SOUTHWICK-The Ranch Golf Club in town will be among three area courses hosting the 37th annual Jimmy Fund Golf Tournament/Jeffrey Vinick Memorial on June 13. The Longmeadow Country Club in Longmeadow, and Ellington Ridge Country Club in Ellington, Conn., are the other courses hosting the event.
Organized by the Jimmy Fund/Jeffrey Vinick Memorial Golf Committee, made up of more than 50 local volunteers, this year’s goal is to raise $375,000 for adult and pediatric cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The committee was recently recognized for its outstanding commitment and contributions as their tournament raised more than $10 million over the past 36 years.
The tournament is conducted in memory of Jeffery Vinick, an 18-year-old, three-sport varsity athlete who, 35 years ago, lost his life to cancer. Jeffrey lived in Longmeadow and excelled at soccer, basketball and baseball. He graduated from Longmeadow High School in 1981 and attended Springfield College for a few months before he passed away in March of 1982. A year later, the Western Massachusetts event was renamed in Jeffrey’s honor.
The event kicks off with a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. at each course. Tee time at all courses is 10 a.m. and a catered lunch is served at all three locations.
The schedule follows:
8:30 a.m. – Registration (continental breakfast provided and practice range open) 10 .am. – Shotgun start (bramble format – low gross and low net prizes) 4 p.m. – Cocktail reception 5:30 p.m. – Evening program begins
A Mix & Mingle dinner event will take place at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame starting with a cocktail hour at 4 p.m. The casual format will feature an all-new menu with hors d’oeuvres and food stations as well as live music. All proceeds go to Dana-Farber and the event is open to the general public as well as the day’s golfers. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased by calling Jimmy Fund Golf at 866-521-GOLF (4653).
The evening’s featured speaker is Becky McAvoy of Southwick, the mother of 3-year-old Avery who was diagnosed with stage IV high risk neuroblastoma at 11-months-old. McAvoy will impart her experiences with Avery and the treatment she received both in Springfield at Baystate Medical Center and in Boston at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She and her husband, Kevin, are happy to say that Avery is thriving in remission.
To learn more about becoming involved in this event, to volunteer or to attend the dinner, contact Jimmy Fund Golf at 866-521-GOLF (4653), email [email protected] or visit www.jfvinickgolf.org.
Jimmy Fund Golf is the oldest and largest charity golf program in the country. Now in its 34th year, Jimmy Fund Golf has raised more than $108 million to support adult and pediatric cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. From 18-hole golf tournaments to mini-golf events and day-long golf marathons, golfers of all ages and skill levels can conquer cancer through Jimmy Fund Golf. To learn more, visit www.jimmyfundgolf.org.
