From the day Michael Stroud was born, Winthrop-University Hospital has been a lifesaver for him and his family. Surviving a difficult birth at what was then Nassau Hospital in the 1950s, Michael's mother credits the hospital's doctors and nurses with saving his life, and since then Winthrop caregivers have delivered lifesaving medical care to his daughter, mother and father (on more than one occasion), as well as other family members and friends.

"I wanted to do something to give back to the hospital," Stroud said recently. "You reach a point in your life where you've lived well, and you realize that it's time to do something for other people in need."

In 2005, Stroud rallied a group of business associates and friends to create the first annual Winthrop-University Hospital Cancer Center for Kids (CCK) Golf Outing. Since then, the CCK Golf Outing has raised more than $112,000 to help the children and their families who are being cared for at the center.

Stroud, who is a resident of Franklin Square and president of Atlas Investigations, Inc. located in Garden City South, and his colleagues chose the psychosocial programs at the CCK as the beneficiaries of their charity because the Center offers extensive support services for patients and families dealing with childhood cancer that are not covered by most insurance plans. Support groups and counseling for parents and siblings, arts and crafts and horticultural therapy and a school re-entry program that helps children make the transition back after treatment are among the complementary services offered for free to families by the center.

The third annual Cancer Center for Kids Golf Outing, held at the Hamlet Wind Watch Golf & Country Club in Hauppauge June 18, was a terrific success, raising almost $40,000 in support of these programs. Approximately 100 golfers enjoyed perfect golfing weather and panoramic views of Long Island's North Shore as they played 18 holes for a great cause. Together with co-chairs, Garden City resident Rosemary Cinquemani, partner in the law firm of Furey, Kerley, Walsh, Matera & Cinquemani, P.C. in Seaford, and Frank Catelli of Furey, Furey, Leverage, Manzione, Williams & Darlington, P.C. in Hempstead, Stroud and the organizers secured an impressive array of raffle prizes.

Fortunoff in Westbury, a major donor to the CCK Golf Outing for each of the past three years, contributed a ladies Tourneau watch, his and hers Movado watches and a beautiful chalcedony and ruby necklace. Jet Blue Airways sponsored a "Jet Blue Challenge" and donated a pair of round-trip tickets to anywhere the airline flies, as well as carry-on bags and discount coupons. Lexus of Massapequa provided a magnificent Lexus automobile for the Hole-in-One challenge, and while it was not claimed, it certainly generated significant excitement on the course.

Chef Paul Magro of Hicksville donated an in-home dinner for six, and several Long Island golf clubs donated foursomes. Banfi Vintners donated an oversized bottle of limited edition wine, and Rosemary Stroud of Levittown donated a mixed case of wines that featured custom-made labels sporting the Cancer Center for Kids logo.

"It's all about doing the right thing," Stroud continued. "We all have a responsibility to contribute to the community, and helping the children who are being treated at the Cancer Center for Kids is a terrific way to do just that."

For more information about Winthrop's Cancer Center for Kids or to become involved in the next CCK Golf Outing, call 663-9400 or visit www.winthrop.org/cck.