Haddonfield Educational Trust Golf & Tennis Fundraiser Overcomes the Elements
2019 Archived Article
by Joe Serico
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This year’s fundraiser, co-chaired by Chrissy Del Duca and Jack Tarditi was a multi-faceted event featuring the golf tournament at Tavistock Country Club, a tennis tournament at Haddon Field Club, and a barbecue, carnival and helicopter ball drop at the golf club. These concerted efforts raised some $45,000 for the Trust to distribute.
Co-chair Chrissy Del Duca noted that, “The golf and tennis committees were extremely grateful to our generous partners and sponsors who helped make the event such a success”. These included platinum sponsor, Brown and Brown; gold sponsors, Becica Associates and Capehart and Scatchard; silver sponsors, Marlin, Connor Strong, Dandrea Construction, Jason Miller, TC Irons, Source 4 Teachers and Philadelphia Partners.
Even with 90 degree weather, the event attracted over 100 golfers and 30 tennis players. Our thirty tennis players was double the number of participants from last year. The tennis players and sponsors raised some $10,000 about half of which would go to the beautification project. Carlton Chin, tennis chairman, stated,
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“We are proud to be a part of the HET's efforts raising tens of thousands of dollars for education. We appreciate our sponsors and players; especially our high school tennis players for supporting the event”.
On the golf course, players were delighted to play the course in it’s usual pristine condition and to be hosted by a club that is supportive of the efforts of the HET. The tournament committee saw that the players were well hydrated with Tito’s on 10, refreshment carts sponsored by All Risk, Benecard, Lourdes, Merrill Lynch, and True Fitness and water stations every few holes.
With the late day heat so persistent, the barbecue was moved inside but the carnival went on nonetheless. One of the highlights of the day was the dunk tank where students got a chance to dunk their teachers and school administrators. Special thanks to Middle School Principal Tracy Matozzo, Central School Principal Shannon Shimkus, teachers Jessica Miller, Matthew McGuire, and Vince Del Duca who did their stint in the tank.
The assembled golfers, tennis players and family members made one additional trip to the deck of the golf club to watch the arriving helicopter drop some 267 golf balls on the practice green. Folks who had purchased golf balls were eligible for the $500 prize that came with being nearest to the hole
The day closed with a very special announcement that the Haddonfield Educational Trust board had voted to use the funds raised over the next two years to purchase the naming rights to the new study garden at the high school. The study garden will honor the memory of Sarah Tarditi Gallagher.
The Trust extends its sincerest thanks and appreciation to all their sponsors, golfers, tennis players and community members who made this event such a success.
2017 Archived Article
by Joe Serico
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The 108 golfers had warmed up on the practice range, received final instructions from tournament co-chair Jack Tarditi then drove their carts onto the pristine Tavistock fairways under lovely blue skies. Some four hours and fourteen holes later our intrepid hackers were called in from the course. While the thunder and heavy downpour may have dampened the golfers’ spirits, they returned to the clubhouse to find that co-chair Chrissy Del Duca had anticipated the worst, planned ahead, and that the barbecue was ready to go indoors. The tennis portion of the event, held at the Haddon Field Club, was able to finish the event before the storms started.
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Chrissy commented that, “There is always a lot of details to attend to as the day unfolds and this year the weather created some anxious moments for all of us. We are so pleased that the golf, the Field Club tennis tournament and family barbecue, all had a successful conclusion.” At the awards ceremony, Co-chair Tarditi thanked Chrissy and commended her for her organization and attention to detail.
One minor disappointment, due to the inclement weather, was the long, anticipated helicopter golf ball drop. The golf ball drop was arranged with the help of one of the HET Tournament’s principal sponsor, Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Dan Smith, HMHS alum, and Regional Vice President of Tito’s worked closely with the golf committee to arrange the details. Tito’s helped organize a pre-tournament fundraiser and matched our fundraising efforts on the ball drop while helping promote the event. When the stormy evening prevented the helicopter from flying, Chrissy and fellow committee member, Joe Evangelisti got creative and initiated a golf ball roll across the practice putting green. Mike Kulzer’s golf ball #68 disappeared into the cup and he was awarded some $1400.00.
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The day was a great success on every front: good golf, good tennis, good food, good company, and much success with fundraising. A significant portion of the money raised at the HET Tournament has been designated to support the construction of a new children’s playground at Tatem School. Chrissy Del Duca observed that, “The entire committee was impressed with and appreciative of the support received from Tatem families and the participation by members of the Haddon Field Club in their efforts to support the HET and the Tatem Playground Project.”
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While the final tally is not in, the HET expects that this year’s tournament will be among its most successful fundraising efforts in support of the Haddonfield Public Schools. Critically important to the success of the tournament was the role played by all our sponsors. The HET is extremely grateful to the following for their role as Platinum Sponsors: Becica Associates, Brown and Brown, and Tito’s Homemade Vodka. We are also grateful to our Gold Sponsors: Capehart and Scatchard, the Evangelisti Companies, and the Yale School. There was a strong alumni presence among these sponsors. Dan Smith of Tito’s Homemade Vodka is class of 97’. Jack McDermott of Brown and Brown is class of 1981, Joe Betley of Capehart and Scatchard is class of 1976, and the father of Steve Becica of Becica Associates was a 1948 graduate of the high school. “The sponsorship support that the tournament gets from the community and our alumni makes it possible to have a very successful financial result,” noted co-chair Tarditi.
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The Haddonfield Educational Trust is highly appreciative of all those who served as sponsors, participated as golfers, or supported the event by attending the family barbecue. Thanks for helping us make a difference on behalf of the students of the Haddonfield Public Schools.
