JACKSON TWP — A few Seneca Valley graduates, along with spouses and friends, simply decided they wanted to give back.

They discovered a number of people wanted to give right along with them.

So the Open Wide Open was born — and has thrived as a result.

“That's all it was about,” 1998 SV graduate Brett Sutch said. “It's just something we wanted to do. We're a group of motivated people whose lives have been going along pretty good through our families and friendship.

“We wanted to do something to help out the community.”

They came up with a golf outing to benefit a different charity each year. It is called the Open Wide Open because Wayne Roccia, a 1996 SV graduate and golf outing committee member, is an oral surgeon.

The four-person scramble event is in its 11th year. The 2019 Open Wide Open takes place Friday at Pittsburgh National Golf Club, which has hosted this event the past few years. Registration is at 9:30 a.m., shotgun start is 11 a.m.

The outing's field of 144 golfers hits the event's maximum for the fourth consecutive year. Each golfer pays $125 to play.

Spenser's Voice Fund receives the proceeds from this year's golf outing. Spenser Flowers, 20, an active member of the Hampton Township community, died from an accidental heroin overdose in 2017. He had agreed to return to treatment two days before he died.

Spenser's Voice Fund — established by his family members — supports organizations and agencies fighting the drug epidemic in young adults.

“We usually don't have to go out and seek a charity to help,” Sutch said. “This event has reached the point where charities are finding us.”

The Open Wide Open has raised $150,000 in the past 10 years for numerous charities, including the first one — Every Child, Inc. — in 2000. Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pa., The First Tee of Pittsburgh, Manchester Bidwell, Best Buddies, The Woodlands Foundation, Freestore 15104, Muriel's Breath of Life, Orange Arrow and Jeremiah's Place are other charities aided by the Open Wide Open through the years.

“What's nice is a lot of those charities send golfers to the outing every year or come back to help out,” said Jennifer Roccia Moreau, a 1992 SV graduate. “So many partnerships and relationships have developed through the years and that is so cool to see.

“Sponsors have joined us, volunteers ... This is just people helping people.”

Other Open Wide Open committee members are 1996 SV grad Stephanie Roccia Hartwick, 1998 SV grad Erin O'Malley Sutch, Larry Moreau, Daniel Donovan, Michele Konwinski Donovan and Nicole Gabriel.

“We get 30-plus volunteers to help out every year,” Brett Sutch said. “We have a dinner after the event and another 20 to 30 people come just for that.

“A representative of the charitable foundation we're helping gives a speech at the dinner, explaining what they're trying to do and how they're making a difference.”

Jennifer Moreau recalled the event's first year.

“We had maybe 80 golfers and raised about $10,000,” she said. “It was a great success. And we have a core group of 80 golfers that keep coming back each year.

“This is just an outpouring of support every year. It shows what people can do when they're willing to pool together and make an effort.”