Bethpage family's annual 'Tee Up Fore Gina' golf outing gives back to children with serious illnesses
Doctors told her parents she had the rare genetic disorder Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome and only days to live. Today, Gina is 26 years old.
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A Bethpage family is turning years of support into hope for others through an annual charity golf outing inspired by their daughter, Gina.
When Gina Mirabella was born, she wasn't breathing. Doctors told her parents she had the rare genetic disorder Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome and only days to live. Today, Gina is 26 years old.
"They left that part out...that with a loving family, anything is possible," said her mother, Niki Mirabella.
After nonprofit Shared the Voice surprised Gina with an adaptive bike in 2015, her older brother, Ralph, launched the Tee Up Fore Gina Charity Classic to give back. He started it in 2025. Last year's event benefited Shared the Voice, a non-profit that provides adaptive tricycles to children. This year, proceeds will support KiDS NEED MoRE, which helps children with serious illnesses and their families.
"Now having kids of my own, going back to that village mentality, the reason why we picked Kids Need More was because of the whole village mentality," Ralph Mirabella said.
The Mirabellas say it took a village to help Gina thrive. Now, they're hoping to become part of someone else's.
The Tee Up Fore Gina golf outing is Thursday, Aug. 6, at The Woodside Club in Syosset.
