(GOUVERNEUR, N.Y.) – The Volunteer Transportation Center Foundation’s Annual Volunteer Transportation Center St. Lawrence County Golf Tournament, which marked its 10th year, has been deemed a huge success.
The tournament – hosted at Emerald Greens Golf Course in Gouverneur July 11 – saw 25 teams compete and raised $16,000 help the VTC provide transportation to those in need in St. Lawrence County.
“Once again, we are very 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 10th year of the St. Lawrence County tournament but our fifth year with our friends here at Emerald Greens. We could not be more thankful for all owner John Cunningham and his crew do to help make this a highly-anticipated event a success each year.”
The tournament, which followed a captain and crew format, saw a team led by Nick Sterling from TLC Real Estate, take first place in the men’s division with a 53, followed by a team from Community Health Center of the North Country, led by Ray Babowicz, taking second with a 59. In the co-ed division, first place went to the Staie on the Seaway/Appraisals USA team, led by Vickie Staie, with a 62. Second place went to a team led by Amy Fitzsimmons with a 63.
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, Clifton-Fine Hospital, Community Health Center of the North Country, Northland Veterinary Hospital, Rochester Regional Health/St. Lawrence Health System, Staie on the Seaway/Appraisals USA and The Stadium Sports Bar; Birdie Level – Grey Arrow Realty, Howland Pump & Supply, NFP, St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union, and Thew and Associates; Par Level – American Legion Post 65, Bill Rapp Chevrolet of Ogdensburg, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, Collins Hammond Electrical Contractors, Emerald Greens Golf Course, ENI Mechanical Inc., Gouverneur Elks Lodge 2035, Gouverneur Savings & Loan, J.C. Merriman Inc., TLC Real Estate, MacFadden-Dier Agency Inc., Nicholas F. Gardner Family Dental Care, North Country This Week, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6338, Viking Cives USA, and Westelcom-SLIC Fiber. Additional support was provided by Gretchen E. Tessmer, Esq. Attorney at Law, and Price Chopper.
Raffle prizes were donated by A. J. Missert Inc., AutoZone Auto Parts, Best Western University Inn, Bowman’s Gun Shop, Casablanca Restaurant, Cindy’s Cake Shop, Coakley’s Ace Hardware, Dashnaw’s Pizzeria, Emerald Greens Golf Course, Five Guys, Fun Unlimited, Glow Skincare and Spa, Ice Cream Bowl, In-Law Brewing Company, Jake’s on the Water, Kinney Drugs, Massena Memorial Hospital Foundation, Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology, Mrs. Beasley’s Liquor & Wine, NAPA Auto Parts, Nature’s Storehouse, NBT Bank, New York Pizzeria, Newvine Auto Parts, Potsdam Food Co-Op, Riverside Liquors, Route 11 Diner, Silver Leaf Diner, Small Town Supply Ace Hardware, Spirits of Downtown Brasher Falls, Spirits of Hannawa, SwingTime Mini Golf, T&R Wines and Liquors, The Lobster House, The Pear Tree, Tractor Supply Co., Walton’s Auto Service, White’s Flowers, and Kay Sulllivan.
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 Sullivan, 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 10, 2026, 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 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 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.