19th Annual Tournament Overcomes Hurdles to Score for Local Charities

(Binghamton, NY • September 4, 2020) Before even teeing off, the 19^th Annual Jim “Mudcat” Grant All-Star Golf Tournament scored a win for the Broome County Urban League, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Binghamton, the food pantries of CHOW and Catholic Charities of Broome County, and local veterans. Security Mutual Life Chairman and CEO Bruce W. Boyea opened the Tournament with the exciting news that despite the challenges of COVID-19, this year’s event met its fundraising goal of $47,000: $10,000 for each of the four charitable organizations, plus $7,000 to provide transitional housing for a homeless U.S. military veteran for one year.

“This event only happens because of all our Grand Slam and Triple Play sponsors,” said Boyea. “Because of their generosity and all of us working together, we are able to present the net tournament proceeds to these great organizations that support our community each and every day.”

Binghamton Boys and Girls Clubs Executive Director Marybeth Smith spoke on behalf of the Broome County Urban League, CHOW and Catholic Charities, saying: “We are right in the middle of some very uncertain, unfamiliar and tough times. But I’m very happy to say that none of us ever stopped. We continued to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner grab ’n go, the food pantries never stopped with the food giveaways and making sure families had food, the Urban League and the Boys and Girls Clubs did programming from our offices to our kids at home. And that was so important, because as you know these kids . . . need the structure, they need the care, they need the love that we give them. But we’ve seen them in the last few months, and they’re doing well, and they’re going to continue because of everybody here. And we will continue because of you.”

In addition, Security Mutual donated an automatic temperature-taking kiosk to the Broome County Urban League, as well as to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Binghamton. The kiosks register a person’s body temperature within seconds and will help both organizations more easily accomplish their daily safety protocols for safeguarding the health and well-being of the children participating in their programs.

“These are four wonderful organizations that for decades have been on the front lines focusing on food insecurity and opportunities for our youth, which are important now more than ever,” said Binghamton Mayor Richard David. “And certainly the opportunity to house some of our city’s and our county’s homeless veterans is a wonderful cause that I am so grateful that you contribute to on an annual basis.”

Named after famed major league baseball player, entertainer and sports broadcaster Jim “Mudcat” Grant, the All-Star Tournament was founded in 2002 by Security Mutual Life together with Mudcat and his fellow Black Aces: the African-American major league baseball pitchers who have won 20 or more games in a single season. Each year the event features guest celebrities not only from baseball, but from football, basketball, wrestling, hockey, golf, the arts and entertainment, and more. This year’s attendees included:

• Former “Miracle Mets” baseball player, sports broadcaster and author Art Shamsky.
• Former Italian League and SU basketball player Roosevelt Bouie.
• Former SU linebacker and football coach Dan Conley
• Former Baltimore Ravens defensive end and Superbowl XLVII Champion Arthur Willis Jones III. Jones also played for the Indianapolis Colts and the Washington Football Team.
• Legendary SU wrestler, coach and 1980 U.S. Olympic team member Gene Mills.
• Former New York Jets center and Super Bowl III Champion John Schmitt.

“We salute not only these celebrities, but also our many loyal celebrities who had hoped to be here, but were prevented from doing so by COVID-19,” said Boyea. “Together with the rest of the world, we hope and pray that COVID-19 will soon be history, and we look forward to seeing Mudcat, Al Downing, Fergie Jenkins, J. R. Richard, Vern Law and all our guest celebrities, players and volunteers on September 2, 2021, to celebrate our 20^th Tournament.”