Annual Brightside Golf Classic Raises $88,000
SPRINGFIELD — The 39th Annual Brightside Golf Classic turned out to be a great success, with 130 golfers raising $88,000 to help continue the important work of Brightside for Families and Children as a non-profit child welfare and family support organization for at-risk children, adolescents, and their families.
“Since its founding as an orphanage in 1881, Brightside has worked to meet the needs of the community’s most vulnerable children and adolescents,” said Mark Fulco, President of Mercy Medical Center and its affiliates. “While those needs have certainly changed over the years, Brightside has evolved its programs to provide vitally needed outpatient services to children and families.”
Hank Downey, vice president, commercial loan officer for Florence Savings Bank; John Kendzierski, founder and director of Professional Dry Wall Construction Inc.; Dan Moriarty, senior vice president and chief financial officer for Monson Savings Bank; and Dan Marini, vice president of Marketing and Sales Administration for Westfield Bank, served as chairs of the golf classic.
Dave Madsen, news anchor for Western Mass News, was presented with the 2019 James P. Corridan Memorial Award for his exemplary commitment to Brightside’s mission to serve and support children and families in need. A longtime supporter of Brightside, Madsen has also served as emcee of the golf classic banquet for many years. The Corridan Award is presented each year in memory of James Corridan, who worked with community leaders to build awareness about the important work done at Brightside and was instrumental in establishing and organizing the annual golf tournament.
Brightside for Families and Children provides in-home counseling and family support to more than 700 children and their families throughout Western Massachusetts. Services include resource coordination, parenting skills development, behavioral technique instruction, community support programs, and other programs tailored to prevent hospitalization from occurring. Specialized assessments such as neuropsychological evaluations and testing are also available.