In support of the Armed Services YMCA's Pendelton Pantry at Camp Pendelton and the Rady Children's Hospital Chadwick Center's Confident Closet in collaboration with the Alex Morgan Foundation, the Legacy Family will give each the opportunity to further their mission for those they so selflessly serve. The Legacy Gala Dinner at Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa, once again, revealed the quiet generosity of everyone. Rasing nearly $1 million, The Legacy has now made contributions in excess of $10 million to a worthy list of beneficiaries since the inaugural Legacy in 2001.
As the evening came to a close, Rolf set aside a few touching moments to honor and celebrate the memory of Richard C Helmstetter. Mr. Helmstetter was a driving force at the birth of The Legacy at The Farms. His guidance was immeasurable, and his generosity unmatched. He will live in all of our hearts for eternity. Mr. Helmstetter passed away in August at the age of 82.
The Legacy Golf Invitational returned to The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe following a year at La Jolla CC while an extensive bunker renovation was under way at The Bridges. On the most perfect San Diego September Monday, the competition was spirited. The winning team of Dave Shaffer, David Trice, Rick Weitzen, and Dave Baratta, stood atop the highest step of the podium cherishing their single stroke triumph. The dinner following golf was highlighted by another inspiring Fireside Chat. Rolf's enlightening conversation was with Bill Harmon of the famous Harmon family, arguably the most sought-after golf instructors of their generation by amateurs and touring professional alike.
At the end of September, The legacy came together in support of the National Conflict Resolution Center's budding THRIVE initiative. The generosity of The Legacy Family helped launch the THRIVE initiative enabling the youth participants to develop new skills to succeed in school and work, be accountable for achieving their goals, and learn to draw on their experiences to mentor other young people. Under unseasonable threatening skies, the Legacy returned on Saturday evening for an encore at Casa Velencia at the Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa for another gathering of friends and long-standing relationships. Additionally, The Legacy's annual contributions to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation and the Pro Kids Academy were honored. With a significant golf course renovation under way at The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe, the Legacy Golf Invitational was privileged to have La Jolla Country Club host the tournament. On a crystal-clear day when one could nearly see Honolulu from atop the La Jolla Hillside, the competition was spirited and friendly. The loyal generosity of The Legacy Family in 2023 has lifted the contributions to many worthy beneficiaries to $ 9 million since the inaugural Legacy in 2021.
Joining hands with the Lucky Duck Foundation, The Legacy family highlighted all they do to alleviate the suffering of the homeless in San Diego. The Legacy dinner, once again held on the Saturday evening before the Monday golf tournament at The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe, was presented in the cozy, comfortable, Casa Valencia at the Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa. Under the stars, the evening introduced everyone to the amazing Voices of the City Choir that uses the magic of music the bring hope and caring to its members. The Lucky Duck Foundation's sole mission is to make a difference, every day, in the lives of the homeless, San Diego's most pressing challenge. The unrelenting generosity of The Legacy family contributed significant recourses that will help fund Lucky Duck initiatives the Urban Street Angels Cafe, Walk With Me, as well as the Choir. Additionally, The Legacy's annual contributions to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation and the Pro Kids Academy were honored.
The 20th Anniversary of The Legacy was celebrated following a year long delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the additional months to consider the milestone, it led to a very different presentation. For the first time the Legacy gala dinner was held on the Saturday night prior to the Legacy Golf invitational on Monday. Taking advantage of the outdoor venue at the San Diego Zoo that would allow for a commemoration worthy of two decades of The Legacy, the evening included the traditional program as well as dancing and a party into the night. The Zoo venue enhanced the selection of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance as a primary beneficiary, supporting the Zoo's leadership role in global conservation initiatives for animals and habitat. For the first time since The Legacy was conceived in 2001, the generosity of The Legacy family resulted in just over $1 million in contributions.
In the face of the reality of the Covid-19 virus, the 20th Anniversary of The Legacy was postponed until 2021. Believing the community would be in need, more than ever, support of the many worthy beneficiaries, the commitment was made to the inventive Legacy Responds campaign. Riding a wave of generosity of The Farms Golf Club that donated the golf course, the Legacy Family came together for a one day golf tournament. The loyalty of the participants and many others led to The Legacy fully supporting annual beneficiaries Crohn's and Colitis Foundation and Pro Kids, as well as making meaningful contributions to several previous beneficiaries.
