The Big 30 Committee has miles to go before they sleep.
Held at the Floyd C. Fretz Middle School on Wednesday, the 32nd
annual Don Raabe Big 30 Charities Night is actually at the
crossroads with the culmination of the 2005 season and the
beginning of 2006 for the 37 committee members.
“How far we have come and how far we have to go,” said emcee
Kevin Kelley. “We close one chapter and open another.”
The Committee presented 29 checks for $16,920 at the 2005
Charities Night. Add to that another 28 donations for $17,122
previously handed out, and the total for the year is $34,042.
Committee treasurer Tom Bowes believes the grand total in
donations is now over the $1,100,000 mark.
Some of the 2005 recipients are Dan Beckwith Scholarship, BAHS
cheerleaders, Stroke Group, Special Police, McKean County Special
Olympics, Voice Care/VNA/BRMC, ELF Fund, Camp New Horizons, Camp
J.J., Senior Activity Center, Camp Care of Home Care Hospice, Jo
Ann Pennington, Erie Shriners, CARE for Children, St. Bernard,
Relay for Life, Bradford, Midget Football, BAHS volleyball,
Bradford Little League, Boy Scouts of America, Sam Benedict Chapter
of Officials, Judith Blanchard, McKean County RSVP, Pat Holleran,
Terry Bell, Richard and Tina Blouvet, McKean County SPCA, Hope
Johnson-Ahmed family, Reed family, Kevin Moyer, Glenda LaFever,
Sandra Jo Pennington, Frank and Jessica Barton, Helping Hands
Retreat, Friends of S.W. Smith Memorial Library, Bradford Area
Emergency Prescription Assistance Program and McKean-Potter
Chapters of the American Red Cross.
“This is a special night because we can put faces with the
people we’re trying to help,” said Ken Coffman, Big 30 president.
“This night brings to a close our efforts for the past year and
it’s also the kickoff for next year. The work now starts for the
next game.”
Committee members are Brian Abers, Frank Arlington, Barry Bacha,
Ron Bacha, Bart Barton, Greg Booth, Bowes, Jack Carns, Coffman,
Chip Comilla, Dan Costello, Sean Costello, Jim Danias, Joe DiCerbo,
Bob Dunn, Joe DiFonzo, Tom Giordano, Stan Gleason, Bob Henretta,
Pete Hvizdzak, Dave Jones, Don Keck, Kelley, Bill Kleinberger,
Shawn Lewis, vice president Shawn Llewellyn, Bruce McCormick, Tom
Merry, Steve Pettinato, Paul Pfaff, John Place, Brent Raabe, Warren
Semmel, Kerry Snow, secretary Bob South, Jim Terrosovith and Dave
Vervort.
Bowes, Carns, Pfaff, Place and South were recognized as the only
original members of the Big 30 Committee.
More information about the Don Raabe Big 30 Charities Classic
can be found at www.big30.org.
