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Date: 8/30/2021
SOUTH HADLEY – Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield will team up with a local family farm and attraction to raise money to help keep care affordable for the patients Shriner’s treats.
The Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield will host their inaugural Putting for a Purpose Mini Golf Tournament on Sept. 9 and 10 from 4 - 7 p.m. and on Sept. 11 from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. This three-day event will take place at Stony Falls Miniature Golf Course at McCray's Farm on 55 Alvord St. in South Hadley.
Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield has been located at 516 Carew St. for 97 years, providing the highest quality care to children with neuromusculoskeletal conditions, burn injuries and other specialty healthcare needs. Every dollar raised from the golf tournament will go to the children for patient care at the hospital to further the hospital’s mission of providing the best quality of care regardless of a family’s ability to pay.
“We hope that this fundraising event will bring a lot of donations into the hospital so we can continue to provide the most amazing care,” said Director of Development Stacy Perlmutter. At the time of press, $86,000 had been raised, which is halfway to the fundraising goal of $200,000.
“For nine years, we held one signature fundraising event each year at the hospital, called the Radio-A-Thon,” Perlmutter explained. “Because of the pandemic and our safety protocols, we wanted to create an event outside where everyone can be safely distanced but still together and have fun. That’s why we came up with Putting for a Purpose.”
She explained they looked at many golf courses around Western Massachusetts because they wanted something local for patients and families. Perlmutter said McCray’s Farm was great to work with, very cooperative and energetic about bringing the event to life.
McCray's Farm started out as a dairy farm when Donald McCray bought the farm in 1955. It evolved into a free petting zoo in 1972 and later an ice cream stand in 1985. McCray’s son Steve, who currently owns the farm, began hosting pumpkin picking and haunted Halloween hayrides in 1990.?He later added a miniature golf course called Stony Falls that overlooks Mount Tom in 2004.
The manager of McCray’s Farm?Barbara, who chose not to be identified by her last name, recalled, "They reached out to me in December and we had several meetings where they came to the farm. They were looking for a place to do miniature golf and a lot of places were either closed due to COVID[-19]. I gave them an offer and they liked it."
She continued, “I think it’s awesome to bring people out after COVID[-19] last year. People are tired of being at home and it’s a worthwhile cause.”
Perlmutter told Reminder Publishing that Putting for a Purpose is possible because of wonderful collaborations. She said both Shriners’ and McCrays’ development and marketing teams have been working together to create an event that will be fun for kids of all ages.?She went on to say the generosity of their “amazing sponsors and partners” is what made all of it possible.
Participants can register at puttingforapurpose.org. When registering, teams may choose their preferred day to golf.?After participants register for the event, a member of Springfield Shriners Hospitals staff will call to confirm their preferred time.
Teams of four will cost $10 per person to register. The registration fee includes their round of golf, lunch, a beverage and ice cream from McCray's Farm. To support the hospital, each team is asked to fundraise a minimum of $500. Registered teams will each have a fundraising page to solicit donations from friends, family and others to support them and their team.
Perlmutter said her goal for the event was to have fun, raise a lot of much-needed money to care for patients and eventually have their 17 supporting Shrine centers throughout New England and New York host their own Putting for a Purpose events in their local communities.
“We want this to be a fun, safe event that we hold each year to support the care provided at the Springfield Shriners Hospital,” Perlmutter said. “It’s a great way for our patient families, volunteers, Shriners and ladies groups and the community to gather as one and work in support of the great Shriner mission to provide care regardless of a family’s ability to pay.”