St. Michael School in Penn Yan recently raised $13,960 through its sixth-annual golf tournament and a twilight cruise, which was a new addition to the tournament festivities.
School volunteers decided to add the twilight cruise to the tournament lineup in hopes of attracting more people to the fundraiser, said Gloria Long, a member of the golf-tournament committee and director of the school’s Parent-Alumni Council.
“In the past we’ve had people saying that they wanted to support the golf tournament but they didn’t golf or couldn’t take a day off in the middle of the week,” Long said.
On Aug. 22, 70 people cruised along the shores of Keuka Lake for two hours on the Esperanza Rose. Participants enjoyed refreshments and a private fireworks show, Long said.
The next morning, 132 golfers competed in the golf tournament, which was supported by approximately 140 sponsors, including St. Mary School in Greenville, S.C. The South Carolina school has strongly supported the golf tournament since it began six years ago, Long said.
Mike Terpolilli, the father of a St. Michael alumnus and a current student, got the idea for the golf tournament from his uncle, Mike Macalka, an active supporter of St. Mary School. The South Carolina school sponsors a successful golf tournament each year. Macalka encouraged officials at the South Carolina school to “adopt” the Penn Yan school and help its volunteer committee plan its own tournament.
The South Carolina school has been an annual sponsor of the tournament, donating a brand-new golf bag and set of clubs for the tournament’s raffle each year, Long said.
