Locals honored by Jimmy Fund

Date: 3/14/2011

GREATER SPRINGFIELD — Peter and Korby Clark, owners of Southwick's Ranch Golf Club, and Peggy Grodd of Longmeadow, each longtime Jimmy Fund supporters and volunteers, recently received the prestigious Sadowsky Visionary Award during the annual meeting of the Jimmy Fund Council of Western Mass.

Grodd began her affiliation with the Jimmy Fund Council by starting a walk team in 2004, "Amy's Admirers," in memory of her sister, which brought more than $90,000 to the Jimmy Fund. In the past two years, the team joined forces with "Webber's Warriors," started in memory of Neal Webber, former owner of Kittredge Equipment Company Inc., and this year raised $186,000.

For the past five years, she has been a member of the Dana-Farber visiting committee, which educates volunteers and trains them for outreach in the community on behalf of the institute.

Grodd said the impact of the death of her sister and a close friend, as well as her own successful battle with early stage breast cancer were the catalysts to her becoming involved with the Jimmy Fund.

"I am motivated from a sense of loss and a sense of blessing that I was able to survive. I want to be able to do whatever I can to play a small role in this enormous battle we have against cancer," Grodd said.

The Clarks began their affiliation with the Jimmy Fund more than 20 years ago as sponsors of the annual golf tournament held in memory of the late Jeffrey Vinick of Longmeadow. Both Peter and Korby started out in volunteer positions serving on several committees. They soon became involved on the Jimmy Fund Council of Western Mass., where Peter has served as past president. After becoming chairman of the council in 1985, his first assignment was to head the annual Radio-Thon with WHYN Radio.

Since that time, the Clarks have remained active on the council. Peter has served as chair of the Jimmy Fund/Jeffrey Vinick Memorial Golf Tournament and the Ranch Golf Club continues to play a part in the annual event. They serve as course coordinators and Korby is in charge of volunteers.

Peter has served on the Visiting Committee in Boston for more than five years and they are both members of the 406 Club, named for Ted Williams' batting average, for their financial support of the organization

"I am very surprised by this award because there are so many people who do so much and work so hard," Korby said. "We're proud to be part of this great organization."

Peter added, "We always believed in giving back, and this is the charity we chose."

"We are honored to have an award in our name recognizing the special efforts of volunteers here in Western Massachusetts on behalf of the Jimmy fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute," according to Barbara and Jim Sadowsky.

Established in June 2004, the Sadowsky Visionary Award is given annually to a business or individual who demonstrates extraordinary commitment to the Jimmy Fund and the mission of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The recipient is recognized for conceiving, leading or dedicating themselves to an event or activity that delivers annual financial support and/or long-term volunteer commitment.

The Jimmy Fund Council of Western Mass., a volunteer-based group, initiated the Sadowsky Visionary Award in honor of the dedication and commitment of Jim and Barbara Sadowsky, of Longmeadow, to the Jimmy Fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

One award is on display permanently in the Jimmy Fund gallery of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and a second award is commissioned for the recipient.

For more information on becoming a member of the Jimmy Fund Council of Western Mass., or to find out how to can help, contact Barbara Sadowsky at 567-6863.