brett Danko, ’90, lives a stone’s throw away from the Northampton Valley Country Club in Richboro, PA.), the Johnsons are incredibly honored to welcome 20 ENGIN team members to join this year’s event with goals to exceed last year’s financial contribution while creating increased opportunities for joy in Liam’s memory.
Turns out that Kyle was pledge educator (along with close friend Andrew Gray) back in the day, and ten of their pledges (now termed “new brothers”) in the 2006 class (JJ Anthony, Brendon Ardietta, David Bonda, Elliot Feng, Joseph Cangialosi, Emil DiPentima, Vincent Marron, Matt Romanowksi, Jim Saksa, Doug Silverstein came together to purchase a golf ball sponsorship for this year’s event. The Johnsons are so humbled and grateful for this act of generosity and brotherhood, and are beyond honored to welcome additional opportunities for sponsorship and donations via: charitygolftoday.com/liamjohnson, or the through the foundation (above).
Editor’s note:- years ago, the Pennsylvania Delta Foundation, following the lead of Howard Gitten’s ’82, and his “era” initiated an annual Penn Delta alumni gathering in New York City.
This gathering morphed from a luncheon, to a dinner and now a celebratory gathering at The Penn Club and is named in honor of Ray McCron, ’43, long-time Grand Treasurer of the Fraternity, who sparked the first such gathering in 1965. The Penn Delta Foundation recognized that many of our alumni had moved up to the tri-state metro area, and these NYC gatherings always include undergrads who made the trek up from Philly.
This editor’s note applauds the efforts of so many in KJ’s pledge education class and notes that this fine effort might become another Penn Delta tradition.
“This is a magnificent and very much appreciated example of brotherhood in action,” said Brett Danko, ’90. “Let’s make supporting the golf outing and supporting “Love for Liam a part of ‘what we do,” Brett added.
“I hope to see many local Philly alumni on May 5th, and beyond.”