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3rd annual 'Charity Hockey Classic' presented by PGA REACH WNY to benefit Special Olympics New York

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Tue, Nov 19th 2019 09:20 am

On Friday, Nov. 22, golf professionals from the Western New York PGA will team up to raise money for the local Special Olympics New York golf program. They will participate in a traditional six-on-six hockey match.

The “Charity Hockey Classic” will be held from 8:15-10:15 p.m. at HarborCenter, Rink 1, 100 Washington St., Buffalo.

“We are excited to once again be involved in the ‘Charity Hockey Classic,’ a vision of our PGA Professionals three years ago,” said Steve Bartkowski, executive director of PGA REACH WNY. “The PGA REACH WNY Foundation, led by its 300 PGA golf professionals, has a mission to impact lives in the community through the game of golf. We are dedicated to supporting the Special Olympics New York golf program, because it gives these athletes the opportunity to thrive and succeed in a sport that is so often tagged as non-inclusive. One of the founding pillars of PGA REACH WNY is inclusion, and this fits directly in line with what we are trying to accomplish as a foundation.”

“What an incredible honor for Special Olympics New York to receive the proceeds from the ‘Charity Hockey Classic’ for the third consecutive year,” said Stacey Hengsterman, president and CEO of Special Olympics New York. “We are grateful for the ongoing support of PGA REACH WNY, not only as host of the ‘Classic,’ but also in sharing the message of inclusion with the Western New York community through this unique and engaging event.” 

Each player in the event was tasked with raising $250 for the organization. Last year, this event raised $7,800 and sponsored 15 local Special Olympics athletes for an entire year.

About Special Olympics New York

Special Olympics New York is the largest state chapter in the country, serving more than 67,000 athletes with year-round sports training, athletic competition and health screenings. The organization also partners with more than 170 schools statewide to offer Unified Sports. All Special Olympics New York programs are offered at no cost to athletes, their families or caregivers. For additional information about Special Olympics New York, to learn more about getting involved, or to make a donation, visit www.specialolympicsNY.org.

About PGA REACH WNY Foundation

The PGA REACH WNY Foundation was created in 2010 by WNYPGA professionals with a goal of providing support to various organizations in the Buffalo, Rochester, Erie and the Southern Tier through the game of golf. With a focus on benevolence, the foundation looks to fund various programs such as the Western New York Section PGA Junior Golf and various underprivileged youth golf programs. Another focus of the foundation is to partner with a variety of initiatives that serve the physically challenged, the military, and female golf.

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