The 2019 beneficiary selection process led to Padres Pedal the Cause. Pedal accelerates cures for cancer by funding collaborative cancer research as clinical trial taking place at San Diego's top cancer research and treatment centers. Collaboration among our area's top basic and clinical research better leverages technology and bring us closer to cures. All funding stays in our community and 100% goes to support pilot grants at four San Diego institutions: Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, and Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery.
The 2018 beneficiary selection process by the Legacy Executive Committee again resulted in the committee selecting two deserving additional charities. Meals on Wheels San Diego County, and the Armed Forces YMCA Fisher Children’s Center. Meals on Wheels delivers high quality, nutritious meals year-round to seniors, delivered by volunteers, who also provide companionship and a watchful eye on the health and safety of the seniors they serve. The Armed Services YMCA Fisher Children’s Center at Camp Pendleton supports active duty military and their families by offering low-cost, hourly childcare for young children, giving their parents the ability to attend job interviews, medical appointments, take classes or care for family members, especially while one may be deloyed.
The 2017 beneficiary selection process by the Legacy Executive Committee resulted in the committee selecting TWO deserving additional charities. Boys to Men Mentoring Network gives teenage boys, most of whom are growing up without a father, an encouraging and supportive male role model to guide them into adulthood; and TERI Campus of Life, which is creating a new Campus to be a world-class center of excellence in the education and empowerment of individuals with development disabilities.
The additional charity that the Legacy was able to support in 2016 was one of San Diego's stellar charities, Voices for Children. Voices for Children transforms the lives of abused, abandoned, or neglected children by providing them with trained volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs).Voices for Children believes that every child deserves a safe and permanent home and, to that end, will provide a trained CASA volunteer to every abused, abandoned, or neglected child who needs one, and advocate to improve the lives of children in the foster care system.
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The charities selected by the Legacy Executive Committee in 2015 touched many, many members of the Legacy family. Two specific behavioral issues were focused on this year, psychosis and eating disorders. These conditions have affected the Legacy family a variety of serious ways, ranging from adolescent anorexia to family member suicides. This touching evening saw a number of the Legacy group share their stories of struggling with these conditions, both live from the stage and in pre-produced videos. In addition to CCFA and Pro Kids, the funds raised this evening were used to support the CARE (Cognitive Assessment and Risk Evaluation) and Eating Disorders Center at UCSD.
Workshop for Warriors was selected as the Legacy's 2014 gift reciepant. This amazing organization not only teaches armed forces veterns specific jobs skills such as welding, machine shop operation, drafting, etc., they also help find jobs for their training program graduates. Workshop for Warriors provides our heroes with industry-leading training, nationally recognized portable credentials, work experience, and has an amazing 100% job placement record! What was significant about Workshop for Warriors to the Legacy Executive Committee was that the organization was founded by a veteran and his wife, who pretty much sold everything to start the program. This selfless dedication and determination strikes at the core of what the Legacy is all about and was introduced to the Legacy by long time supporters Linda and Marc Edwards.
Funding also continued for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) and Pro Kids Golf Academy in 2014 and these programs continue to flourish here in San Diego, helping so many kids in need.
The funds raised in 2013 helped our perennial beneficiaries - the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) and Pro Kids Golf Academy. Our third beneficiary in 2013 year was the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA).
Huntington’s disease is a horrible, inherited condition that affects approximately 30,000 Americans. The children of a parent with Huntington’s disease have a 50/50 chance of inheriting the disease, and today, there is no cure. The family of Bill Johnston, PR Director for the San Diego Chargers and a very close friend to many of the Legacy family, is affected. Bill’s wife, Ramona, was diagnosed more than 12 years ago and, together with their two children, they have fought valiantly to raise awareness and funds for HDSA.
Bill has been with the Chargers since Rolf played (a long time!!) and is one of the kindest and most humble people you will ever meet. The Legacy was honored to support Bill and his efforts to raise awareness, provide educational resources, and support families caring for a loved one with Huntington’s disease here in San Diego.
The Legacy’s 2012 beneficiary was the Challenged Athletes Foundation. CAF has been a long time centerpiece of philanthropy in San Diego, especially with the work they have done for wounded military personnel. Established in 1997, the Challenged Athletes Foundation recognizes the athletic greatness inherent in all people with physical challenges and supports their athletic endeavors by providing unparalleled sports opportunities that lead to success in sports — and in life. The Legacy earmarked one CAF program in particular to support in 2012, Operation Rebound. This program is the premier sports and fitness program for American military personnel, veterans and first responders with permanent physical disabilities. It provides opportunities to pursue active, athletic lifestyles by offering access to funding for equipment, training and competition expenses, as well as Military Medical Center Physical Training (MMCPT) and numerous sports clinics for disabled athletes.
