GOUVERNEUR, N.Y.) – The Volunteer Transportation Center Foundation’s Annual Volunteer Transportation Center St. Lawrence County Golf Tournament, which marked its ninth year, has been deemed a huge success.
The tournament – hosted at Emerald Greens Golf Course in Gouverneur July 12 – saw 30 teams compete and raised $18,000 to help the VTC provide transportation to those in need in St. Lawrence County. This year’s event saw the same number of teams participate as last year but more money raised this year over last year.
“We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of this tournament,” said Jeremiah S. Papineau, the nonprofit organization’s Director of Communications and Foundation Director. “This is our ninth year of the St. Lawrence County tournament but our fourth year at Emerald Greens and we cannot be more thankful for all owner John Cunningham and his crew do to help make this a highly-anticipated event year after year.”
The tournament, which followed a captain and crew format, saw Team Hooper, led by Jeff Hooper, take first place in the men’s division with a 53, followed by TLC Real Estate, led by Nick Sterling, taking second with a 55. In the co-ed division, after matching cards, first place went to Fore Irons, a team led by Sue Bush, with a 64. Second place went to the Staie on the Seaway/Appraisals USA team, led by Vickie Staie, with a 64.
This year’s tournament was underwritten by Excellus BlueCross Blue Shield, Watertown Savings Bank, and Stewart’s Shops, Advanced Business Systems, the Kinney Drugs Foundation, and OneDigital. Additional sponsors included: Eagle Level – ACCO Brands, American Legion Post 65, Community Health Center of the North Country, Con-Tech Building Systems, Howland Pump Supply, Northern Credit Union, Northland Veterinary Hospital, Seaway Valley Prevention Council, and Staie on the Seaway/Appraisals USA; Birdie Level – Bonaparte Pharmacy, Grey Arrow Realty, NFP, Richard E. Winter Cancer Center, SeaComm, St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union, and St. Lawrence Health System; Par Level – Bill Rapp Chevrolet of Ogdensburg, Children’s Home of Jefferson County, Emerald Greens Golf Course, ENI Mechanical Inc., G and R Auto Parts, J.C. Merriman Inc., MacFadden-Dier Agency Inc., North Country This Week, Save-A-Lot, The Stadium Sports Bar, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6338, and Westelcom. Additional support was provided by Gretchen E. Tessmer, Esq. Attorney at Law; Price Chopper, and Dunkin’of Gouverneur.
Raffle prizes were donated by 3 Bears Gluten Free Bakery and Café, A Plus Auto, A. J. Missert Inc., Aubuchon Hardware (Gouverneur), AutoZone (Potsdam), Best Western University Inn, Bonaparte Pharmacy, Burrito Bob’s, Casablanca Restaurant, Cindy’s Cake Shop, Coakley’s Ace Hardware, Dashnaw’s Pizzeria, Excellus BlueCross Blue Shield, Five Guys, Fun Unlimited, Glow Skincare and Spa, Griff’s Beverage Center (Potsdam), Ice Cream Bowl, In-Law Brewing Company, Jake’s on the Water, Massena Memorial Hospital Foundation, Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology, Mrs. Beasley’s Liquor & Wine, NAPA Auto Parts (Canton), Nature’s Storehouse, NBT Bank, NAPA/Newvine Auto Parts (Gouverneur), OneDigital, Pepsi-Cola Ogdensburg Bottlers, Potsdam Food Co-Op, Rex Hardware, Riverside Liquors, Robillard’s Plant City, Silver Leaf Diner, Small Town Supply Ace Hardware, Spirits of Downtown Brasher Falls, Spirits of Hannawa, Sub Zero Archery, SwingTime Mini Golf, T&R Wines and Liquors, The Clarkson Inn, The Lobster House, The Pear Tree, Tim Horton’s, Tractor Supply Co. (Gouverneur), Wal-Mart (Ogdensburg), Walton’s Auto Service, White’s Flowers, Ye Olde Liquors, and Kay Zimmer.
Mr. Papineau thanked the hard work of the VTC’s St. Lawrence County Advisory Committee, which consists of Ray Babowicz, Casandra Dodd, Alexa Goolden, Sommer Giordano, Rachel LaPoint, Maura Mayer, Kay Zimmer, Laurie LaPoint, Sonja Jensen, Doreen Salcido, Lisa Waite, Charisse McPherson, Greg Mastro, and Peggy Durant. In addition, he thanked St. Lawrence County Dairy Promotion Ambassador Isabella Perretta for attending the event to promote the dairy industry and hosting a contest for the golfers.
The date for next year’s tournament is slated for Friday, July 11, 2025, at Emerald Greens Golf Course. Details will be forthcoming as the date approaches.
ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER TRANSPORTATION CENTER
The Volunteer Transportation Center, Inc. (VTC), established in 1991, drives thousands of miles each year assisting community members in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties and beyond. Over the last 30 years, this essential non-profit organization has provided rides to health care appointments, food sources and other critical needs destinations for residents.
In 2023, volunteer drivers provided 25,314 charitable trips over 855,471 miles in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties. Of those miles, 329,819 helped those in Jefferson County, 101,766 in Lewis County, and 423,886 in St. Lawrence County. That equated to approximately $427,736 in mileage reimbursement for our volunteers. That’s why the community’s help is so important.
The staff, boards of directors and volunteer drivers look forward to a time when transportation to community activities and services is accessible to all North Country residents regardless of economic or specialized needs. But for now the mission drives on — striving to provide transportation to health, wellness and critical needs destinations utilizing volunteers and mobility management for anyone who has barriers to transportation.
For more information about how you can help the Volunteer Transportation Center, about its upcoming events, or to become a volunteer driver, contact the agency in Jefferson and Lewis Counties at 315-788-0422, in St. Lawrence County at 315-714-2034, or Western New York at 585-250-5030. Volunteers drive their own cars, set their own hours and receive mileage reimbursement but, more importantly, make a difference in the community. To learn more, visit www.volunteertransportationcenter.org.