There was a Classic “Cookie” Celebration last week inside the Tri-City Elks Lodge No. 14 at 1915 West Shore Road in Warwick.

There were two check presentations of $5,000 each to Operation Stand Down and Rhode Island Community Food Bank that were raised during the recent 3rd Annual Albert “Cookie” DeLory Memorial Golf Tournament.

There were three special awards presented to Lori Amoroso, Deb and Noel Peticse and Jim Turner of EW Gardner Golf Cars “for their most outstanding contributions and generosity that resulted in the nine-hole tournament being a social and financial success.”

Those three special awards included a personalized Rhode Island House of Representatives proclamation presented by Warwick resident and veteran State Rep. Joseph Solomon, who is also a long-time friend of the Tri-City Elks and a tournament sponsor.

There was also a surprise announcement made by Kelly Seigh, Director of Corporate and Community Relations for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank who said, “because of a matching food bank grant the $5,000 donation will be for $10,000 as the result of the End Hunger Matching Gifts Challenge.”

“That’s outstanding!” exclaimed Richard DeLory, son of the late Cookie DeLory and tournament co-chairman. “It’s heart-warming to know that we can help people put food on their tables as the result of the money we raised and especially since its being matched.”

DeLory also made the $5,000 presentation to Brian Sullivan, an official from Operation Stand Down Rhode Island and told the audience “My father loved helping veterans and we are proud to make this donation in his memory.”

To which Sullivan added: “We can’t thank you for this wonderful donation. Veterans are always in need and this generous gift will go a long way in helping our daily mission.”

Sullivan then received a mock check, produced by Meaghen Foster of Bori Graphics, that Operation Stand down will display at their headquarters in Johnston.

Bob Hartington, a Past Exalted Ruler at Lodge 14 and tourney co-chairman, presented a mock check to Seigh along with the $5,000 check.

The 3rd Annual Albert “Cookie” Memorial Golf Tournament raised over $16,000 of which $3,000 - $1,500 each - will be used for scholarships to a boy and girl who will attend either a trade or business school.

“This was such a special memorial for Cookie,” said Carol DeLory, the late Delory’s widow. “It was so heart-warming to see such an outpouring of support again this year for one of our absent members whose memory lives on.”