Many of Long Island's leading business executives and friends of Telecare gathered recently at the organization's headquarters in Uniondale to initiate plans for Telecare's 21st Annual Golf Classic to be held May 21. Morton S. Bouchard, III, president, Bouchard Transportation Company, Inc., has been named honoree and Joseph Dussich, Jr., chairman and CEO, JAD Corporation of America, has been designated chairperson for this year's event, said Monsignor Thomas J. Hartman, director of radio and television for Telecare.

The golf classic is held simultaneously at four of Long Island's North Shore country clubs: The Meadow Brook Club in Jericho, The Creek Club and Piping Rock Club in Locust Valley and Pine Hollow Country Club in East Norwich. The event is organized to accommodate over 500 golfers at the club of their choice.

"I am proud Telecare has so many faithful friends who continue to help us with our special mission," said Monsignor Hartman at the kick-off meeting. "The success of Telecare's 21st annual golf classic, as with the 20 that came before, is due to the generosity of each and every participant, and their collective commitment to Long Island and a better world."

Mr. Bouchard represents the fourth generation in charge of Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc., the largest independent, privately owned, ocean-going petroleum barge operator in the US. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company and its long-term strategic planning for the future.

"Being named Telecare's honoree for the 2001 Golf Classic touched me immensely," said Bouchard. "I am proud to have the opportunity to continue to support Telecare's mission to bring Long Islanders and people throughout the world together. It's the dedication and hard work of everyone involved with Telecare that brings all of us closer to peace and harmony."

The classic's chairman, Joseph Dussich, helped build JAD Corporation of America, a manufacturer of plastic bags and distributor of building maintenance supplies, serving residential and commercial properties throughout New York and the US. Dussich also founded American Bulb Corporation, a leader in the lighting industry servicing General Electric, Sylvania and Philips.

Sponsorships for the classic, reservations for golf and journal ads are still available. For more information call 538-8700.

Telecare is a nonprofit, state-of-art television and production facility of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. For more than 30 years, Telecare has been dedicated to answering a critical need on Long Island: to provide millions of viewers with quality, values-oriented television. On a daily basis, Telecare produces and presents 24 hours of ecumenical programming unlike any other on TV. Its programming is positive, uplifting, educational and informative. Telecare is concerned with local and community-based news, as well as global events. Most importantly, Telecare brings a spiritual focus to all aspects of its organization.