Strong Little Souls Family Funday and Wyndhurst Golf Tournament

Staff ReportsPrint Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. The fourth annual Strong Little Souls Family Funday brought more than 30 families affected by pediatric cancer together this year at the Cottage Farm of the Berkshires, owned by George and Sheri Haddad.

This year, Haddad Subaru presented Strong Little Souls with an $11,500 donation through the Subaru Share the Love Event. In addition to the financial contribution, George Haddad and the Haddad Subaru team provided volunteer hours, resources and hands-on support to help make the Family Funday possible.

Tables were filled with activities including glitter tattoos, tie-dye shirts and balloon animals.

Children enjoyed bouncy houses, water games and the ever-popular foam pit, while boat rides, ice cream and plush toys kept the excitement going throughout the day. 

The celebration continued the following week with the first-ever Strong Little Souls Golf Tournament fundraiser at Wyndhurst Golf Course, sponsored by Haddad Auto Group.

Golfers arrived for check-in to find the course filled with teams and golf carts, each participating in support of children and families whose lives have been impacted by pediatric cancer. Throughout the course, signs honored individual children — those who have been forever affected by pediatric cancer, those currently battling the disease and those who have become survivors.



The tournament featured hole-in-one challenges, silent auctions and "Put & Pour" activities, with proceeds benefiting Strong Little Souls.

Following the tournament, a family-friendly cookout was opened to the public, bringing together families, golfers, volunteers and community supporters.

By the conclusion of the tournament, more than $40,000 had been raised for Strong Little Souls. Of that total, $10,000 was contributed by Haddad Auto Group and Hyundai Hope On Wheels.


 


Tags: haddad,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Lanesborough Hopes for Continued Talks on Mall Sale

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Select Board is optimistic that talks for the Berkshire Mall sale will continue. 
 
Chair Deborah Maynard and Vice Chair Juli Baker were to meet with mall owner JMJ Holdings, the Baker Hill Road District, and proposed buyer Cypress Equities on Tuesday to discuss next steps. As of Wednesday, iBerkshires had received a "we are optimistic" from Maynard on the talks. The Berkshire Eagle reported a response from a Cypress representative saying talks will continue.  
 
Baker had updated the Select Board on Monday about the status of the sale and the efforts being undertaken by the renamed Baker Hill Business District.
 
Cypress Equities pulled out of a purchase-and sale-agreement with mall owner JMJ last week for the following reasons. 
  • Not enough water service/pressure to the property to support redevelopment without constructing costly water tanks.
  • The current septic system and former treatment facility is not acceptable for a project of the scale and magnitude proposed.
  • There is existing asbestos and bad soil from the treatment system that needs to be remediated off site.
  • And the current structure and tax assessment of the Baker Hill Road District.
Baker has been working with what is now being called the Baker Hill Business District and said she and the district members are happy that Cypress has decided to leave the door open to more discussions and that they have been working hard to try and address the company's needs.
 
Last month, the town had asked state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. John Barrett III to support the state Department of Transportation taking over the Connector Road, funding for a mall connection to Pittsfield's wastewater treatment plant and a connection to the town's water main.
 
Baker said an amendment has been drafted to cap the district's taxes to not grow more than 2.5 percent a year. She noted that, historically, taxes have not grown by more than one percent per year, so it won't be difficult to meet that cap.
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories