On Monday, Sept. 30, about 200 golfers gathered at the Bellport country club over the course of 12 hours to kick off the 20th annual Kris Kringle season with a boom.    

“This is the first time that we’ve had to do two tournaments on the same day” said owner, Mark Miller. “When the Kris Kringle committee made the decision to honor Michele Lamartina, we knew we were going to need more than 120 golfers. Michelle is so loved and does so much for others. We knew this was gonna be a double tournament or we were gonna let down a lot of people, and if there is one thing that Michelle does not do, it is let down anyone.  EVER!”

The Kris Kringle is an annual fundraiser birthed at the Harbor Crab Restaurant in 2004. The mission of Kris Kringle is to identify families who were doing fine until something happened, some type of speed, bump, illness, loss of job, or bad luck but with the help of Kris Kringle, they are able to put them back on the path that they were once on. 
Kris Kringle starts with the golf tournament and then for two months, many people come up with different ideas with their children or their families to raise money until the final evening on Wednesday, December 18 when over 300 people will gather at the Harbor Crab until 8 o’clock when they go and surprise the first four of the families selected for this year. 
“The first year we started with one family that Fr. Kevin Smith had identified from Saint Francis DeSales that needed a miracle,” said Mark Miller. “What happened Next was indeed a miracle! When good people are or led for a good cause that’s when a miracle happens. We were hoping to raise, maybe $1,000 or $2,000 that first year. one thing led to another, and before you know it 300 people were gathered on a stranger’s front lawn with plenty of gifts, a spirit of love and hope and a giant cardboard check that said $18,000 on it. Instantly, that family was out of foreclosure!”
It is estimated that the golf tournament will raise $35-$40,000. By December 18, 2024 their goal is $150,000. If you or your family would like to help, please get in touch with Michele Lamartina or Mark Miller at the Harbor Crab.

“There is no such thing as a bad idea when you are led by the spirit of love,” the 20-year-old motto for Kris Kringle is still as relevant today as it ever was. “You get what you give in life. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Congratulations, Michelle and the entire committee for Kris Kringle.