Former Senate President Bill Galvano is set to host the 30th Annual Phil Galvano Golf Classic next week. This event has become a tradition, raising millions of dollars over the years for Manatee County schools.
The sold-out event will take place April 23-24 at The Resort at Longboat Key Club. All proceeds will go to the Manatee Education Foundation, which helps teachers and students throughout the county.
The tournament honors the late Phil Galvano, described as a golf “pro to the stars” and a best-selling author. Over the past 30 years, it has raised more than $10 million to support classroom grants, teacher programs, and other projects not funded by the state. Organizers expect to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars again this year for Manatee County classrooms.
Phil Galvano was born in 1915 to Sicilian immigrants and started out as a caddy on Staten Island. After impressing Bob Hope’s agent, he began giving lessons to Hope and soon taught other celebrities, including Morey Amsterdam, Milton Berle, Joey Bishop, Carol Burnett, Johnny Carson, Perry Como, and Vic Damone. He and his wife, Betty, moved to Anna Maria Island in 1969. After he died of cancer in 1996, his son Bill started the Phil Galvano Golf Classic, according to the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.
“My father was a firm believer that there was no better way to a quality life than education, so this annual golf tournament benefiting the Manatee Education Foundation has been such a special and fitting tribute to his legacy over the last three decades,” Galvano said. “Through this tournament, we have been able to enrich the lives of countless students, providing them with resources and opportunities that they otherwise would not have had. I’m grateful to the community and supporters from around the state and nation for helping us grow this event year after year, so we can continue to do more for teachers and students in Manatee County.”
The tournament remains very popular. This year, all spots are filled and extra participants are on a waitlist. Along with the golf competition on the resort’s Links on Longboat Course, redesigned by Ron Garl in 2014, the event will also feature a special performance by high-wire artist Nik Wallenda.
Kathy Price, executive director of the Manatee Education Foundation, said the event is still a key part of the group’s fundraising. Founded in 1988, the foundation connects the private sector with Manatee County Public Schools and helps bring community support into local classrooms.
“This annual tournament means a great deal to our foundation, and we are deeply grateful for our continued partnership with the Galvano family,” Price said. “The millions of dollars raised through this event over the years have significantly expanded our ability to support teachers and students across Manatee County. Thanks to this funding, we can further enhance educational opportunities for families in our community, and we remain deeply appreciative of this ongoing support.”