In addition, the Legacy supported CCFA and Pro Kids in 2012, and thanks to some additional donations that were received, the Legacy was also able to support three other deserving San Diego charities. The Armed Services YMCA helps the families of active duty military service personnel in southern California. Nine Girls Ask? helps spread awareness around the often unrecognized signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. Advocates for Injured Athletes helps train high school athletes to recognize the signs of concussions, heat stroke and other injuries and provide assistance to these in-need athletes.
When long time Legacy supporters Tammy and Larry Hershfield started Computers 2 San Diego Kids in their garage, little did they know the growth of the organization and the number of kids they would impact here in San Diego. C2SDK was founded in 2004, and in seven short years has held thousands of under served children in San Diego receive computers to assist them with school work and their studies. Additionally, C2SDK has a program to support military families with deployed parents that provides computers and internet access for online video chat to help the families keep in touch.
Keeping with tradition, the Legacy was also able to gift $100,000 to the CCFA and $50,000 to Pro Kids Golf, along with the $100,000 to C2SDK.
2010 was a very special year for the Legacy as it marked our 10th Anniversary. It was humbling to think that our Legacy Family has helped so many different charities in San Diego over the years and that through the generosity of our participants we've been able to raise over $3.2 million dollars for deserving beneficiaries in our community.
Our 10th Anniversary theme was, "Friends Helping Friends in San Diego," and this year that sentiment was very evident. In addition to Crohn's & Colitis and Pro Kids Golf, the Legacy Executive Committee chose two charities this year to help, both with close ties to the Legacy. Long time Legacy friend and supporter Jerry Davee was injured and burned in a plane crash years ago, and since has helped the Burn Institute of San Diego in many fund raising and management initiatives, currently serving as Chairman. Jerry asked the Legacy Executive Committee to consider helping the Burn Institute and an orientation meeting was held. The Executive Committee was overwhelmed with the reach and scope of the many people the Burn Institute were able to help in our community, from young kids suffering injuries from liquid or chemical burns to those injured in the tragic fires that recently swept through the San Diego area.
For the first time a fourth beneficiary was added in 2010 when the needs of the HeadNorth Foundation was brought to the Executive Committee. HeadNorth was founded by San Diegan Eric Northbrook after a debilitating accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. Not one to not take action, Eric's HeadNorth Foundation was soon formed and has helped numerous San Diego residents recover and adapt to spinal chord injuries. The Legacy Family was especially touched and moved to help Eric as he had recently suffered a second major loss, the death of his wife to cancer a month prior to the Legacy.
All in, the Legacy raised $515,000 in 2010 the help these deserving organizations. The Sunday dinner held two special surprises for the Legacy guests, a special 10th Anniversary historical video narrated by CBS Sports and "Voice of the Masters," Jim Nantz. Also, thanks to Legacy Executive Committee member Hal Jacobs, over one hundred number 6 San Diego Chargers Rolf Benirschke jerseys were distributed to the guests as a special tribute to Rolf for all he has done for the Legacy and the community over the years.
The Legacy was pleased to continue supporting the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America and Pro Kids Golf in 2009. In addition, we were moved to help the Prostate Cancer Foundation as we learned that many of our Legacy family had been affected by Prostate Cancer. Over ten of our Legacy participants came forward to share stories of how they or a loved one had battled this disease. A particularly touching story came from Legacy Executive Committee member Ernie Hahn, who's grandfather, Ernest Hahn, one of San Diego's most innovative developers, passed away from the disease at 73. Former San Diego Chargers head football coach, Marry Schottenheimer and professional golfer Jim Colbert also shared their Prostate Cancer stories with the Legacy group.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation was able to provide a matching grant to the Legacy's donation, doubling our gift of $130,000 to a grand total of $260,000
Our 2008 beneficiary was the Alzheimer's Association of San Diego. This charity had a special connection to our group as a number of Legacy family members have had their lives touched by Alzheimer's. As many as 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, and it is fatal. Today it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States. Our 2008 donation helped the Alzheimer's Association of San Diego provide care and support services for those suffering from Alzheimer's as well as to assist with a number of research projects through the Association's efforts. Our event this year and our mission to help in the fight against Alzheimer's drew the participation of Coach Frank Broyles, ABC Sports commentator Keith Jackson and CBS Sports anchor Jim Nantz. Each of these gentlemen have seen loved ones battle Alzheimer's and we are extremely grateful for their assistance in 2008.
