Sweet Jane’s Wish Foundation is a relatively new nonprofit that was created to honor the memory of Downingtown native Jane Gerlach Booge, an active woman and mother of three who courageously battled breast cancer and died in 2015 at the age of 47.

The Foundation partners with student-athletes in furthering their education – Jane was an accomplished tennis player – and provides financial support to families who are experiencing the devastating out-of-pocket costs of fighting breast cancer.

Sweet Jane’s Wish aims to grow its permanent endowment fund to a level that will sustain full student scholarships, in perpetuity, and will enable it to continue to provide assistance to families who endure the financial strain of fighting breast cancer.

The Foundation will have some help in achieving its mission from the Ninth Annual Whitford Classic, as it has been chosen as one of nine beneficiaries of the event, which will be held from Sept. 20-22 at Whitford Country Club in Exton. The three days of fun include tennis, golf, a dinner, and auction.

“It’s an honor to have been selected as a beneficiary of the Whitford Classic,” said Carolyn Gerlach, Jane’s sister-in-law and the Vice President of the Board of Directors for Sweet Jane’s Wish Foundation. “We work so hard every year, and we’re trying to get to a plateau where the scholarships we provide can sustain themselves, and this is like an extra bonus. It’s great to know that our work is being recognized.”

The Whitford Classic was created by a few of the country club’s visionary members who wanted to create an opportunity to give back to the community in which they work, play, and raise their families. Almost a decade later, the event has grown in popularity and has become a popular vehicle to connect people who care with causes that matter, like the ones championed by Sweet Jane’s Wish.

Since the inaugural event in 2011, the Whitford Classic has generated approximately $950,000 and will cross the million-dollar threshold this year. One hundred percent of those proceeds have been granted to 56 different local organizations that work to make a difference in the lives of Chester County residents.

In addition to Sweet Jane’s Wish Foundation, the Ninth Annual Whitford Classic will also benefit:

• Unite for HER
• The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County
• A Haven
• Designing 4 Hope
• Chester County Futures
• Downingtown Area Senior Center
• SALT Performing Arts
• Bringing Hope Home

“The Whitford Classic is so special,” said Kim Brumbaugh, the CEO of Brumbaugh Wealth Management and a member of the event’s committee. “We distribute money through a very thoughtful, formal process and to an array of causes. A lot of our donations are sorely needed.”

Click here to learn more about the Ninth Annual Whitford Classic or purchase a ticket to the dinner gala. Click here to check out the auction items.

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