A must-attend event for waste industry professionals, the EREF Fall Classic & Networking Event brings executives of major waste companies together to support the Foundation and its mission to advance sustainable solid waste management practices.

For years, the Environmental Research & Education Foundation’s Fall Classic & Networking Event has been a must-attend event for waste industry professionals. Each year, executives of major waste companies come together in support of the Foundation and its mission to advance sustainable solid waste management practices.

This year’s event, held October 17 and 18 at Innisbrook Resort, grossed more than $370,000 and drew nearly 200 attendees. “The Fall Classic & Networking Event is a unique opportunity to not only support a non-profit organization, but also network with the industry’s leading executives,” said Bryan Staley, EREF CEO and President. “The continued success of this event indicates that companies see the value of EREF’s mission and consider us a worthy charitable investment. We are incredibly grateful to the sponsors, donors, participants and volunteers whose generosity allows us to pursue a sustainable future for solid waste.”

On the evening of October 17, the Fall Classic kicked off with the first-ever Welcome Reception and Casino Night, which featured an open bar and hors d’oeuvres followed by dinner and casino games including blackjack, poker and craps.

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Throughout the reception, attendees vied for first place in a putting contest, earning the winner a chance to sink a 50-foot putt to win $10,000. Participants in the contest met PGA tour professional, Bronson Burgoon, who recently finished T2 in the John Deere Classic. At the end of the night, casino night gamblers traded in their remaining chips for raffle tickets to win a variety of donated prizes including gift cards, goodie baskets and a drone.

The following morning golfers piled into their golf carts at the Island and North Courses. In addition to the experience of golfing on prestigious courses, EREF’s Fall Classic events feature exciting contests at multiple holes. This year, players competed to see who could drive a marshmallow the farthest and who could shoot a golf ball from an air rifle closest to the hole.

golf2Winners were announced at the awards luncheon following play. To determine the overall first place winner, a member from each course’s first place team chipped whiffle balls into a waste cart. After neither team successfully chipped a ball into the cart, the teams each had one chance to chip a whiffle ball closest to EREF Scholar, Ryan Joslyn, who volunteered throughout the tournament.

During the luncheon, Ryan, who is a Master’s student at the University of Central Florida, thanked attendees for their support of EREF through the Fall Classic and explained how his scholarship has impacted his academic and personal life. “The EREF scholarship has definitely provided monetary support that has helped finance me through my Master’s degree and given me a level of comfort that I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” said Joslyn. “[It has also given me] personal support through contacts of people that have helped me in some cases obtain research and understand certain topics that I might not have known otherwise.”

EREF is a 501(c)3 class charity that funds and directs scientific research and educational initiatives for waste management practices to benefit industry participants and the communities they serve. For more complete information on EREF funded research, its scholarship program and how to donate to this great cause, visit www.erefdn.org.

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