Gold metallic circlets symbolizing the continuum of related events and the collaboration of working together are being presented to 2008 Honorary Host Committee members of the Upstate New York Empowerment Fund.

The medallions have been presented over the last couple of weeks as the Upstate New York Empowerment Fund activities come to a close for this year. Oneida Nation Council (government) representatives have been visiting 2008 Honorary Host Committee members to award the specially-cast honors, along with a certificate of appreciation from the Empowerment Fund recognizing the participation of these civic leaders. The Oneida leaders also have expressed how the involvement of the Honorary Host Committee members –community leaders known and recognized across Upstate New York – plays a significant role in the success of the Empowerment Fund, the charitable initiative affiliated with the Turning Stone Resort Championship, a PGA TOUR® event.

The work of these Committee members is informal, but important. They provide information, help create awareness, and generate interest in the Championship. That in turn spreads word about the event’s “Tickets for Charity” program. The ticket program permits charities to sell tickets to the event, and to earn back 100 percent of the face value of each ticket sold after the event is over.

Over the past two years, the initiative raised close to half a million dollars for nearly 100 regional charitable groups. Ticket sales checks were recently distributed to 99 charities across eight Upstate New York counties in the amount of $228,885, the total raised in ticket sales by all 99 organizations. In 2007, the total raised and distributed back was $241,804.

Honorary Host Committee members for 2008 are as follows:

From Onondaga County: Beth Baldwin; J. Patrick Barrett; Jim Boeheim; Juli Boeheim; Michael J. Falcone; William Fitzpatrick; Maureen Green; Darlene Kerr; John Kinsella; Joanne Mahoney; John F.X. Mannion;
Dr. Cornelius B. Murphy; Nicholas Pirro; Greg Robinson; Dr. James E. Sartori; Kenneth Shaw; David R. Smith, M.D.; and Melvin T. Stith.

From Oneida County: Charlie Constantinto; Patrick Costello; Christopher Destito; RoAnn Destito.

From Madison County: Maurice Bordell.

And: Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr., (Ret.) of Washington, D.C., a native of Canastota, NY.