CHARITY HOCKEY CLASSIC -On Friday, November 2nd, the PGA REACH WNY Foundation teamed up with StayRich to conduct the 2nd Annual Charity Hockey Classic at Riverworks. PGA Goalie, Marc Rosa, made a save on a penalty shot with 40 seconds left to help team PGA win for the 2nd year in a row against Rich Products! The event raised $7,800 for the Special Olympics NY Golf Program—enough to sponsor 15 new Special Olympics athletes for a full year.
The Western Region of Special Olympics New York served 3,126 athletes in 2017. Athletes train and compete in a variety of 23 Olympic-style sports over the course of our summer, winter, and fall seasons. Competitions are held at local, regional, super-regional, and state levels in New York, giving our participants the chance to demonstrate their skills many times each year. The western region includes the counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara, and Orleans.
Two thriving golf programs operate out of the western region. The Chautauqua Lakers train and host competitions at Chautauqua Golf Club. The team usually has 40-50 athletes participating each year. The Erie Golf Club trains at Fox Valley in Lancaster and currently has 36 members. Athletes from both clubs participate in individual golf skills, alternate shot competition, nine-hole individual play, or 18-hole individual play.
Because of this fundraiser last year, the Western Region Golf Program has grown. There were 8 new athletes introduced to the game of golf in 2017. The Charity Hockey Classic presented by PGA REACH WNY and StayRich sponsored those athletes and gave them the opportunity to play.