Sunny weather and spirited competition highlighted the 29th annual TRC Golf Classic, which raised over $80,000 to improve the lives of people with special needs in Chautauqua County. This represents the most money raised since 2003 and brings the tournament’s cumulative net proceeds to about $1.93 million since the event was first held in 1997.

Twenty-eight foursomes competed in the tournament, held July 21 at Moon Brook Country Club near Jamestown.  Winning the tournament with a score of 120 in the two-best-ball of four format and repeating their win last year, was the team of Michelle Grisanti, Mike Grisanti, Lindsay O’Connor and Dominick Borrello.  They will have their names engraved on the champions’ trophy, which is called The Gregg Bender Cup in honor of the retired TRC employee and former longtime chair of the tournament’s steering committee.

Earning top honors in the first flight with a score of 123 was the team of Jon Gren, Tom Olson, Mike Goldman, and Derek Dawson.  Finishing atop flight two with a 122 was the team of William Brothers, Giana Rich, Doug Bulman, and Kevin Conway. 

Once the tournament concluded, the traditional Special Olympics putting contest took place.  21 athletes participated, with each Special Olympian getting one chance to make a lengthy putt.  The competitor whose ball came to rest closest to the hole was Nick Kenzie. 

Following appetizers and a buffet dinner prepared by Moon Brook staff, awards were presented to the top teams in the tournament, and prize drawings were held.  Kelly Dimitri, TRC’s chief operating officer, thanked the golfers for participating in the tournament, which raises money to support people with disabilities in Chautauqua County.

For the 14th straight year, Lake Shore Bank was the presenting sponsor.  Other major sponsors were HM Insurance Group, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, the Winifred Crawford Dibert Foundation, Assured Partners, Bryans & Gramuglia, Double Tree by Hilton Jamestown, Jamestown Container Companies, Kinetic – Internet Service Provider, Klice Lawn & Landscaping, Ocean State Innovations, SKF USA, Inc., The Post-Journal, UPMC Chautauqua, and USI Insurance.

Hole and specialty sponsors included Arthur R. Gren Company, Bond, Schoeneck & King, Collaborative Children’s Solutions, Comparion Insurance Agency, Conrad Office Products, Courier Capital, EYM Enterprise, Fenton Mobility Products, Inc., Fredonia Beaver Club, FSC Systems, Graf Realty, HCH Interiors, Health System Services, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY, Independent Health, Inscale Architects, Integrated MedCraft, Jamestown Awning, Jamestown Macadam Inc. (JMI), Jamestown Mattress, Jim and Sally Jaroszynski, Joe and Terry Ribaudo, KeyBank, Kinley Contractors, LaBella Associates, Lake Shore Paving, LUV Toyota,  M.J. Foley Co., Paul and Jennifer Capitano, Phil and Cindy Ribaudo,  Philadelphia Insurance Companies, Pucci Carpet One Furniture & Bedding,  Rand Community Philanthropic Foundation, Shults Auto Group, SM Cristall, Sun Life, Tabone Southtown’s Sealing, Twinstar Business Solutions, TRC’s Executive Management Team, UPMC Chautauqua, WCA Foundation, Weber Knapp Company, Winning Tree, YKK Tape Craft Corporation, and Youngsville Hardware.

The following donated items: ACME The Appliance Store, Charcuterie by Carrie, Chautauqua Golf Club, Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, Coca-Cola, Conrad Office Products, Duke Duguay, DFT Communications, Fredonia Beaver Club, Gerber Blades, Jason Stronz, Kinetic – Internet Service Provider, Klice Lawn & Landscaping, Lutheran, Mike Goldman, Mike Roberts, Patrick Smeraldo, Philadelphia Insurance Companies, PRO Oil, Inc., South Hills Country Club, Smokin’ Bear Cigars, Southern Tier  Brewing Company, Southern Tier Distilling Company, Textile Network,  and ZTS Management LLC.

The tournament’s success is due in large part to the efforts of its steering committee: Chris Anderson, chair; Gregg Bender, chair emeritus; Nicholas Bell, Daniel Bender, Anthony Cusimano, Adam Dimitri, John Felton, Todd Frangione, R. Michael Goldman, Carrie Graham, John Gullo, Cindy Hitchcock, Mike Roberts, Patrick Smeraldo, Jason Stronz, Victoria Bardo, Timur Tyra, Tad Wright, Gary Yager, and Ben Windoft.

