“Pathfinder Village helps people find their
way in life to independence, success, and
maturity — all the things you want for your family.”
Marian Mullet | Founder of Pathfinder Village
Golf event raises $50,000 for scholarships
Additional funds raised for Baseball Hall of Fame Education Programs
COOPERSTOWN, NY, September 10, 2019 … The team of Jeff Wait, Earle Hayford, Robert Schlather, and Denny Mirabito combined for a first-place win at the Pathfinder Village-Baseball Hall of Fame Golf Invitational, a charity event held at the Leatherstocking Golf Course on Tuesday, September 4. The tournament is expected to raise $50,000 in support of scholarships at Pathfinder, a nationally respected residential community and services provider that supports people with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities.
The Golf Invitational is also expected to raise $12,000 for the ongoing educational programs at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, so that the organization may continue its mission of preserving history, honoring excellence, and making connections among generations through Baseball.
Relief Pitcher Lee Smith of the Chicago Cubs, a 2019 Inductee into the Hall of Fame, returned to Cooperstown to serve as celebrity host during the tournament, which has been sponsored by The Otesaga Resort Hotel at Leatherstocking for 37 years. The tournament is also made possible by Presenting Sponsor NBT Bank, and Corporate Sponsor Coca-Cola Bottling of Northern New England.
The post-Labor Day competition featured 23 foursomes playing a two-best ball format. The NBT Bank-Albany team of Alan Alexander, Jerry Mastriani, John Roberts, and Bob Snyder Sr., placed second with a 125; Chris Baker, Brian Bruno, Mike Brown and Ron Clark, representing Coca-Cola Bottling placed third at 126.
Other top teams included the NYCM Insurance foursome of Dan Robinson, Bob Snyder, Mike Perrino and Jim Potts (126), and Vince Foti, Dave Weaver, Tim Miller and Brent Patry, representing Community Bank, finished in fifth with a 128.
Perrino and Frank Vergari received Closest to the Pin prizes, at Hole 3 and 12, respectively. In all, over $6,500 were awarded in prizes to the 1st-5th teams.
Golf events have been the major source for scholarship funds for Pathfinder residents and students since 1982 and directly help the Village’s 90-plus residents and students. More than $2.7 million has been raised for Pathfinder Village through the years.
The tradition of a Hall of Famer as the master of ceremonies began in 2004 and includes: 2018: Carlton Fisk; 2017: Tim Raines; 2016: Rollie Fingers; 2015: Ryne Sandberg; 2014: Bobby Cox; 2013: Rollie Fingers; 2012: Fergie Jenkins; 2011: Johnny Bench; 2010: Jim Rice; 2009: Mike Schmidt; 2008: Harmon Killebrew; 2007: Mike Schmidt; 2006: Robin Roberts; 2005: Carlton Fisk; 2004: Phil Niekro.
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Pathfinder Village is an internationally respected open-access community and services provider in upstate New York and was founded in 1980 to provide people living with Down syndrome and other disabilities an independent and fulfilling lifestyle. As it works to provide quality supports for individuals with intellectual disabilities, the Village also offers highly successful educational, day services, pre-vocational and outreach programs. To learn more, visit, or visit our fan page on the popular social networking site, Facebook.