On Monday April 11, 2016 at the Towne Bowling Academy (Rotterdam, NY) the Tyler DeMarco Foundation was presented with a generous charitable donation of $2,000.00 – money recently raised at the inaugural Just “9” Tavern Bowling Tournament sponsored by Skip’s Seal Coating.
L to R: Don DeMarco, Brian Haas, Skip Skoda, Pam DeMarco, Marty Capullo Jr.
The Just “9” Tavern Tournament/Fundraiser was created and organized by Brian Haas and Skip Skoda (owner of Skip’s Seal Coating). Haas came up with the idea and mentioned it to Skoda who immediately agreed to help and sponsor the event. Haas then approached Town Bowling Academy owner Marty Capullo Jr. who agreed to host the tournament. Marty has been and remains a gracious and genuine friend to the DeMarco family and the foundation ever since Tyler and older brother, Ryan started bowling the Towne Bowling Academy Junior League program prior to Tyler’s death.
According to Haas the tournament’s first year was a huge success. “We raised almost twice as much as we expected for a first year tournament” said Haas. Haas and Skoda both agree that the tournaments success was the result of two factors; great participation that filled the house and compassionate participants. “Participants were eager to buy raffle tickets – but when the 50/50 raffle winner (Ray Gilman Sr.) and the tournament winners (Team Blake) donated their winnings back to the Tyler DeMarco Foundation, we got a little emotional”. This event turned out to be more than we expected said Haas and added, “it was a blast and everyone had a great time and seemed to know why they were here; when the winners donated back their winnings many of us just started to tear up, it was very touching.”
The Tyler DeMarco Foundation wishes to thank Brian, Skip, Marty, Mr. Gilman, Team Blake and everyone who participated in this event:
“For us, this is very emotional because when people pull together for Tyler’s Foundation it’s as if they’re telling us …WE HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN HIM!” -Don DeMarco
THANK YOU ALL!!!!