In addition to the above charities, the Legacy Board has committed to donate $50,000 each year to fund the activities and operations of the Pro Kids Golf Foundation, a group dedicated to providing young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop, through golf and character education, life-enhancing values such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship. The intent is to offer opportunities for improvement in the quality of life and create a platform where children can increase their potential for success.
Founding Legacy member Dick Helmstetter and friend of the Legacy George Beebe's battle with Lymphoma were the reason the Lymphoma Research Foundation was our 2007 beneficiary. The Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) is the nation's largest lymphoma-focused voluntary health organization devoted exclusively to funding lymphoma research and providing patients and health care professionals with critical information on the disease. LRF's mission is to eradicate lymphoma and serve those touched by this disease.
For 2006, the fight against Autism was the focus of the Legacy Committee. Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Today, 1 in 166 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines. Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe.
In 2005, ALS, or better know as Lou Gehrig's disease, was brought to the attention of the Legacy Board because board member Tim Oitzman's mother-in-law was in the final stages in her fight against this disease. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy. Also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, the disease strikes people between the ages of 40 and 70, and as many as 30,000 Americans have the disease at any given time.
In 2004, The Legacy has selected Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) as the second benefactor to share in the proceeds raised from the event. Spinal Muscular Atrophy is the #1 genetic killer of children under the age of two. It is a group of inherited and often fatal diseases that destroy the nerves controlling voluntary muscle movement such as crawling, walking or standing. One in 6,000 babies born with SMA and one in 40 people carry the gene that causes SMA. Committee member Dan Wimsatt's nine-year old nephew, Michael Wimsatt, was diagnosed with SMA when he was just 15 months old and may very well live his life in a wheelchair. Participation in The Legacy will help to further research efforts currently being carried out by over 350 scientists around the world.
When Fred Mort, who was a close friend of the tournament and active participant, passed away from diabetes at the age of 41, the overwhelming response from the players allowed The Legacy to endow the Fred Mort Legacy Chair in perpetuity at the Whittier Institute for Diabetes. A total donation of $395,000 also helped to fund the purchase of a bus that allows the institute to mobilize the fight against diabetes and take it to underserved areas of the San Diego community.
A second charity, based on a recommendation by a committee member and / or a player, also receives significant contributions each year. Rolf's life has been touched by Cerebral Palsy, as his daughter Kari has dealt with this disability since her premature birth. United Cerebral Palsy has received $100,000 in donations that have helped fund research and programs designed to improve the quality of life of persons with cerebral palsy and related developmental disorders.
In 2001, The Legacy Invitational was founded by Rolf Benirschke and a group of close friends. This special group shared a vision to create an event that brought together colleagues and community leaders, a passion for golf, a desire to build enduring relationships based on trust & respect, and the aspiration of making a difference in the community of San Diego. It was the vision of the inaugural Legacy committee to limit the field to 100 personally invited golfers that had a handicap of 15 or better. The focus of the event was to combine the building of relationship with raising money for selected charitable causes.
Because of Rolf's well-chronicled illness, and including committee member Dick Helmstetter and a few others, the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America is an annual recipient of The Legacy's charitable contributions. The Legacy has committed to donating $100,000 each year to help CCFA with grants for research, studies and the CCFA "Camps Across America" which help children cope with growing up with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis (more commonly known as IBD).
Rolf's Story
As the third most accurate placekicker in NFL history at the time of his retirement, Rolf Benirschke had an illustrious 10-year career with the San Diego Chargers. But Rolf was a reluctant football player, having grown up in a medical family with a world-renowned Pathologist for a father, who was always challenging him to make his life count for something more. Little did Rolf know that he would have that chance, not only because of his athletic prowess but because he would be diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in his second season.
He would be forced to embark on a journey that would lead to deep despair and self-discovery. It would require four major abdominal surgeries and challenge his very life before returning him to the highest of heights. He would go on to take all of the lessons he has learned and devote his time and energy to inspiring others.
Rolf received numerous honors during his career including NFL Man of the Year; The Breibart Award, Comeback Player of the Year; Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Most Courageous Athlete; NFL Players Association Hero of the Year; NFL Justice Byron Whizzer White Award; and was selected to play in the Pro Bowl. In 1997 he became the twentieth player to be inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame, and was named to the Chargers’ All-Time team. In 2004 he was inducted into the Academic All-America Hall of Fame.
