A tradition of giving that began in 1986 continued May 15 at the Sugar Bush Golf Club in Garrettsville, where 200 golfers gathered to raise over $62,000 for Hattie Larlham. The 2019 event brings the total proceeds of the Sugar Bush Golf Classic to more than $1,012,000 to benefit the child and adult residents at the organization’s Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) 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. This year’s proceeds will help fund the ongoing need to replace the specialty beds residents rely on for safe and comfortable sleep.

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.

“The Committee did a tremendous job this year and $1 Million is an incredible milestone,” said Hattie Larlham 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 33rd Annual Sugar Bush Golf Classic include The Middlefield Banking Company, W.B. Mason, Printing Concepts, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles #2436, as well as many other local businesses who contributed monetary and in-kind donations of food, beverages, and prizes.