Golf for a Good Cause
Golf for a Good Cause
1st Annual Frank Pitillo Memorial Lighting Fund Golf Tournament Set for Aug. 16th at Holiday Valley
Let’s get out on the green for a good cause this summer! The Holiday Valley Double Black Diamond Golf Course will host the 1st Annual Frank Pitillo Memorial Lighting Fund Golf Tournament on Wednesday, August 16th.
You might have heard of the Frank Pitillo “Light Up the Night” Memorial Lighting Fund. If you haven’t, you should, so let's get you a little background. The fund was created in June 2022 by Nick Pitillo who explained the purpose of the foundation as this, “This project is to replace the lighting on the Sports Field at Ellicottville Central School. These lights were put up through a community effort in 1977 in honor of Frank Pitillo, a local athlete that was killed in a motorcycle accident. They have fallen on disrepair, and the school has been unable to properly replace the lights. These lights will be in place for years to come, so they can help create new memories for the next generation. Whether it was playing a sport, or attending games, "Friday Night Lights" is a cherished tradition that has created countless memories for generations, not only here, but across the entire country.”
How important is the lighting really, you ask? Well, sport field lighting is actually critical for coaches, players and spectators alike. Teams can’t practice in the dark. Players can’t take the field if they can’t see it. And if teams cannot play, spectators do not get to watch. So what seems like a trivial thing is honestly extremely impactful.
The new system promises to enhance the access to athletic fields by upgrading the ECS Stadium lights to a more environmentally efficient system. This new lighting will last up to 25 times longer than the current bulbs and will increase the number of hours that the field can be accessed. Not to mention the new lights can use up to 75% less energy. But above all, the new lights will increase clarity and reduce blind spots on the field which will help our young athletes play safely.
So now you know what the foundation is doing and what the tournament is helping them accomplish. So how do you enter? Well, lightevl.com has a list of costs and sponsorship opportunities in detail, but cost is $175 a player, $600 per foursome, and you receive a $100 discount if you go in a four person team along with a tee sponsorship sign. There are several levels of sponsorships available if putting isn’t for you.
Maybe you aren’t gifted at the game of golf or you can’t commit to a full sponsorship? No worries, you can donate to the cause directly, as it is a registered non-profit with the Cattaraugus Regional Community Foundation (501c3), in Olean, NY. You can visit and donate to the fund directly or you can pay through the lightevl.com website, and they allocate the funds from there to the proper place.
The fund has been greatly successful so far. Nick said, “We have currently raised over $93,000, we have paid out $60,000 and the lights are expected to be delivered by the end of the month. We were disappointed to learn that we did not receive a large grant we were hoping for, as that would have put us over the top. So we need to make up some ground to finalize the project for the 2023 season. This tournament is how we hope to do so.”
But the Frank Pitillo Memorial Lighting Fund isn’t a one trick pony. While their immediate focus is to get the lights paid for and installed in the upcoming months, any remaining funds will be put to good use. “We have a scholarship fund for ECS students who have strong academics, displayed leadership through athletics, and have a strong entrepreneurial work ethic - The Frank Pitillo Memorial Scholarship Fund. This fund has been in place for many years and has provided thousands of dollars worth of scholarships to ECS Students. We also hope to provide proper signage at the field.” Nice advised.
So, make your plans to visit 6557 Holiday Valley Road at 11:00am on August 16th and play 18 on the Valley’s Double Black Diamond course to support a cause the keeps our local student athletes safe and gives our community something to be proud of. You can register for the Frank Pitillo Memorial Lighting Fund Golf Fundraiser at lightevl.com. Hope to see you all there!
