SOUTHWICK – The Franklin Land Trust has announced the next fundraising event in an effort to reach the $5 million fundraising goal to preserve North Pond. The 3rd Annual Save North Pond Golf Tournament will take place on October 14 at Agawam Municipal Golf Course, with all proceeds going towards Save North Pond.
The 18 hole tournament starts at 1 p.m. and costs $95 per player or $380 per team of four. The deadline for registration is October 8 and interested individuals will be able to register online on the Save North Pond website.
North Pond. (WNG File Photo)
Cost of registration for each player will include greens fees, cart, and dinner at The Buccaneer Lounge that will follow after the golf tournament. During the dinner, there will also be a silent auction and raffle.
The Franklin Land Trust is seeking sponsors for the golf tournament. A hole sponsor costs $200 and includes a sign on the tee box or green. A bronze sponsor costs $1,500 and includes two players, a golf cart, dinner, and a sign on a green. The silver sponsor will cost $2,500 and four players with two golf carts, dinner, and two green-side signs. A gold sponsor will cost $5,000 and cover six players with three golf carts, dinner, and four green-side signs.
The first two Save North Pond golf tournaments raised about $20,000 each and Sabourin is looking forward to this year’s upcoming tournament.
“The Franklin Land Trust is excited to put on another golf tournament this year and hoping that folks from the community will come out, play and have a good time and know that they’re supporting a good cause,” said Sabourin.
Currently, the Franklin Land Trust and North Pond supporters have to raise about $1.5 million by June 30, 2019. Despite that deadline, Sabourin would like to have the fundraising finished by December 31, 2018.
“Our hope is that the fundraising will be set by the end of this calendar year,” said Sabourin.
The importance of having the money raised in time is significant as the landowner of North Pond, Denise LeClair-Robbins has informed the Franklin Land Trust that this is the last deadline she will extend.
“If the money isn’t raised (by June 30, 2019), then the owner will sell the land for development,” said Sabourin.
The original deadline was set for June 30, 2018, but due to the agreement between the land owner and Franklin Land Trust, the deadline was extended to June 30, 2019. The two parties were able to come to a signed agreement just days before the 2018 deadline.
