Glade Run’s 1st-ever golf tourney raises funds for Warming Center
PENN TWP — Glade Run has done fund-raisers for various causes over the years — but never via a golf event.
Until this year.
For the first time in its 170-year history, the organization formed and ran the Glade Run Fall Classic, which took place Sept. 29 at Conley’s Resort and Golf Club.
“I don’t know why we never had a golf outing before,” said Sheila Talarico, Glade Run’s Vice President of Development and External Affairs. “It looks like it’s going to be an annual event now.”
Steve Green, CEO of Glade Run for the past five years, is a golfer himself and wanted to see the golf outing happen. Proceeds benefited Glade Run’s Winter Warming Center, an overnight shelter in downtown Butler for individuals experiencing homelessness.
“Golf outings are a good way for friends and colleagues to get together and collaborate,” Green said. “To benefit something like the Warming Center, which is so important to the community, only adds to it.”
The original goal for the Glade Run Fall Classic was to have 25 foursomes and raise $5,000 for the Warming Center.
“We just didn’t want to embarrass ourselves,” Green said.
The event wound up with 31 foursomes — 124 golfers — and raised $21,000 for the Warming Center. The suggested maximum number of foursomes for a golf outing is 36.
Green said the outing was put together by seven committee members, with another 10 to 15 volunteers helping out at the event.
“We’re where we want to be in terms of number of golfers. We’re comfortable with that number,” Green said. “Next year, we’ll work on getting more tee signs and sponsorship that way.”
Skill games at the Glade Run Fall Classic included hole-in-one, closest to the pin and longest drive. Putting, chipping and corn-hole toss were contests that took place.
The first-place foursome of Ned Wittebort, Danny Wolfe, Jim Rodgers and Tim Croft took home the silver cup, $200 cash and a foursome at Slippery Rock Golf Club.
“We’re grateful to all of the sponsors and people who helped out with this event,” Talarico said.
Glade Run’s Winter Warming Center is open from Oct. 30 to March 31, from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. each day. It features food, shelter, laundry and shower facilities.
Green said the Warming Center will continue to be the beneficiary of funds raised at future Glade Run Fall Classic golf outings.
