DANIELSON — Whether it’s sponsoring a golf tournament or holding a road (trail) race, the Quinebaug Valley Community College Foundation has a knack for successful fund-raising – with the numbers to prove it.
This fall the Foundation raised more than $125,000 during two highly successful annual events, money that will provide scholarships and other financial aid for QVCC students.
In September the Foundation’s 25th annual Golf Tournament, held for the first time at Connecticut National Country Club in Putnam, featured 36 teams, seven tournament sponsors, as well as 94 Gold, Silver, and Hole sponsors. Despite a last minute date change due to impending storms, the Foundation raised a record $82,000.
Tournament sponsors included 1st Alliance Lending, Gerardi Insurance Services, Jewett City Savings Bank, Weiss and Hale Financial, Westview Health Care Center, Foster Custom Compounds, and Putnam Plastics Corporation. First place went to the team of Kevin Cole, Robert Cloutier, Justin Cyr, and Mike Panteleakos. Second place went to Brendan Meehan, Jared Meehan, Ryan Salvas, and Mike Angeloff. Third place was taken by Tom Harney, Patrick Harney, Bill Poirier, and Todd Poirier.
Three and a half weeks later on October 21, Foundation members, assisted by 60 volunteers, hosted its 4th annual Tackle the Trail.
Sixty-five teams of varying sizes, as well  as 30 individual runners, participated in the 20-mile trail race that winds through Pomfret, Hampton, Chaplin, Windham and ends in downtown Willimantic. Finishing first in the men’s division was John Xeller with a time of 2:11:16. Setting a course record for women, Amanda Rossolimo finished with a time of 2:21:39. Relay teams coming in first in their divisions were Zip’s Diner (men), Kristin & Vicky (women), and Pomfret School Team 1 (coed). Also setting a course record in the 13 and under category was the Pomfret Community School X Country team.
Strong community support for the event was evident by the number of sponsors (25), including race sponsor Whitcraft, and several in-kind donors. Also critical to the success of the event were the volunteers who manned crosswalks, helped with parking and other logistics, handed out water, and cheered on the runners. All participants enjoyed a post-race lunch and celebration at the Willimantic Elks.
Tackle the Trail raised another $45,000 for the Foundation.