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Date: 8/29/2023
SOUTH HADLEY — With football season around the corner, the South Hadley Youth Football Association is putting on a Cornhole Tournament Fundraiser: Bags and Brews for South Hadley Football.
The family-friendly tournament fundraiser will take place on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 11 a.m. at the Whiskey Barrel at 21 Lyman St. in South Hadley. Entry fee per team is $60 and includes buffet food throughout the day. If not interested in the tournament but still looking to support and enjoy some good food, it is a $10 entry.
South Hadley Youth Football Association President Stefanie Mayer told Reminder Publishing this new fundraiser tournament continues the group’s efforts to raise money for the youth football programs in town. The cornhole tournament allows an opportunity for the group to branch out to the community and bring everyone together around youth football.
This will be the third cornhole fundraiser the association has put on in tandem with 413 Cornhole and is expected to continue the trend of growth over the first two years. Mayer said the event showcases the South Hadley football community’s tightness.
“The kids have a blast, and they play with their parents or they play against adults and they think it’s the coolest thing,” Mayer said. “Then you get the little guys playing around with the big guys [South Hadley high school football players], and those high school players, to these little third graders, are like Patriot players. They really look up to them and so they have a blast. I think the high school kids might like it a little more, they like teaching the little guys so it really is like smiles everywhere.”
Mayer said that the money raised from this upcoming fundraiser will go directly toward covering costs of new equipment. She added that every 10 years helmets must be replaced with new ones that meet the latest standards and this money will directly go toward paying off the purchase.
“Our goal is to provide the best equipment, the safest equipment so that the kids can play a game they love as safe as possible,” Mayer said. Money raised by the association also go towards special uniforms or accessories for players for different events, including pink socks during breast cancer awareness month, for example.
Like many things in the world, the coronavirus pandemic halted progression of the association and taking a year off due to COVID-19 caused them to fall behind in funding. The first year back had low turnout and they could not field a senior team, which includes seventh and eighth graders.
“Last year was getting back toward more of a normal situation. This year our numbers are looking much better like the program is flourishing back from that COVID mishap,” Mayer said. “We’re looking to get back into our full year plan not missing a team, not forgetting games because we’re low on numbers, and with that comes parents and everybody, players, willing to do their part and getting our fundraising up.”
Mayer has had one son go through the South Hadley football system from youth through high school and another son currently in the youth program. She got involved in her position with South Hadley youth football because of her kids involvement and is happy to have been a part of the association for the last decade.
“Football is something huge to our family. I see a very different community with football. It has made both of my kids who they are today, there’s no question in my mind that they would probably be different kids if it weren’t for football and the brotherhood they have bonded with their teammates. That is something very near and dear to my heart,” Mayer said. “We want to see community football continue and doing events like this, bringing them all together outside and off the field and knowing the support that they have when they’re on the field is a huge thing for us and that’s why we do this.”
Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams. The event will also feature raffles, 50/50 raffle, music and more great fun. Contestants must register by Sept. 12 and can do so by contacting Mayer at 413-313-3157 or shfootballteam@gmail.com. Entry fee via Venmo is preferred and can be sent to @SH-Football.