Golf Tournament Raises $28,000 for Rescue Mission

The Third Annual Rescue Mission Golf Tournament sponsored by First Source Federal Credit Union raised just over $28,000 “to support our ministry of reaching out and changing lives,” announced the Rev. Bill Dodge, executive director of the Rescue Mission of Utica.

The June tourney at Twin Ponds Golf and Country Club featured 83 golfers, or 21 teams. Top team scores included the following awards:
-- First Place to Gates-Cole Insurance (Bill Cole, Joe Leo, Paul Abbass, Natalie Cole).
-- Second Place to Toby Taylor (Toby Taylor, Ron Wargo, Greg Emerson, Anthony Sardelli).
-- Third Place to Preferred Mutual Insurance (Chris Harris, Mike DeGironimo, Gene Heaney, Dan Thall).

Closest-to-the-Pin prizes were awarded in men’s and women’s categories on Par 3 holes:
-- Men – hole #6, Brian Freeman; #8, Randy Wilson; #13, Joe Leo; #15, Toby Taylor.
-- Women – hole #6, Karen Ryan; #8, Karen Ryan; #15, Natalie Cole.

Rev. Dodge said the teams, volunteers, corporate sponsors, tee sponsors, welcome-sign sponsors, food and beverage cart sponsors, and lunch sponsors all contributed to the success of the golf fundraiser.

Other major sponsors included:
-- Walmart stores in New Hartford, North Utica and Herkimer.
-- Perfex Corporation.
-- Garro Drugs.
-- Beebe Construction Services.
-- Gates-Cole Insurance.
-- DeSantis Meat Market & Deli.

Each year, the Rescue Mission serves nearly 130,000 meals to the hungry, provides over 20,000 nights of lodging and care to those facing homelessness, and assists over 1,000 men and women in their battle against substance abuse.