From first-time golfers to those who have been playing for decades, the 29th annual Hands Across the Green Golf Tournament guaranteed a great day for everyone while raising money for the Connecticut Education Foundation (CEF).
“It’s a great cause, it’s a great opportunity to meet new people within the union, and it’s just a wonderful experience,” said Kiely Fournier, a member of a team of Hamden teachers who played in the tournament at Glastonbury Hills Country Club for the first time.
Hands Across the Green raises money for the Connecticut Education Foundation’s Children Fund, which assists students in Connecticut’s public schools who need basics such as clothing, food, medicine, and more. CEA members can request money from the fund when they have a student in need.
“Teachers do so much to help their students, especially those who are in need or who face big hardships. The money we raise with this tournament allows us to support those teachers, so that the funds to support students don’t have to come out of their own pockets,” says CEA Vice President and CEF President Joslyn DeLancey. “That enables teachers to focus on what they want to do, which is teach and care for students, and CEF can support them with that financial piece.”
DeLancey adds, “The Children’s Fund allows us to provide everything from uniforms to eyeglasses to jackets to sleeping bags. That’s so students can have a healthy life outside of school and come in and be ready to learn.”
CEA-Retired member and past West Hartford Education Association President Theresa McKeown remembers how CEF supported a family who was displaced by a fire. “CEF put them up in a hotel,” she said. McKeown and WHEA President Brian Putkonen also remember CEF providing West Hartford students with hearing aids and glasses.
West Hartford teachers have been playing in the tournament for at least 18 years, and Putkonen has played for four.
“It’s fun and the donations go to a great cause,” he says. “This is probably one of the best bang-for-your-buck donations you can make. The funds directly help kids.”
“This is literally the best run tournament,” says Suffield Education Association President Mark Janick. “Every year it runs so smoothly, and it’s a lot of fun.”
Janick was joined at the tournament by three other Suffield teachers who are all repeat attendees.
“This tournament provides us with this tradition of getting together with colleagues during the summer—it’s good to get together and catch up with colleagues and hang out with other teachers from around the state,” said Suffield’s Justin Drago. “It’s something I always look forward to over the summer. The tournament is always great and the food’s awesome.”
Hamden teacher Stef Mojica had never golfed before, but that didn’t stop her from coming out to play at Hands Across the Green. “I’d never played before, but I’ve always wanted to give it a try.”
Hamden had not sent a team in recent years, but Hamden teacher and CEF Board of Directors member Katie Kiely thought the tournament sounded like fun and rounded up some of her colleagues to take part.
“CEF is a really good cause and I wanted to support it however I could,” she said. “I talked to some other teachers and said, ‘Let’s see if we can get a team together.’ Our union president was very supportive and helped us get our team organized.”
Their teammate Jaime Listro recently started playing golf and thought Hands Across the Green sounded like the perfect occasion for her first tournament. “This seemed like a good time to try out a tournament, it’s a good cause and I’m happy to be here representing Hamden.”
While the Hamden teachers enjoyed their first time playing in the tournament, Hartland teacher David Marlin is one of the educators who has been participating for more than two decades. He’s played with different partners over the years, but for the past three or four he’s partnered with fellow Hartland teacher Barbara Losure. Hartland is a small local association and has usually only sent two players, meaning the Hartland teachers get paired up with educators from another district, which Marlin sees as a benefit.
“I’ve always been paired up with nice people and it’s a fun way to meet other teachers,” Marlin said. “The tournament’s great every year. It’s one of the best days of the year.”
DeLancey extended a sincere thank you to the event’s sponsors who make the day of fun possible.
“This event allows for us to not only raise money for an incredibly important cause but also allows for teachers who don’t always have access to special days, like golf tournaments, to have a really special and fun day where we really work to make sure they’re taken care of and that they can enjoy the day.”
This year’s title sponsor was Capital Wealth Advisors of Janney Montgomery Scott LLC and gold sponsors were CBIA and Dalio Education. Click here for a complete list of sponsors.
First-place gross winners, with a score of 61, were Jake Walling and Christian, Will, and Max Karkos. First-place net winners, with a score of 49, were Shepaug Valley Education Association’s team of George and Tara Flaherty and Bryan and Lori Bishop.
