Camp Sponsors Sought

Nellie Wallace, Bradford Hospital Foundation’s director of annual giving, takes a putt on the practice green at Pine Acres Country Club with some help from Kirk Stauffer, the club’s golf pro. The two met earlier to discuss plans for the upcoming Pine Acres/Bradford Hospital Foundation Pro-Am For Kids that will be held July 7 at the club.
(Photo Courtesy of BRMC)


The popular Pine Acres/Bradford Hospital Foundation Pro-Am For Kids on July 7 may have all its slots filled for 28 teams but there’s still time to be a part of the event as a non-competing sponsor. Proceeds from the charity tournament benefit Helping Hands Retreat, a free children’s bereavement camp, held Aug. 8-10 at Camp Penuel in Eldred. The camp, where registration is still under way, is for children between age 8 and 12 who experienced a loss in their young life. It’s hosted by staff from Bradford Regional Medical Center’s (BRMC) McKean County VNA & Hospice.

“This is the third year we and Bradford Hospital Foundation have held the Pro-Am For Kids tournament and it’s been very well received by our membership, the pros and other golfers. It’s a premier event,” says Kirk Stauffer, Pine Acres golf pro.
Anyone who wants to be a non-competing tournament sponsor can contact Mr. Stauffer at Pine Acres at 814-362-2005, e-mail kstauffer@pineacrescc.com, or call the Foundation at 814-362-3200.

A new twist this year is the charity tournament will have its first female golf pro, Jennifer Eberlein of Lawrence Park Golf Club in Erie. “I approached her and she said she’d love to play,” Mr. Stauffer says, noting, “A few more women wanted to be in the
tournament but they wanted to play with a female pro.”

One golfer thrilled to see the first female pro play in the tournament is Virginia Hauser, executive director of Bradford Hospital Auxiliary. ”We are really excited for the opportunity to play with a female pro and support such a worthy cause,” Mrs. Hauser says.

“This event has grown over the years and with the addition of a female professional, we hopefully can attract more women participants,” she says.

Each tournament team will be comprised of one professional golfer from the Western New York PGA Section and three amateurs. Proceeds from the field of 112 golfers will benefit the bereavement camp, say tournament organizers. In the first two years the Pro-Am For Kids has been held, “The tournament has raised $7,800 for the camp,” Mr. Stauffer notes.

The Foundation couldn’t be more pleased with how the charity tournament has evolved to benefit the camp. “We’re very appreciative of Kirk’s efforts to work with us on
this tournament. It’s a great way to support children in our community who are grieving over a loss,” says Nellie Wallace, the Foundation’s director of annual giving who’s also an avid golfer. She helped plan the first Pro-Am For Kids with Mr. Stauffer and Jeff Gabel, Bradford Regional Medical Center’s Plant Services director. The three have worked on the tournament every year since its inception.

Pine Acres and the Foundation joined efforts when Mr. Stauffer wanted to support a charity that would benefit children at a local camp. “It was easy for us to want to be involved with a charity like this that’s a win-win for everyone,” Mr. Stauffer says.

Anyone interested in registering or getting information about the camp should call the VNA at 814-362-7466. In 2005, Foundation officials announced the establishment of the Melissa A. Price McKean County VNA Children’s Bereavement Camp Named Fund, founded by the family of Miss Price. Contributions to the fund support the Helping Hands Retreat.