Brightside Golf Classic Raises $128,255

HOLYOKE — Warm temperatures and high humidity didn’t slow down golfers at the 36th annual Brightside Golf Classic on July 25. The tournament, which drew 208 golfers to Springfield Country Club in West Springfield, raised $128,255 to help continue the work of Brightside for Families and Children as a nonprofit child-welfare and family-support organization for at-risk children, adolescents, and their families.

“Since its founding as an orphanage in 1881, Brightside has strived to meet the needs of the region’s most vulnerable children and adolescents. And while those needs have changed considerably over the years, Brightside has adapted by restructuring its programs and services in order to continue to provide assistance to those in need,” said Dr. Scott Wolf, president of Mercy Medical Center and the Sisters of Providence Health System (SPHS).

The funds raised through this year’s Golf Classic will help support Brightside’s efforts to assist children, adolescents, and families in need through family outreach and stabilization, psychiatric and medication evaluation and management, special education, and therapeutic mentoring.

Golf committee chairs included John Kendzierski, president, Professional Drywall Construction Inc.; Matthew Sosik, president and CEO, Easthampton Savings Bank; William Wagner, president and CEO, Chicopee Savings Bank; and Allison Werder, president, MassLive. Sosik was also presented with the 2016 James P. Corridan Memorial Award for his commitment to Brightside’s mission to serve and support children and families in need. The Corridan Award is presented each year in memory of James Corridan, who worked with community leaders to build awareness about the work done at Brightside and was instrumental in establishing and organizing the annual golf tournament. The award was presented this year by his wife, Eleanor Corridan.

Platinum sponsors for the Brightside Golf Classic were Chicopee Savings Bank Foundation, Easthampton Savings Bank, MassLive, Westfield Bank, and Wingate Healthcare.

“The support of our sponsors and participants in the annual Brightside Golf Classic is essential to our ability to continue to bring hope and healing through the programs and services of Brightside for Families and Children, and we are tremendously grateful for their generosity,” said Allison Gearing-Kalill, vice president, Fund Development at SPHS.

For more information, results, and links to photos, visit www.mercycares.com/brightside-golf-classic. Photos have also been posted to the Brightside Facebook page.