A tradition of giving that began in 1986 continued May 16 at the Sugar Bush Golf Club in Garrettsville, where more than 225 golfers in two sold-out rounds raised more than $69,000 for Hattie Larlham. The 2018 event brings the total proceeds of the Sugar Bush Golf Classic to more than $950,000 to benefit the babies, children and adults at the organization’s main campus in Mantua.

Over the years, the money raised has funded services to the medically fragile people who live at the Hattie Larlham Center for Children with Disabilities, as well as facility repairs, a community special needs toys lending library, an adaptive sensory playground and nature walk, a transitional ventilator program and the Hattie’s Creative Arts program.

The event started when local business owners approached Judge Joseph Giulitto, a golfer at the Sugar Bush club, about doing an event to benefit Hattie Larlham. “When we started the event it was out of concern to do something for the children at Hattie Larlham,” recalls Judge Giulitto, a co-founder of the Sugar Bush event and former Hattie Larlham Board Member. “The organization needed to expand to care for more children.” The Committee has always chosen to focus on the Mantua campus, where the organization provides the most complex care. “We are finally approaching the $1 million mark.”

“The Committee did a tremendous job this year,” said Hattie Larlham Interim CEO Stephen Colecchi. “Many have ties that go back to the beginning of the Classic. We’re grateful for their leadership in rallying the community to support Hattie Larlham through this event.” In addition to Giulitto and his son Mike, committee members include Charles Auto Family owner Bruce Abraham, whose late father, Charles, helped found the event, and Charles “CJ” Milo, winner of the 2013 Northern Ohio Golf Association’s Tournament of Champions.

Colecchi also noted that the event would not have been possible without the support and effort of the Koval family, who owns and operates the Sugar Bush Golf Club. “Sugar Bush is a beautiful setting and the staff provides outstanding service for a very long day. The funds they have helped us raise have impacted hundreds of our residents through the years.”

Sponsors of the event include Middlefield Banking Company, the Cleveland Indians, Printing Concepts, Honeybaked Ham Company of Streetsboro, the Fraternal Order of Eagles #2436 in Chagrin Falls, WB Mason, Charles Auto Family, and many local companies that donated food or beverages.