Fall events raise over $82,500 for Pathfinder Scholarships

Edmeston, New York, October 21, 2021 … The Pathfinder Village Tennis Classic and the Pathfinder Village-Baseball Hall of Fame Golf Invitational raised over $82,500 in support of Village scholarships. The annual assistance program provides direct financial aid to residents and students who receive services through the Edmeston-based livable community and disability services provider.

“We are grateful to our loyal sponsors and donors who supported this fall’s fundraisers following our pause year,” said Pathfinder Village Chief Executive Officer Paul C. Landers. “These events are important drivers for our Scholarship Fund, which has helped many individuals experience greater independence, fulfillment and growth through our community-based services.”

The 12th annual Tennis Classic was held on Saturday, September 11 at the Har-Tru courts of the Cooperstown Country Club and included 28 players in two flights. Following competitive round-robin, mixed doubles matches, Flight A Winners were Dave Lemire, New Hartford, and Chris Hulse, Cooperstown, who defeated Joe Corasanti, New Hartford, and Norma Schanz, Cooperstown (10-2). Flight B winners were Eileen Anania and Bill Weldon, both of Cooperstown, who defeated Lisa Roberts, Fly Creek, and Libby Lemire, New Hartford, (10-3).

The Tennis Classic was made possible by Trophy Sponsors the Dairy Farmers of America, Syracuse; Strategic Financial Services, New Hartford; Cameron and Doug Sokolik, Darien, Conn., Pat and Bob Hanft, Cooperstown, Francesca Zambello and Faith Gay, Richfield Springs, and other tennis enthusiasts. The event is organized by a volunteer committee of Charlie Kieler, Chris Hulse, Patrick Kinley, Jeanette Weldon, and is chaired by Pat and Bob Hanft.

“We were so grateful to be back on the courts this year in support of Pathfinder Village,” said Mrs. Hanft. “It was a great day of fun and tennis in support of a great cause.”

The tennis event was to be followed by tournament play on Wednesday, September 15 at Leatherstocking Golf Course for the Pathfinder Village-Baseball Hall of Fame Golf Invitational. Play was cancelled due to severe thunderstorms that coincided with the start of play; 84 players were registered for the two-best ball amateur round. National Baseball Hall of Fame Member Fergie Jenkins, Class of 1991, served as the celebrity host for the day, which concluded with an outdoor performance of the Pathfinder Hand Bell Choir and a banquet for both fundraisers at The Otesaga Resort Hotel.

Major sponsors of the Golf Invitational include Presenting Sponsor NBT Bank, Norwich; Corporate Sponsor Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Albany; Platinum Sponsor NYCM Insurance, Edmeston; and Diamond Sponsor Security Mutual Life Insurance Company, Binghamton. It is organized through a volunteer committee that includes Joe Meelan, Phil Lewis, Ken Meifert of the Hall of Fame, General Manager Marty Rosenthal of The Otesaga Resort Hotel, and is chaired by Leatherstocking Host Professional Tim Quirk and Daryl Forsythe, the former chairman of NBT Bank.

Pathfinder Village is an internationally respected open-access community and services provider in upstate New York that was founded in 1980 to provide people living with Down syndrome and other disabilities an independent and fulfilling lifestyle. As it works to provide quality supports for individuals with intellectual disabilities, the Village also offers highly successful educational, day services, pre-vocational and outreach programs. To learn more, visit pathfindervillage.org or visit our fan page on the popular social networking site, Facebook.