The Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan honored Chuck Fortinberry, President of Clarkston Chrysler Jeep, with the first annual Gray’s Reef Light Award for his work with the charity at the Gray’s Reef Golf Classic.
The Gray Reef Golf Classic is a golf outing originally organized by Fortinberry, but called the Glen W. Fortinberry Memorial Golf Classic. Fortinberry organized and sponsored the original event and ran it for 11 years.
During that span, the event raised more than $700,000 for the Children’s Leukemia Foundation.
‘My father (Glen) died of Leukemia in 1993 and I felt like I should do something to help,? Fortinberry said. ‘Me and my wife have three children so I thought the Children’s Leukemia Foundation would be a good charity to become associated with, so I organized the golf outing in the memory of my father.?
Jeff Cavazos, who took over as chairman of the Gray’s Reef Classic, was on the board that selected Fortinberry as the first recipient of the award. Cavazos said he thought Fortinberry was a perfect candidate for the new award.
‘He has done a lot of good things in the short time I have known him,? Cavazos said. ‘I saw how passionate he was about raising money and how selfless he was with his time. People can look at this guy and the time and effort he has put forth and say, ‘What a role model.??
Fortinberry said he had no idea he was going to receive the award, but was glad to accept it.
‘It’s a huge honor, but I don’t do these things to get honors,? Fortinberry said. ‘I’m a little embarrassed by it. I live by a saying, ‘It’s ok to die wealthy, but if you die rich it means you didn’t give back.? That’s a lesson my father taught me. He told me it’s important to give back to the community that supports you.?
Fortinberry also organizes the Dave & Wanda Harrison Memorial Bike Ride. The ride benefits the Children’s Leukemia Foundation and is in memory of Dave and Wanda, who died in a motorcycle accident. The ride is from his dealership to DTE Energy Music Theatre where the riders attend a concert. This year’s ride will be on August 27.