To many, it may seem unreal that this September will mark two decades since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 that shook the heart of America.

For the family of Bill Sugra, who lost his life at age 30 working in the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, that tragic and surreal day is never far from thought.

But the family has drawn light from the darkness of that day, raising $1,011,902 over 20 years to distribute to those in need through The Bill Sugra Memorial Fund For Needy and Disadvantaged Peoples – “Making A Million Dollar Difference” – as the Sugra family describes it. As part of that total, $127,300.00 is being awarded this year.

The annual Bill Sugra Memorial Golf Outing is the cornerstone of the organization’s fundraising efforts, and, after 20 years, will tee off for the final time Friday, Aug. 27 at Green Pond Country Club, Bethlehem Township.

Bill’s parents, Bill Sr. and El Sugra and sister Tracy Sell launched the fund. The golf outing is truly a family event, including Tracy’s husband Steven and their young children, Reagan and Tripp.

El Sugra said the fund began Sept. 12, 2001, when an eighth grade student at St. Thomas More School, Allentown, sent a note to now recently retired pastor Msgr. John Murphy suggesting proceeds from the school’s annual walk-a-thon be set aside for the Sugras in case they found Bill and needed the money for his hospital bills. The Sugras have been St. Thomas More parishioners since 1973.

“On that very day The Bill Sugra Memorial Fund was born, not only for our family, but for others,” El Sugra said.

“The golf outing has become our family, so this will be very emotional and bittersweet,” El Sugra said of the upcoming final event. “We have had such an overwhelming response to this golf outing.”

The enthusiastic response to the final outing has resulted in 144 golfers set to hit the greens at a noon shotgun start. Children will participate in the Lehigh Valley First Tee Program, a junior golf morning event where children receive instruction from PGA professional volunteers.

New this year is a morning golfing event that came about through Tom Santangelo, a Theta Chi fraternity brother of Bill Sugra at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). Santangelo had previously played in the golf outing and wanted to participate in the last one, but the field had filled by March because of the heightened interest in this being the last event. So Santangelo and approximately 40 fellow fraternity brothers and others from the waiting list will tee off in the morning.

Santangelo had pledged a semester before Bill Sugra at IUP. “Bill was a very good friend and fraternity brother. It is so amazing what you all have done to honor Bill in such a tragic situation,” Santangelo told the Sugra family. “He was an amazing brother to all of us. Back in 2015, I was able to take my family to the 9-11 memorial reflecting pools and found Bill’s name and paid my respects.”

While the Sugra family chairs the event, they will be joined by much appreciated co-chairs Jim Finnegan and Chris Birkhead. Msgr. Murphy will offer the prayer.

The day will wrap up with a dinner at Green Pond that includes a raffle and silent auction.

This year’s title sponsors are Jim and Lynne Finnegan and HatTrick Technology Solutions LLC.

Platinum sponsors are Robert and Kristen Bennett, The Sell Family, I.B.E.W. Local Union 375, Plumbers Local Union 690 and One Financial Services – Jack Marrone.

Past grant recipients include Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank, Allentown Symphony Association, Greater Lehigh Valley Muscular Dystrophy Association, Lehigh County Conference of Churches, Liberty Bell Shrine, Lutheran Congregational Services, Meals on Wheels Lehigh County, Meals on Wheels Northampton County, Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley Inc., Pennsylvanians for Human Life, Sacred Heart Hospital, Special Olympics Lehigh County, The Salvation Army Sunday Dinner and Third Street Alliance for Women and Children.

The fund will continue after the golf outing ends. Contributions can be made through the fund’s website https://billsugramemorialfund.com/.