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Serving Up Some Extra Help

LOCAL RESTAURATEURS GIVE BACK TO COMMUNITY THROUGH GOLF TOURNAMENT

Kathy Waters/Highlands Today

Jimmy Tsakalos, owner of Olympic Restaurant in Avon Park, has helped start the inaugural Olympic Golf Classic, which will benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center of Highlands County.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: February 1, 2008

INAUGURAL OLYMPIC GOLF CLASSIC
WHAT: Golf tournament benefiting the Children's Advocacy Center of Highlands County
WHEN: 8 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9
WHERE: Sun 'N Lake Deer Run Course
HOW: Entry forms at Pro Shop

AVON PARK — "I wanted to adopt him. I wanted to adopt them all."

Maria Tsakalos had a twinkle in her eye as she talked about seeing a child one day at the Children's Advocacy Center of Highlands County.

"There was a boy and he had all his possessions in a special place," Maria said. "He smiled at me and said I could have them. It was so special."

That meeting spurred Jimmy and Maria Tsakalos, owners of the Olympic Restaurant in Avon Park, to make the decision to help children in need, and the Olympic Golf Classic was born.

Jimmy, an avid golfer, has played in numerous charity golf tournaments in Highlands County and based on the suggestion of a customer, he decided to start one of his own.

"I've been involved in charity events when I was living in New York City," Jimmy said. "Not to mention the golf tournaments here. I love golf and I figured that was an obvious choice."

The melding of his passion for golf and his passion to help the children were complete when Frank Guglielmi, Jimmy's neighbor, got the tournament ball rolling.

"Frank really helped me organize the event," Jimmy said. "I'd never undertaken anything like this before and he really got the event off the ground."

Giving has never been a stranger with the Tsakalos family: From the New York City Fire Department to a local nursing home or school, Jimmy and Maria are always there to lend a hand.

"We've had our share of good fortune as business owners in the community," Jimmy said. "We just want to give something back to show our appreciation."

During the Christmas season, a gift-giving tree was put up at the Olympic and customers picked names of residents of a local nursing home to give gifts to for the holidays. The tree was a rousing success that helped give the elderly some of the necessities of life.

"We asked the nursing home what the residents would like as gifts," said Jimmy, a former NYC deli owner. "I was shocked to hear that they really wanted socks and underwear. Those are the things we seem to take for granted and its what they said they wanted most."

During the school year, Jimmy and Maria give a spaghetti dinner to the best behaved class at many of the elementary and middle schools in the area. A warm thanks from the school officials is more than enough for the Tsakaloses, but many times they receive more thanks than they expected.

"Many of the kids who work so hard to be the best behaved so they can come for the dinner," Jimmy said. "Many of them have never even been in a restaurant before, and it's great to see these kids enjoying themselves.

"It makes you want to cry sometimes when you get a thank you from a little child who has been out to eat for the first time."

Jeff Roth, director of the Children's Advocacy Center of Highlands County, said 72 percent of the center's budget comes from private money. The dollars fill in the gaps that state or county agencies are unable to fill, providing numerous programs for children who've been abused or are at risk of being abused.

"We're very happy they chose us," said Roth, who said he'll lend a hand at the tournament. "Some things are paid for by an array of state or local sources, but what we do is cover the unfunded needs –– whether it's mental-health counseling, covering a child without insurance, or helping a mother who's been a victim of abuse find resources."

Jimmy said he hopes the evolution of the charity tournament in future years will give aid to many local charities, and that the recipients could change each year.

The Inaugural Olympic Classic, which will benefit the Children's Advocacy Center, will take place on Feb. 9. at the Sun 'N Lake Deer Run course. The two-player teams will tee off with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. and pro-shop vouchers donated by the Sun 'N Lake pro shop will be awarded. A buffet lunch, catered and donated by Jimmy and Maria Tsakalos, will be served following play.

"We really want to see this event grow," Jimmy said. "I'd love to see this become a tradition here in Highlands County."

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