BUTLER TWP — Christmas is a time of giving.

Ryan Good, 29, and his PACT (Prayers Answered Charity Tournaments) board members give all year, every year.

What began as a simple conversation among friends has developed into an aggressive charitable group that helps people in need through fun physical activities.

Butler resident Ryan Good, formerly of Ford City, is the founder of PACT, which enters its fourth year in 2020.

“We were sitting around the office one day trying to figure out a way to help somebody,” Good said. “It was simple as that. Then we decided we should try to help a lot of people.

“We decided to make it happen.”

The group organized a corn-hole tournament in 2017 to benefit Toby Collins, a Ford City youngster battling brain cancer. The event attracted 28 teams and $4,000 was raised to help cover Toby's medical expenses.

And PACT was born.

“The way it's taken off has been amazing,” Good said.

PACT has put together three events in 2020. The first is a flag football tournament April 25 in Ford City, benefitting Dan Smith, 29, who has been diagnosed with leukemia.

The second is a volleyball tournament May 9 at Butler's Alameda Park. Proceeds there benefit Sheigh Foster and her family. The mother of two boys, her husband lost his battle to mental illness in 2018.

The third event is a corn-hole tournament slated for the Fieldhouse in Cabot May 30. Proceeds benefit the Shawn Sweeny family. Shawn, 15, has a congenital heart defect and has already been through four heart surgeries.

Barkeyville resident Erika Campbell is on the PACT board. She also runs the Ian EZ Life Campbell Foundation in honor of her late husband.

The Foundation raises funds to help widows and widowers in stressful financial situations.

“PACT benefitted me and this is all about giving back,” Campbell said. “Our organizations have joined forces and I'm proud to be associated with them, to carry on Ian's name in a positive way.

“It's an honor to be able to do the things we're doing.”

Another board member is Angelyn Waldor, a Ford City resident and another past benefactor of PACT. Waldor lost her young son, Layten Bowser, to cancer.

“A corn-hole tournament by PACT raised $2,000 for us,” Waldor said. “I was impressed. I wanted to get on board.

“People deal with losses in life. Maybe it's a widow, losing a child, a bad fire ... There are so many things. My son died in February. This is a way I can carry on his name and help others. I'm excited about the direction PACT is going.”

Campbell is similarly affected.

“Everybody has their own definition of loss,” she said. “The void is there. Giving back not only helps other people. It helps to fill that void.”

Other board members include Casey Good of Kittanning, Julua Good of Butler, Chris and Kim Cole of Harrisville, Beriah Good of Kittanning, Eric Rayner of Ellwood City and Cassie Miller of Harrisville.

“We meet once a month,” Ryan Good said. “Board members come up with nominations of people who need help, who we can hold a charity tournament for. We put feelers out as well.

“We're all very dedicated to this. We give our free time because we believe in what we're doing.”

For more information on PACT or any of its upcoming events in 2020, contact Ryan Good at 724-859-5402.