| Co-chair Kevin Murray and son Aidan Tighe at the event |
Hedge funds figured prominently at a golf fundraiser on Monday to benefit research and advocacy group Autism Speaks, raising nearly $1 million. Employees of MKP Capital Management, Carlson Capital, Avenue Capital Group and Marathon Asset Management were among the about 300 people who sponsored and attended the event at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York City suburb Mamaroneck.
Attendees mixed with celebrity actors like Emmanuelle Chriqui, who plays Sloan on HBO’s Entourage, and Matthew Settle, who plays Rufus on The CW’s Gossip Girl. There were also sports stars like New York Giants linebacker Michael Boley and former New Jersey Nets player Cliff Robinson.
“It was a great day for autism and for the people who support the growing number of children with this devastating disease,” said event co-chair Kevin Murray, head of business development at G2 Investment Group, part of Forbes Private Capital Group. “The hedge funds involved are truly making good investments for the future.”
Murray, a longtime autism advocate, has run the golf benefit for 14 years. It has raised more than $20 million since it began in 1998, when it benefitted the group he and his wife Susan founded in 1997, Autism Coalition for Research and Education. ACRE later merged with Autism Speaks, a national leader often supported by hedge fund managers including John Paulson of Paulson & Co., Wesley Edens of Fortress Investment Group, Louis Bacon of Moore Capital Management and Jim Simons of Renaissance Technologies.
Others from the industry at the tournament Monday were Patrick McMahon, co-founder of MKP; Larry Foley, co-founder of Bronson Point Partners; Mike Vranos, founder of Ellington Fund Management; and Ken Tropin, chairman of Graham Capital Management.