Encinitas CA— gap intelligence, a values-led market research firm, will host the fifth annual Drives for Rides golf tournament benefiting the Emilio Nares Foundation (ENF), a non-profit that helps families navigate their child’s journey through cancer, on Friday, May 5, 2017 at the Encinitas Ranch Golf Course. The event will include a golf tournament with raffles and a silent auction, followed by a dinner banquet, during which guests will hear from an Emilio Nares Foundation patient family.
All money raised from Drives for Rides will support the Emilio Nares Foundation’s Ride With Emilio program, which ensures that no child misses life-saving cancer treatment due to lack of transportation, a proven need among low-income patient families. Ride With Emilio travels more than 100,000 miles each year to provide 4,250 free, hygienic rides to and from cancer treatments for patients and their accompanying family members.
“We feel so fortunate to have the support of golfers, volunteers and the team at gap intelligence who make this event a success every year,” said Richard Nares, co-founder and executive director of the Emilio Nares Foundation. “This fundraiser is critical in enabling us to support families through one of the most difficult times of their lives.”
Golfers are pampered throughout the event, beginning with lunch and opening remarks upon arrival, followed by a popular putting contest with prizes. Throughout the scenic golf course, golfers are treated to a beverage service and ongoing games and raffles. Strategically placed signs along the course remind golfers of how their participation raises funds to benefit young patients fighting for the lives.
“It has been a cherished tradition of ours to host this fundraiser every year,” said Gary Peterson, CEO of gap intelligence. “Our support of the Emilio Nares Foundation reaffirms our commitment to the community, and we are excited for an even more successful year of giving back to such an important cause.”
The evening program includes a sumptuous dinner buffet and presentation of raffle prizes and silent auction gifts. During dinner, golfers and their families will also hear from 15-year-old patient Yuntasha and her mother La Toya about the critical role that Ride With Emilio plays in their journey through cancer.
Yuntasha has battled cancer for most of her life. She first overcame leukemia when she was four years old, and is now battling a brain tumor. Without Ride With Emilio, one 20-minute trip to her treatment at Rady Children’s Hospital would turn into a 2.5-hour ordeal switching buses and hiking up steep hills, which is unsafe and nearly impossible for Yuntasha, who is already weak from her brain tumor, and immunocompromised from chemotherapy.
“I don’t know where we would be without the support and care of the Emilio Nares Foundation team, said La Toya, mother of Yuntasha. “Yuntasha and I are so thankful for the blessing of being honored at this event, which is so important for helping families like ours make it to their treatment appointments.”
Drives for Rides registration cost is $200 per golfer. This includes golf, cart, lunch, beverage service, dinner reception and prizes. Sponsorship packages range from $15,000 to $300, with a suite of benefits.

Event Details:

When: Friday, May 5, 2017
Where: Encinitas Ranch Golf Course, 1275 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024
Time: Registration opens at 11 a.m. Dinner banquet begins at 6:30 p.m.
To register for the event or to make a donation, visit https://www.classy.org/encinitas/events/drives-for-rides-2017/e106593.