HET Annual Golf Tournament

Haddonfield Educational Trust Golf and Barbecue Fundraiser a Major Success

The Haddonfield Educational Trust, the foundation that supports the Haddonfield Public Schools, held their annual fundraiser on June 18th.  In past years, the event has supported Teacher Innovation Grants, playground reconstruction at Tatem and Central Schools, and the turf field project among other initiatives.  For the 2018 and 2019 years, the Trust is supporting the Haddonfield Memorial High School beautification project, an effort to revitalize the campus grounds.

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,

“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.