In his second season with the Chargers, Rolf was stricken with a life-threatening disease that led him to create a nationwide patient advocacy and support program for those facing ostomy surgery and IBD. For 36 years, Rolf has been providing inspiration and encouragement to patients around the world who live with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, colorectal and bladder cancer or other circumstances that can lead to ostomy surgery. He is the national spokesman for The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), and The Rolf Benirschke Award was created in 2015 to honor community members who have made a significant impact locally for philanthropy, giving back, and leaving a lasting legacy. He was also granted the CCFA national award, The Modell Award for Business Leadership for exemplary volunteer leadership. He has helped raise almost $1 million in an effort to help find the cure for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
When Rolf learned that he had become infected with the Hepatitis C virus from a blood transfusion he received in 1979, the deadly virus re-awakened his fight back. After three difficult yearlong treatments fought over an eight-year period, Rolf learned in 2004 that his body was clear of the virus. he became a spokesperson for the 4 million Americans infected with the virus speaking for the National Center for Disease Control, the American Liver Foundation, and many other organizations to raise the awareness of this silent killer. In addition, he started a national awareness and patient support program called, Kick Hep C.
Rolf has spent his life giving back to others and is an accomplished author, television personality, and inspirational speaker. He routinely addresses national sales meetings, major corporations, leadership and team building events, physician and nurse conferences, and church groups . He is also involved in numerous philanthropic organizations including United Cerebral Palsy, UCSD Medical Center, TERI, Inc., San Diego Blood Bank, the Zoological Society of San Diego, United Way, Liver Foundation, and Be There San Diego. Rolf is also the Founder and Chairman of the Rolf Benirschke Legacy Foundation; an annual golf tournament raising funds to make a difference in the San Diego community.
Rolf has written three books — Alive & Kicking, his newly revised autobiography that details his battle with ulcerative colitis and Hepatitis C, Great Comebacks from Ostomy Surgery, and Embracing Life, two books featuring inspirational stories of people who have survived and thrived following ostomy surgery.
Rolf’s visionary work as a patient advocate led him to co-found Legacy Health Strategies in 2009, an industry-leading strategic marketing firm that develops patient support, disease awareness, and treatment compliance initiatives for medical device and pharmaceutical companies. Legacy Health Strategies works with companies like NuVasive, Edwards Lifescience, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, AbbVie, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, and many more.
Rolf is married to Mary Michaletz Benirschke, a speech pathologist, and they reside in San Diego. The couple has four children, Erik, Kari, Tim, and Ryan. Three of his children have special needs including cerebral palsy, brain injury and developmental delays, which further sparks the couple’s advocacy for those in need and gives them more compassion and understanding of life’s gifts and challenges.
The Jim Sochor Legacy Award recognizes a special person in our Legacy Family who best reflects the values that Jim lived by. Values like kindness, gratitude and generosity, competitiveness and integrity, and who always took the time to teach, encourage, and coach. His character and subtle sense of humor and his shining eyes were trademarks of a “good man” who we all enjoyed being around.
Every one of us in life has someone they can point to who changed their life or left an indelible mark. Someone perhaps who modeled a way of living, or served as a mentor, or was a teacher that inspired, or good friend who stood by when you really needed a friend, or coach who saw something in you that you didn’t see in yourself. For me it was my college coach, Jim Sochor.
Jim was the one who convinced me to kick footballs at UC Davis and then became a great friend when my college playing days were over. He loved coming down to the Legacy to meet all of you, my friends, and was so proud of what we are all doing with the Legacy.
Sadly, Jim died in 2016 at the age of 77, and my heart still aches thinking about never getting to spend time with him again.
Coach Sochor’s career was characterized by excellence. A small sample of some of his achievements:
Sochor played quarterback at George Washington HS in San Francisco. He also played on the basketball team. He went on to play quarterback for San Francisco State from 1957 to 1959, and led them to three league championships
Sochor became the head coach at UC Davis in 1970. Following his first year there, he had a streak of 18 consecutive conference championships, from 1971 to 1988. His overall record between 1970 and 1988 was 156–41–5, a winning percentage of .785. In conference games under Sochor, the Aggies were 92–5. He had winning streaks of 41 and 38 in conference games
He was inducted into the Cal Aggie Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999
He was awarded the Ronald L. Jensen Award for Lifetime Achievement by the Positive Coaching Alliance in 2008
The field at Aggie Stadium is named Jim Sochor Field
Coach had many words to live by that he would instill in his teams "Achievement is what you win with, potential is what you lose with"
2024 Sponsors
Thanks to the generous support of our Legacy sponsors, we can underwrite the entire cost of our event. Their contribution enables the proceeds from The Legacy Invitational to go directly to our worthy beneficiaries, making a significant impact on the important work they do for those they serve.
