BERNARDSTON — To raise money for his nonprofit It Takes a Community Foundation (ITAC), multi-platinum artist Aaron Lewis is holding his sixth annual invitational charity golf tournament at the Crumpin-Fox Club on Saturday.
According to ITAC’s website, the $500 entry fee includes 18 holes, use of a golf cart, a tee gift package, on course contests, an 11 a.m. brunch, a cocktail party and silent auction at 5:30 p.m., a 6:30 p.m. dinner reception and an outdoor acoustic performance by Lewis at 8:30 p.m. Evening-only tickets — which include the cocktail party, auction, dinner and performance — are also available for $250 per person.
Lewis, founding member of the rock group Staind and a solo country music artist, founded ITAC in July of 2010 after Massachusetts eliminated funding for the R.H. Conwell School in Worthington, according to a press release about the tournament. The school had taught children since the 1940s and was one of the only community buildings in town, leading its closure to have a devastating impact on the town. Thanks to funding through ITAC, the release states, the school was able to reopen as a private community school open to all local students.
Since then, Lewis’ invitational golf tournament — coupled with a preceding benefit concert that will be held Friday at the Pines Theater in Northampton this year — have grown to be one of the largest fundraisers for ITAC. According to the release, the events have raised over $700,000 since 2012, which has been distributed to organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County, Hampshire Regional YMCA’s Camp Norwich, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) and the Greenfield Education Foundation.
All proceeds from the tournament and concert will benefit ITAC, the release states. The field is limited to 128 players, with competitions including longest drive, closest to the pin, putting and a hole-in-one challenge, according to the event’s online schedule. There is also a tournament purse of $5,000.
Lindsay White, publicity manager for the event, said Friday’s benefit concert is sold out. However, those interested in attending Saturday’s golf tournament or in purchasing evening-only tickets for the cocktail party, auction, dinner and performance can register online at https://www.itacf.org/events.html.
Reach Shelby Ashline at: sashline@recorder.com
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