Bordas & Bordas Golf Event Raises $10,000 for Oglebay’s ‘Access to Parks’ Program
Emma Delk Trending
The Bordas & Bordas law firm signed a $10,000 check toward the Oglebay Foundation's Access to the Parks scholarship Thursday through the proceeds from its Amateur Golf Classic.
The funds raised from the event's success will support the scholarship program, which gives children from low-income families free year-round admission to activities at Oglebay and Wheeling Park.
Bordas & Bordas' Scott Blass presented the check to Oglebay Foundation President and CEO Eriks Janelsins.
This year marks the seventh time Bordas & Bordas has sponsored the tournament, which Blass noted is one of the "oldest amateur golf tournaments on the East Coast." The tournament had 204 participants, the most it has seen since Bordas & Bordas took over.
"It's a very historic event that attracts some of the best players throughout the tri-state and some of the less accomplished players like myself," Blass joked. "Amateurs love to play in it because Oglebay does such a good job organizing the event."
Janelsins credited the hard work of volunteers and generous community support for pulling off the weekend-long tournament.
The tournament raised a substantial amount earmarked for the Access to the Parks program through donations from law firms, local businesses and individuals.
This year also marks the seventh time proceeds from the event have gone towards the Access to the Parks scholarship. The program provides all children access to park activities, regardless of their family's financial circumstances, from teeing off at Par 3 to fishing at Schenk Lake. The scholarship also covers admission to the museums of Oglebay Institute and the Schrader Environmental Center.
As the summer season at the park winds down, Janelsins noted the program will still provide free access to various winter activities, including ice skating and skiing. He estimated the donation would help support "certainly hundreds, if not thousands" of families heading to the park.
"You've got 28 different activities in the parks people can enjoy all year round, and the program offers 20,000 annual uses," Janelsins said. "We don't think there's another program like this in the country, and we're proud of that. To have a corporate sponsor step up to make that possible and support all the annual donations to support access to the parks is great."
Janelsins added since the tournament's proceeds are reinvested into the park, the donation will help create the next generation of golfers, tennis players, swimmers, ice skaters and hockey players who can enjoy the park for "generations to come."
Blass praised the program as "outstanding," noting the scholarship allows children to enjoy activities they otherwise would not be able to.
"We're happy to be in a position to help support that cause and hope to continue to do so in the coming years," Blass said.