Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Led by example
Pagnozzi remembers mentor, pays it forward
The event was born out of one young catcher’s respect for his University of Arkansas coach, and now it gives scores of young people a chance to find their own niche in the wide world of sports.
The 23rd annual Tom Pagnozzi Charity Golf Tournament, Ultimate Tailgate & Auction took place Oct. 3 at the Springdale Country Club and raised approximately $65,000, according to Kelley Atchley, executive director of Pagnozzi Charities.
“Funds raised will go to Pagnozzi Charities and the Pagnozzi Youth Sports Assistance Program, which grants assistance to underprivileged children in kindergarten through eighth grade in Northwest Arkansas to help them become involved in sports,” Atchley said. “Assistance can be financial and help pay for recreational sports registration fees or through providing the children the equipment necessary to play the sports.”
In the middle of controlled chaos as golfers came in from the course, Jeff Fox and the Man on the Wall played music, and participants snacked on heavy hors d’oeuvres with beer donated by McBride Distributing and sodas and water donated by Coca-Cola. Pagnozzi, who played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1987 to 1998, paused for a moment to remember.
“I had the privilege to play for Coach Norm DeBriyn for one year,” he said, before being drafted into Major League Baseball. The two kept in touch, and one time, Pagnozzi found himself chatting with DeBriyn about 11:30 p.m. Why, Pagnozzi wondered, was the coach at his office at nearly midnight. “Doing my secretarial work,” he remembered DeBriyn saying. “That kind of bothered me,” Pagnozzi said.
So Pagnozzi started a charitable foundation to pay for a secretary for his coach. “And here we are 23 years later,” he said.
“With this event and all of our events, we hope to have raised awareness about the need for sports in the lives of children,” Atchley said. “The benefits they receive from being involved in after-school activities and team-related activities are priceless.”
Atchley said some 200 people attended the event. Next on the agenda for the organization is the second annual Princess for a Day, which will take place on Feb. 21. As planning for this event progresses, updated information can be found at pagnozzicharities.org/ princess-for-a-day/, Atchley said.