The Greenfield Knights of Columbus is seeking sponsors and raffle donations for its eighth annual charity golf tournament benefiting the Franklin County Community Meals Program on May 21. The organization said it will be its largest tournament ever with over 140 golfers already signed up.
Knights of Columbus member and owner of Dillon Chevrolet Jay Dillon said this year’s tournament partner, Franklin County Community Meals Program, will receive a portion of the proceeds from the event. Last year’s tournament raised roughly $3,500 for the United Arc in Greenfield.
“We had done the United Arc two years in a row, and were still looking for another charity to partner with,” Dillon said. “There are so many great choices, but we thought with the need for food security that the Franklin County Community Meals Program was the right fit this year.”
Proceeds from the tournament will go to support the FCCMP’s general funds and ongoing programs. The Franklin County Community Meals Program operates six sites across Franklin County, including the Mobile Food Bank in Turners Falls, the Turners Falls Meal Site at Our Lady of Peace Church on 7th Street in Turners Falls, the Orange Meal Site in the Orange Armory at 155 East Main Street in Orange, the Orange Food Pantry at 118 East Main St, the Greenfield Meal Site at the Second Congregational Church at 16 Court Square in Greenfield, and the GCC Food Pantry in Greenfield.
“We’re grateful to be chosen as the recipient organization,” said Franklin County Community Meals Program Executive Director Rachel Berggren. “We’re working in partnership with [the Knights of Columbus] to coordinate the event. We’ll be there the day of with an outreach table, so people can stop by to chat with staff members and board members of FCCMP.”
The May 21 tournament will be held at Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston. This year, Knights of Columbus members said, the U.S. Open qualifier will be held at Crumpin-Fox just before the tournament (May 17), “guaranteeing that the course will be in excellent shape.” Crumpin-Fox golf pro Jamie Ballard said they have enjoyed hosting the Knights of Columbus’ annual tournament, often attended by community members and local business owners.
The event is an 18-hole, four-person scramble with tee advantages for senior golfers. Staggered tee time starts will be between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. The entry fee is $125 per person, and includes green fees, carts, use of the practice range and prizes for winners. Due to COVID-19 health restrictions, lunch will not be served that day, but a $40 gift card will be given to all golfers and can be used at any time for meals at Zeke’s Bar and Grill at the golf course, or for pro shop credit.
Raffle tickets are available for $5 each or five for $20, and you do not need to play in the tournament to purchase tickets. Dillon said they are reaching out to more local businesses asking them to sponsor the raffle and donate prizes, such as restaurant gift cards.
“We’re trying to support local restaurants by getting restaurant gift cards, as well as local merchants with shopping gift cards,” he said.
Dillon Chevrolet will also be sponsoring a hole-in-one contest, with the chance to win a new car if golfers can record a hole-in-one on the selected hole.
“We’ll actually put the car on the hole, so people will probably get really nervous and duff it, and end up in the woods,” joked Dillon.
In addition to benefiting the Franklin County Community Meals Program, tournament proceeds are the primary means of funding the Knights of Columbus’ charitable giving during the rest of the year. Last year’s giving included; awarding two $1,000 high school scholarships, supporting the Catholic Life Conference, the Greenfield YMCA, Baystate’s “Wheeling for Healing,” the Montague Catholic Social Ministries, the Greenfield Recorder’s “Warm the Children” campaign and more.
The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal organization made up of Catholic men with goals focused on charity, unity, patriotism and fraternity. The charity golf tournament has been held at Crumpin Fox annually, with sponsors including Sandri Energy, Manny’s Appliances, Greenfield Savings Bank and several other local businesses.
To sign up for the golf tournament, and to inquire about donating to the raffle or purchasing tickets, call Knights of Columbus members Lou Grader (413-774-2848), Bob Wanczyk (413-774-2465), Joe Ruscio (413-768-9876) or Paul Doran (413-522-1800).
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.