“It was a beautiful day to play golf, mingle with colleagues, and raise money for students in need,” said former CEF President Tom Nicholas at yesterday’s Connecticut Education Foundation’s Hands Across the Green Golf Tournament, held at Glastonbury Hills Country Club.
The heavy rains over the past few weeks caused flooding on the course, forcing the postponement of the tournament from July 12 to yesterday, but the change in date didn’t dampen spirits or excitement for the event.
CEA Executive Director Donald Williams (center) is joined by Putnam teachers Joe Humphrey and Nick Huston at this year’s Hands Across the Green golf tournament.
“We had a full field of golfers–teachers from across the state, along with friends, business partners, and CEA staff–who were excited to be on the course again and raising money for students in need,” Nicholas said.
This year’s tournament raised an estimated $20,000 for CEF’s Children’s Fund, which assists needy students in Connecticut’s public schools by providing many of the essentials they lack. Throughout the year, teachers contact CEF to request funds for items including clothes, eyeglasses, and hearing aids. Without these, children face obstacles to learning. Since its inception, the Hands Across the Green golf tournament has raised more than $700,000.
“The pandemic forced the cancellation of last year’s tournament,” Nicholas says, “and we know there are more students than ever in need, so we are grateful to everyone who supported the golf tournament and the Children’s Fund. We couldn’t do all we do without our generous sponsors, players, and volunteers.”
CEF, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit, charitable organization established by the Connecticut Education Association in 1991, administers The Children’s Fund. All golf tournament proceeds are contributed solely to The Children’s Fund.
