By Michael Benavides
Staff Writer
JACKSON – The James Volpe Foundation will host its sixth annual golf classic to raise money for local students, families and charitable organizations.
The foundation is named for James Volpe, who died in a motor vehicle accident in 2011 during his senior year at Jackson Memorial High School. Volpe was a baseball player at Jackson Memorial and was planning to attend Kean University.
The 2017 golf classic will be held at the Bella Vista Country Club, Marlboro, on June 26. The 2016 golf outing was held at the Pine Barrens Golf Club, Jackson.
John Mucia Jr., 23, the vice president of the foundation, said golfers who participated in last year’s event will enjoy playing a new course this year.
Registration and check-in will begin at 11 a.m. The driving range will be open prior to the start of the shotgun tournament at 12:30 p.m.
From 12:30 p.m. until the evening’s festivities, up to 120 golfers will compete for the top spot and a $500 gift certificate at the Bella Vista Country Club that will be good for one foursome.
Participants will be able to try their hand at a shootout competition and a closest to the pin contest.
The entry fee for each golfer for the June 26 event is $200 and includes access to the club’s facilities, lunch and dinner. Corporate sponsorships are available from $500 to $1,500. Individuals who do not want to golf may make a $40 donation and attend a buffet dinner at 5:30 p.m.
Attendees will enjoy a full course dinner, a gift auction, a 50/50 raffle and an awards presentation.
Mucia said the foundation has raised and donated more than $60,000 in the past six years. He said money that is raised from the golf outing will be used to provide scholarships for high school seniors at Jackson Liberty and Jackson Memorial high schools and to assist families that are dealing with an illness.
“Our foundation prides itself in ensuring that young members of our community can reach their highest potential in education and sports.
“Our donations include, but are not limited to, four scholarships to seniors at Jackson Memorial and Jackson Liberty high schools; paying sports registration fees for children whose families cannot afford to do so; making donations to community members who may be sick; and more.
“I think this is going to be our best golf outing yet. We are coming off another very successful winter dance and our foundation is transferring that positive energy into our golf outing. The new location is in Monmouth County, which will be our first time hosting an event outside of Ocean County,” Mucia said.
