(CARTHAGE, NY) – The Volunteer Transportation Center will benefit from a golf tournament being hosted by the Carthage Central High School JROTC program.
The captain-and-crew format tournament will be held at Cedars Golf Course, 9368 East Road, Lowville, on Saturday, May 24. Check-in will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 9 a.m.
Retired Lt. Col. Scott Feathers – who heads up the school’s JROTC program with Retired First Sgt. Anthony Angelo – said the program’s cadets conduct a “service learning project as the culminating activity of the Army JROTC curriculum. The project is an opportunity to help a local organization or charity that benefits the community, and in the process, the cadets learn how to select, plan, organize and execute a complex operation that develops in them the skills and attributes necessary to lead future events and organizations in their lives.”
“Early in this process, students brainstorm and research organizations to partner with, and then select the organization based upon various criteria,” Mr. Feathers explained. “This year, the cadets selected the VTC as it is a crucial component to our mostly rural area, which aids in getting people to various medical appointments that can be challenging for them to reach without assistance.”
“When we were contacted by the awesome folks who oversee the JROTC program, asking us if we’d like to benefit from their event, we were incredibly honored,” said Jeremiah S. Papineau, the Volunteer Transportation Center’s Director of Communications and Foundation Director. “Carthage has had a very active JROTC program as long as I can remember and one of the best programs in the state.”
“Of course, I may be biased since I went to Carthage Central,” Mr. Papineau added.
The Carthage Central High School JROTC program hosted its inaugural golf tournament last year, raising more than $3,000, with $2,000 of that going to the Victims Assistance Center in Watertown and the remainder utilized for the JROTC program’s cadet activity fund. That tournament garnered 17 teams, with 68 golfers competing.
“This year, we are hoping for at least an equal outcome as last year,” said Mr. Feathers. “Thus far we have 10 teams registered, and are hoping for at least 10 more. We have already reached our sponsorship goal of 14 sponsoring companies, but hope to gain four more.”
The cost to register is $300 per team. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be served at the turn and an award ceremony will be held at the end of the tournament. Prizes for first, second and third places will be awarded. Skins, a 50-50 drawing and other prize drawings will round out the event.
Sponsors and golfers are still being sought for this year’s tournament. For more information or to register, call 315-493-5028 or 808-391-1635. Questions may also be emailed to aangelo@carthagecsd.org.
ABOUT THE CARTHAGE CENTRAL JROTC PROGRAM
The U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) is one of the largest character development and citizenship programs for youth in the world. The National Defense Act of 1916 established organized JROTC programs at public and private educational institutions. JROTC is an elective with full course credit offered to all students in grades 8-12 and there is no military obligation for being in the program.
JROTC offers volunteer after-school activities such as Physical Training Team, Drill Team, Color Guard, Archery Team, and Air Rifle Marksmanship Team. The program also supports local events such as Veterans and Memorial Day activities and parades, the Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce Winterfest, Armed Forces Day breakfast, and other events. In total, the cadets of Carthage have supported more than 30 separate events.
In addition, students can be part of the program for one year up to five years. Uniforms and equipment are issued to students free of charge. Students will form a cadet chain of command and conduct unit formations and functions. Also, for many high school seniors, a scholarship opportunity is available for consideration.
For more information about the JROTC program, students may contact their guidance counselor or contact Lt. Col. Feathers or First Sgt. Anthony Angelo at 315-493-5028.
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 2024, volunteer drivers provided 25,478 charitable trips over 876,509 miles in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties. Of those miles, 318,320 helped those in Jefferson County, 112,852 in Lewis County, and 445,337 in St. Lawrence County. That equated to approximately $438,255 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 up-coming 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.
PHOTO CAPTION: Carthage Central High School JROTC cadets presented Kristin Proven, Development Director for Victims Assistance Center of Jefferson County, with a check for $2,000 following the JROTC’s inaugural charity golf tournament last year. The JROTC program has chosen the Volunteer Transportation Center to benefit from this year’s tournament, slated for Saturday, May 24, at Cedars Golf Course in Lowville.