Still going strong, nine years on
The fundraiser’s success motivates Toronto baseball legend Joe Carter to set higher goals to positively impact lives
It’s not every star-studded fundraising tournament that can repeatedly build on its achievements year after year, but it’s a feat the Joe Carter Classic Golf Tournament continues to pull off, even nine years post-inception.
Ranked as the top celebrity golf event in North America, the itinerary has included a celebrity skins golf game and a golf tournament at Eagles Nest Golf Club in Maple, Ont., and an exclusive after-party in Toronto, and this year, to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Carter’s epic game-winning home run that earned the Blue Jays the 1992/93 World Series win, there was also a Jays game on June 19.
The game reunited Carter with a host of his former teammates and sports celebrities, among them: Roger Clemens, Ed Sprague, and Mitch Williams of the Philadelphia Phillies, who threw Carter’s serieswinning pitch.
“The three-day event (June 19-21 this year) itself has be- come a staple in a lot of people’s calendars, and every year there’s a host of well-known personalities and sponsors who want to be part of it,” says James Dodds, co-chairman of the Joe Carter Classic and a TD Bank Group vice-president.
“From my perspective, it’s incredible to know that after nine years, the momentum behind this event is continually mounting. There’s constant interest from recognizable current and former athletes, musicians, actors and comedians, not only because it’s a great cause with a wonderful team of volunteers working behind the scenes to make it seamless, but also because of the person championing it,” Dodds says. “The bottom line is, Joe Carter is a great man and when he’s part of something like this, people want to get involved and offer their support.”
It’s this involvement and support from many sponsors and donors that has done much to benefit needy families living in and around the GTA since the Joe Carter Classic began in 2010.
To date, much of the more than $2.5 million raised has helped high-risk youth, families in financial and emotional need, children living in foster care, funded 15 scholarships for deserving students who could not have otherwise afforded to pursue post-secondary education, and the list goes on.
According to Valerie McMurtry, president and CEO of the Children’s Aid Foundation, which is the principal recipient of the funds raised by the tournament, beyond the daily benefits the money raised has brought to the lives of the thousands of recipients, the continual awareness Carter brings to some of the most neglected, abused and vulnerable youth in Canada has been invaluable.
“What Joe has done is incredible, and I can’t say enough about how this foundation has shined a light on an almost invisible cause while also helping to make an impact on so many people in the process,” she says. “It’s truly amazing to see someone who has never had a helping hand in their life be completely moved by the generosity and kindness of strangers, and to witness how that act changes the way they view the world.”
As for Carter, he says it’s the privilege of giving back that motivates him to set higher fundraising goals year after year.
“My initial goal in starting this was to impact lives in a community I love, and, in particular, the lives of kids who need it most. Seeing the success of this fundraiser over the years has been amazing, and while we purposely don’t mess with the structure of the event — we’ve found a formula that works so there’s no need to alter it — there’s always the aim to maximize our ability to raise more money than the year before.” When that happens, he says, it presents a great opportunity to be able to help deserving young men and women further themselves and succeed in whatever they’re pursuing.
“I believe it’s important that they know we’re in their corner, and that they’re encouraged to believe in themselves. Sometimes it’s outside encouragement that makes the difference.”