Also critical to the tournament’s success were the contributions of its other event-day volunteers: Kevin Anderson, Theresa Butts, Kayla DePane, Kelly Dimitri, Kathy Field, Austin Mitchell, Jacqueline Phelps, Sarah Pillittieri, Phil Ribaudo, Jenna Silzle, Karen Silzle, and Steve Waterson.

“The 29th annual TRC Golf Classic, in terms of money raised, was our most successful event since 2003!  An absolutely amazing accomplishment.  The weather was perfect, and the golf course was in superb condition,” Chris Anderson said.  “The TRC Golf Classic is only made possible with the generous financial commitment of sponsors and the dedication of many volunteers and the staff at Moon Brook Country Club.  Together, they make a lasting difference in the lives of people in our community.  It is an honor to lead such a successful and important event and have a dedicated team of committee members ensuring the tournament’s continued success.”

TRC Golf Classic proceeds benefit Filling the Gap, Inc., a Jamestown-based not-for-profit organization that works with The Resource Center to improve the lives of people with disabilities and other socioeconomic challenges. Money raised through the tournament is directed to The Resource Center TRC Foundation Fund at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. Filling the Gap annually awards grants utilizing some of the money raised through TRC Golf Classic and other events.

The 30th TRC Golf Classic is tentatively scheduled for July 20, 2026. The steering committee has an ambitious goal of reaching $2 million dollars in net proceeds for next year’s event.  Businesses interested in sponsoring the event can contact Anderson at 716-483-2344, ext 90167.

CAPTIONS

(Winners)

Pictured from left are the members of the winning team: Michelle Grisanti, Mike Grisanti, Lindsay O’Connor and Dominick Borrello. 

(Nick Kenzie)

Nick Kenzie, right, won the Special Olympics putting contest.  He is pictured Kevin Anderson, left, a Resource Center employee and Special Olympics golf coach.

Money raised through the Laurel Run/Walk is directed to The Resource Center Laurel Run Fund at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

Members of this year’s Project SEARCH graduating class proudly display their diplomas.

Each year, Filling the Gap, Inc., uses money from the Laurel Run Fund to award grants that do one of three things:

• provide employment and work training opportunities for people with disabilities;
• enhance the independence of people with disabilities;
• promote disability awareness initiatives.

This year, $13,800 in Laurel Run Fund money was awarded to support these initiatives:

• Project SEARCH, a collaboration between The Resource Center and UPMC Chautauqua in which people with developmental disabilities complete a nine-month internship to prepare them for work in a health care setting. Several Project SEARCH graduates have been hired by UPMC Chautauqua.
• A Summer Career Camp so students and young adults can gain hands-on knowledge about working in the automotive, culinary, landscaping, and retail fields. The two five-day Career Camps, which will take place in August, also will address financial literacy and provide training on using the CHQ Transit system.
• THRIVE, a TRC program that supports people in addressing their goals. THRIVE, which stands for Teaching Habits and Re­sources for Independence, Vitality and Em­powerment, is a new program. Thus far members have learned about making healthier dietary decisions and how to reduce stress and deal constructively with their emotions.
• Sprout Film Festival, a series of short films that focus on the experiences of people with disabling conditions.
• Kids & Sibs Camp, a collaboration among The Resource Center and other community agencies to provide a two-day camp experience for children with special needs and their siblings.
• TRC’s Occupational Therapy Department.

A Kids & Sibs Camper spends quality time with a horse.

Beginning this year, a portion of the Laurel Run/Walk proceeds will be used to support the Dr. John Vona Smile Fund. The fund was created in memory of Dr. Vona by his children. Dr. Vona was a respected and beloved dentist who spent the last 20 years of his career at The Resource Center’s Dunkirk dental clinic, where he was committed to meeting the oral health needs of people with disabilities. The Smile Fund will support the delivery of quality dental services to people with disabilities.

Two members of the THRIVE group make pizzas using healthy ingredients they found after doing research.

Please consider making a donation to support the Laurel Run Fund.

Now in its 29th year, the Laurel Memorial Run/Walk generates lots of smiles in its celebration of people with developmental disabilities. This year will be no exception, but with a twist as the event expands to improve the oral health of people with special needs.

