TOM PERNICE JR CHARITIES
Tom focuses his charitable efforts on the University of Iowa Foundation, whose mission is to advance the University of Iowa and fulfill the aspirations it seeks. One of the University of Iowa’s professors, Dr. Edwin M. Stone, is researching Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis, the same degenerative genetic disorder Tom’s daughter Brooke has that causes her blindness. Dr. Stone’s clinical trials have led people with LCA to regain their vision in the past few years. By supporting Dr. Stone’s research, Tom hopes Brooke and others with that disorder may regain their sight.
ABOUT US
The Tom Pernice, Jr. Charity Golf Classic, now an annual event, benefits Tom Pernice, Jr. Charities, a foundation that supports a number of causes.
The Unforgettables Foundation, which provides a dignified burial for low income families who have lost a child. Pernice, 56, has lived at Bear Creek for 16 years with his two daughters, Kristen 22, who recently graduated from the University of Louisville, and Brooke, 21, who is a Senior at Belmont University in Nashville.
Brooke, blind since birth, was the reason that the Pernices left Missouri 19 years ago for treatment by a Santa Monica acupuncturist. Born with an inherited retinal degenerative condition, she has become an accomplished Christian singer and song writer with several recorded albums. Brooke is now on her way to gaining her degree in Theology.
Tom has chosen the The University of Iowa Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research as one of his charities to benefit. The other charity near and dear to his heart is The Unforgettables. Tom grew more aware of The Unforgettables through his daughter Brooke, who performed at several of their charity events.
The Unforgettables Foundation
With a large group of volunteers and a superb staff on hand we are Blessed to have the ability to host many fundraising events throughout the year and partner with organizations to raise awareness for our organization. This event started five years ago as just that, a thought, and here we are today. We are well on our way to a huge annual event that is the event to be attended by any and all who wish to make a difference!
The Unforgettables Foundation has become dear to my family’s heart as my daughter Brooke became heavily involved with the organization. Now, I cannot imagine a day without being a part of this truly remarkable Foundation.. I have had the opportunity to share this beautiful organization with you, my friends and family, and I am glad to have you on this journey with me as we continue to support Tim Evans and his team grow and spread the healing word.
The First Tee
The First Tee of the Inland Empire, CA was co-founded by Pernice in 2015 with two-time PGA Championship winner Dave Stockton to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. An annual award, “The Tom Pernice, Jr. Award of Excellence”, is given to a member of the chapter based on his/her contributions and hard work for the chapter during the year.
The First Tee is an international youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to young people. Through after-school and in-school programs, we help shape the lives of young people from all walks of life by reinforcing values like integrity, respect and perseverance through the game of golf. And it’s making a difference.
Iowa Eye Institute
The Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research was created to accelerate the eradication of heritable human blindness through interdisciplinary research, education and clinical care. Dr. Edwin Stone and his team of researchers currently blaze a trail towards a cure for Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis (LCA), the same genetic degenerative genetic disorder that Tom’s daughter, Brooke, was born with.
The Institute’s mission is to develop effective treatments for all forms of genetic blindness, ranging from very common conditions like Age-related Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma that affect millions of people worldwide, to individually rare but collectively common disorders like Retinitis Pigmentosa, Stargardt Disease, Best Disease, Usher Syndrome, and Leber Congenital Amaurosis.
The path to this ambitious goal will take advantage of the intrinsic interchangeability of biological systems to create a series of “reusable parts” that can be combined in a wide variety of ways to engineer effective treatments for every phase of even the rarest genetic eye diseases. Philanthropic support will be especially important to help scientists work across departmental, collegiate and institutional boundaries to develop these reusable tools as rapidly as possible.
