Baseball: James Volpe Foundation Golf Classic Coming Next Month

The third annual James Volpe Foundation Golf Classic is coming next month to help raise money to support local charities and fund four scholarships for local high school students.

The James Volpe Foundation was created in memory of former Jackson Memorial outfielder James Volpe, who died at 18 years old in a car crash in May of 2011. In the past three years, the foundation has awarded numerous scholarships, supplied holiday gifts and food to families suffering financial hardships, supported a SADD chapter at Jackson Memorial High School, donated to local Little Leagues to allow several dozen children to play baseball from families with financial hardships, donated to Children’s Specialized Hospital and more.

This year's golf outing will be on June 16 at Pine Barrens Golf Club in Jackson. There will be a shootout competition, closest-to-the-pin contest, awards, presentations and silent gift auctions. The golf portion of the outing begins with registration at 10:30 a.m., with lunch served at noon.  A shotgun start will begin at 12:30 p.m., with dinner at 5:30. The field is limited to 120 golfers and last year's event sold out, so it’s a good idea to sign up early to reserve your spot.

Entry fees are $200 per golfer which includes a gift bag, lunch, 18 holes of golf and dinner. There are also platinum ($1,500), gold ($1,000), silver ($500) and bronze ($250) sponsorships available for the outing, which entitles your company or business to opportunities such as a banner sporting your company logo on the golf course. Platinum and gold also include a golf foursome and other perks.

For those who can't make it to the golf portion, you can still reserve a seat for the buffet dinner at 5:30 for $40 per seat. For more information on sponsorships or to make golf or dinner reservations, please contact Linda Russo at: lirusso@optonline.net  or (646) 436-0975 by June 12. You can also visit the James Volpe Foundation website for additional information, buying into the golf event or to take a tour of past year's successful events.

This year the foundation was able to add an additional scholarship for incoming freshmen at Kean University, which is where Volpe was committed to attend before his tragic death.