The Laurel Run/Walk takes place over the course of two days. Activities begin Friday, July 18. A kickoff ceremony will be held at 8:00 a.m. in The Resource Center’s facility at 75 Jones & Gifford Avenue in Jamestown. At about 8:30, volunteer runners will set off on the initial leg of the relay run to Dunkirk. Representatives from The Resource Center and area school districts, as well as Sheriff Jim Quattrone and employees of the Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility in Brocton, will run the various legs of the relay while carrying Laurel Run flags. Patrol units from area law enforcement agencies accompany the runners to ensure their safety on the busy roads.

This year’s logo was created by Silver Creek High School student Sebastian Yaskow.

The relay run ends in the parking lot of The Resource Center’s facility at 186 Lake Shore Drive West in Dunkirk. The community is invited to attend the victory celebration and to cheer on the last set of relay runners, who are expected to arrive between 1:00 and 1:15.

For the 13th straight year, several people are planning to jog and/or bike the entire 31-mile relay route. That event is called the Laurel-thon.

Anyone wishing to run a portion of the flag relay, or to take on the Laurel-thon, is invited to do so. Phone 716-661-4735 for information.

Also on Friday, Laurel’s Legacy Lap will take place from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. at McCrea Point Park in Jamestown. For that free event, people with disabilities will complete a lap along the paved path at the park.

The main Laurel Run/Walk activities take place the following day in Silver Creek. Check-in and registration begin at 7:00 a.m. in the village square. At 8:30, a 5-kilometer running race, a 5k disability awareness walk a 1k fun walk will begin, followed at 9:00 by an 8k running race.

Laurel Hotelling rides her cycle during a previous Laurel Run.

For the 5k and 8k events, medals will be given to the top three male and female finishers in each age group.  Besides the individual competition, there will be a team challenge. Awards will be given to the three fastest teams in both the 5k and the 8k, with each team’s time determined by the combined times of its first four finishers.

Saturday’s events also will include fun runs for children age 7 and younger starting at 10:00, followed by another Laurel’s Legacy Lap, which is for anyone with a disability.

The Laurel Run was created in 1997 by Silver Creek residents Wayne and Elaine Hotelling in honor of their daughter Laurel, who had Down syndrome. Thanks to the support she received from her family, her community and The Resource Center, Laurel had a full and productive life. She passed away in 2017 at the age of 54.

Money raised through the Laurel Run/Walk goes to Filling the Gap, Inc., which works with The Resource Center to improve the lives of people with disabilities and their families in Chautauqua County. Event proceeds are directed to The Resource Center Laurel Run Fund at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and are used to promote disability awareness initiatives and to enhance employment and work training opportunities for people with disabilities.

Beginning this year, a portion of the Laurel Run/Walk proceeds will be directed to the Dr. John Vona Smile Fund at the Community Foundation. This new fund was established by the children of Dr. Vona, a longtime dentist in Northern Chautauqua County who spent the last 20 years of his career at TRC Community Health Center. Dr. Vona, who died last year, was passionate about ensuring the oral health of people with disabilities, and the Smile Fund was created to provide money so people with special needs can access quality dental care.

Dr. John Vona

Coincidentally, Dr. Vona was the dentist for Laurel Hotelling and the Hotellings’ other children. He also was a regular attendee at the Laurel Run/Walk events in Silver Creek, cheering on his granddaughter, Kim (Vona) Tomasik, who has won the women’s 8k race a record eight times.

To register to participate in one of the events or to make a donation, visit www.laurel-run.com.

Dan and Beth Hocking, Owners of ACME The Appliance Store, recently donated a Frigidaire Chest Freezer that will be used for a drawing to support the 29^th Annual TRC Golf Classic.

The TRC Golf Classic is the major annual fund-raising event for Filling the Gap, Inc., a Jamestown-based non-profit organization that works with The Resource Center to support people with disabilities and other socioeconomic challenges in Chautauqua County. In its first 28 years, the tournament has netted over $1.84 million for the TRC Foundation Fund, which raises money to improve the lives of people with disabling conditions in Chautauqua County.

“The Resource Center is an integral asset for our community, said Dan Hocking.  “ACME the Appliance Store is pleased to once again serve as a community partner and donate this Frigidaire Chest Freezer to help raise money for the TRC Golf Classic.  Beth & I are strong advocates for our community and are pleased to assist the Resource Center, an organization that empowers others to realize their full potential.”

The 2025 TRC Golf Classic is scheduled for July 21 at Moon Brook Country Club in Jamestown.  This year’s event is sold out for the first time in over 20 years.  For more information, please visit www.trcgolfclassic.com.

Picture:  l to r – Colton Hanson and Justin Fardink, Special Olympics Athletes.

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