When the event originated in 1978, the county population exceeded 50,0000; today it is less than 39,000, a decline of more than 25%. Player participation grew rapidly in the first five years, including the introduction of a separate successful Women’s Championship, averaging 256 men (and a waiting list) and 152 women over a 30-year period. Today the Men’s Championship numbers around 136 players — in fact, it’s estimated that of the 3,000-plus participants who played at least once, more than 1,000 are now deceased. And the Women’s Championship has been gone for almost a decade. Regrettably, the younger generations are not participating in charitable golf events to the degree their parents and grandparents did.

Concurrent with, and contributing to the decline in Warren County population, is the loss of a great many businesses, large and small, who were the major financial sponsors of this event. To offset some of this decline, Zawacki reported, an initiative was developed to inspire sponsorships from individuals, and many have been very generous; in fact, too generous.

“We realized that to achieve our financial goals for the mission of the American Cancer Society (ACS) we were doing it on the backs of our friends,” Zawacki said.

That was a bridge too far for what had been a community event.

Submitted Photo Chip Beck, PGA professional and longtime ACS advocate, will be the guest player and speaker for the 45th annual event on Aug. 3.

A BRIEF HISTORY

Founded by Zawacki in 1978, the first benefit attracted 44 participants, 32 men and 12 women, raising $300. By year two, the event had grown to a full shotgun start of 144 players, with still only 12 women, and it remained that way through year five (1982). When Zawacki asked one of the female participants how we might get more women to play, she replied that men responded immediately in signing up, knowing they could save the date, while women had families around which to plan their lives.

One of those women, Marilyn Clarkson, volunteered to start and chair a separate Women’s Golf Championship. After 80 participants in 1983, she filled the 144-person field in 1984 — and every year thereafter for many years. The event was led by a succession of new chairs, including Barb Hourigan, Francine Pike, Janyce Bunk, Jen Lester, Cathryn Zawacki, Kathie Sivillo, Carol Hamilton, Judy Leins, Susie Spangler, Donna Nelson, Blanche Gaillard, Betsy Senger, Kim Nelson, Karen Conrad, Marlene Sandberg, Lou Hill, Barb Hill and Jenny Phillips. By 1987, the Men’s Championship had expanded to two separate shotgun starts, morning and afternoon, and the Women’s Championship followed suit in 1992. Together, both championships had a combined participation of more than 400 players annually. 1983 also marked the introduction of sponsorships from various businesses throughout the community and then region, growing to well more than 200 sponsors by 2000. It was also the year that “Birdies to Beat Cancer,” a supplemental special event to support the championships’ efforts was inaugurated under the leadership of local golf professionals Ed Morgante, Mike Kaye and Larry Roth. For the following 27 years, “Birdies,” chaired by Randy Scalise, Bill Massa, Willard Foley, Mark Espin, Brian Swanson, Cathryn Zawacki, Pat Carlson and Tim Holter, raised nearly $10,000 annually.

Incredibly, the Warren County ACS Golf “package” increased its contribution to the society every year for its first 30 years of existence. It took 11 years to surpass its first $100,000; during the next 19 years, more than an additional $900,000 was raised, cresting the $1 million milestone. During the period 1989-2009, this local benefit led the nation in per capita fundraising through golf events for the ACS.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Submitted Photo Chip Beck has won four times on the PGA Tour, continues to play on the Champions Tour and donates considerable time in the fight against cancer.

2008 experienced a significant economic downturn nationwide, and Warren County was no exception. After peaking at $84,000 raised in 2007, the local event suffered through what slowly became a 10-year decline. Many corporations and businesses, big and small — the primary sources for their financial support — closed their operations entirely and/or left the community. That, coupled with the corresponding population decline, adversely impacted golfer participation in these charitable events. Volunteer leaders such as John Papalia Sr.,

John Papalia Jr., Anthony Pellegrino Jr. and Alec Conarro worked diligently to keep the benefit afloat.

The Women’s Championship fell enough that the financial model couldn’t support its event, so the Men’s Championship, in an attempt to keep the ACS golf program alive in the community, readjusted its format to include both men and women again. Even “Birdies” seemed to lose its luster, and that event was shuttered. As a result, over that 10-year period, 2008-2017, the combined contribution to the mission of the ACS dropped from a peak of $84,000 to $8,500 — and the ACS wondered, especially with its own financial challenges nationwide — whether it could continue to support the event.

THE CHALLENGE

Papalia Jr. and Zawacki, recognizing that the Warren County Golf Benefit was the second oldest in the nation for the ACS, decided to try to aggressively reinvigorate the program in 2018.

The effort got “very personal” for both of them as they reached out to various donors. The result: from $8,500 in 2017 to $20,000 in 2018; $35,000 in 2019; $44,000 in 2020; and $48,000 in 2021. And the two most recent years were greatly challenged by the COVID pandemic.

SO WHAT CAUSED THE REGROWTH?

Their personal efforts got some former sponsors to rejoin them; some new sponsors to climb onboard; some loyal sponsors to increase their donations; and a number of individuals to become sponsors as well.

SO WHY END IT NOW?

An in-depth analysis showed where the renewed financial success was coming from and that it was disproportionately coming “on the backs of our individual sponsor friends. And in order to continue the renewed growth, the disproportionality would almost certainly have to increase. Neither Zawacki nor Papalia, in good conscience, could support that direction.

OUR CHOICE

“Go out on top” and celebrate the incredible 45-year success the Warren County community effort has achieved.

THE ACS MISSION

None of their deliberations and final decisions are meant to discredit the incredibly important mission of the American Cancer Society. Other than the U.S. Federal Government, the ACS continues to be the largest financial contributor to cancer research in the country. Their challenges to provide the best research, education, advocacy and patient services have required them to continually transform their organization to meet those needs notwithstanding the unprecedented impact that COVID thrust upon it.

Unfortunately, the ACS can no longer be a community-based health organization as the overhead costs have become prohibitive.

Donations must go directly to the intended beneficiaries — cancer patients and their families as well as to fund the research projects determined to yield the best results.

While this 45-year chapter will come to an end, other opportunities to continue Warren County’s support of the ACS’s mission are being discussed. Whatever it/they turn out to be, we strongly encourage the Warren County community to respond positively.

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER

CHIP BECK

Over the past 4¢ decades, the benefit has been able to host many guest speakers who have shared their strong support for the American Cancer Society’s mission in the fight against cancer. This has included local cancer survivors like John Villella, Joe Massa and Ed O’Neil whose stories were both heartfelt and inspirational. Pat Boone volunteered to play and speak one year as well as Tug McGraw, Sam Rutigliano, George Lilja and a host of former Pittsburgh Steelers.

For the 45th and final year, Chip Beck, PGA golf professional and longtime ACS advocate, has offered to be the guest player and speaker for the finale. A three-time All-America from the University of Georgia, Beck won four times on the PGA Tour and finished second 20 times. He continues to play on the Champions Tour and donates considerable time in the fight against cancer.

OUR SINCEREST THANK YOU

The entire Warren Community deserves the deepest appreciation for nearly a half century of outstanding support. In addition to large numbers of very generous sponsors and players over the years, Conewango Valley Country Club and its board of directors and staff have served as the primary host for the benefit. We couldn’t have done it without all of you!

Co-chairmen Papalia and Zawacki are hoping that, with strong sponsorship support and player participation this year, the 45th annual Men’s Golf Championship will “go out with a bang” and surpass $1.6 million raised. The event is planning to be a complete sellout for both morning and afternoon shotgun starts, so an early response is being strongly encouraged. Any questions may be addressed by calling Zawacki at 814-688-9876.