Sponsors sought to help AHS golf team help others
Outing will benefit student with leukemia, GiveBack Foundation

Allentown

ALLENTOWN - Tickets for the Redbird Golf Classic II sold out in just seven days.

The Allentown High School Parent Golf Association (AHSpga) and the Reed Sod Farm officially launched their player drive for the second golf classic on Feb. 6. The classic will take place May 4 at the Cream Ridge Golf Course in the Cream Ridge section of Upper Freehold.

"The popularity of last year's event carried over," said Bruce Novozinsky, chairman of the event. "Even though we had some signs up in town and at school, we saved publicity money because word-of-mouth was all that was needed."

In less than a year since Novozinsky and Bob Korn established the AHSpga with the encouragement of AHS golf coach Doug Hunt and athletic director Brian Irwin, the association has raised more than $75,000 in cash, goods and services, according to Novozinsky.

"The parents of golfers on the varsity team and the players themselves have been outstanding in their unwavering support," Novozinsky said.

The first golf classic raised money for athletic field restorations, the GiveBack Foundation and the Allentown Public Library.

"Our mission is simple - you need it, you got it," Novozinsky said. "It's rare that we turn away an organization that is helping the kids in our school district."

The May 4 event will once again benefit the GiveBack Foundation and will also benefit the Becca Wishbow Fund, which is sponsored by AHS. According to Novozinsky, Becca Wishbow is a junior on the AHS lacrosse and basketball teams who is waging a brave fight against leukemia.

Every team entering the classic will be asked to make a $20 donation for each birdie it posts post in its round, and the event organizers will donate an amount to be determined to the Becca Wishbow Fund under the "Birdies for Becca" pool.

The AHSpga will also donate $1,000 to the fund for every hole aced on the course.

"We need the sponsors to come forward," Novozinsky said. "We need the on-course signs to sell as well as the 50/25/25 raffles."

Novozinsky said the AHSpga is searching for large community-minded establishments looking to make a mark in this growing area.

"We're asking ... those who donate and have gift-matching programs at their place of employment [to] take the time to fill out the forms so we can all benefit," he said.

The organizers are also requesting prize table donations such as useful goods and tickets to sporting events.

"Nothing will be turned away," Novozinsky said.

According to Novozinsky, every dime raised through the AHSpga has gone directly back into the betterment and support of the region's schoolchildren and young adults.

"Overhead costs for administration and supplies stand and will remain at zero dollars allocated and zero dollars spent," he said.

In 2006, the AHSpga and the varsity golf team took active parts in fundraising for a food drive with AHS' baseball team and its parent association and the AHS Student Council; raised money for the Allentown Public Library and donated more than $4,000 in cash and merchandise to the GiveBack Foundation and "A Night Out for Becca," which was a fundraiser aimed toward the fight against leukemia in honor of Becca Wishbow.

The AHSpga has also donated golf clubs to local charitable golf outings and the local Little League as a team sponsor of the AHSpga Pink Sox. In addition, the association has started a scholarship fund for a deserving and qualified student who will be graduating from AHS.

Novozinsky said the AHSpga takes pride in supporting "the entire community that takes care of the kids."

"We are here to support any cultural, educational and historical organization within our school district," he said. "We all benefit."

Describing this year's event as "nasty big," Novozinsky said the organization committee for the second classic set out to make improvements over last August's outing.

"I cut the field from 144 to 128 players to improve on the pace of play," Novozinsky said. "Last year, we averaged five hours and 18 minutes for 144 players and yes, I carried the stopwatch on that."

According to Novozinsky, the reduction in players will not hurt the AHSpga's financial goals.

Also, with this year's addition of thousands of dollars in cash and prizes to be won on each hole of the course, Novozinsky said the committee had to make sure the rhythm of the guests' games is not disrupted.

"We have tremendous and generous sponsors like Nike, the Cream Ridge Golf Club, White Mountains Reinsurance, Hamilton Chrysler and the Reed Sod Farm, to name a few," Novozinsky said. "That coupled with those who step up to donate signs, be it for family or businesses, make this event that much greater."

"It's not all about the Benjamins," he continued. "Sometimes it's as simple as giving good people a good time, and the rest will take care of itself."

Although the event is currently sold out, there are always people who drop out, Novozinsky said.

"We are taking a wait list for this event, and the after-event party is open to anyone who wants to join us for a great lunch for $25," he said.

To sponsor the Redbird Golf Classic II, the student-athletes, the GiveBack Foundation and the Becca Wishbow Fund, contact Bruce Novozinsky at (609) 477-0954 or AHSpga@yahoo.com.