Baltimore Colts great Tom Matte, featured on Sports Illustrated cover back in the day. Matte was the star attraction at last week’s Ed Block Courage Award Foundation’s Mini Golf Tourna- ment at Perry Hall. (Photo/Sports Illustrated)
ALSO PLAYS, AS 180 ‘MINI GOLFERS’
CHALLENGE LOCAL CELEBRITIES
18 M&T Bank employees volunteer at event
By Sara Heilman
Not many people can say they’ve had the opportunity to challenge a celebrity — such as Baltimore Colts legend Tom Matte — in a round of miniature golf.
However, some 180 local “mini golfers” did just that last weekend at the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation’s annual Mini Golf Tournament in Perry Hall.
Each year in Baltimore the charitable organization holds the event to raise money for its major purpose: the fight against child abuse.
Perry Hall Mini Golf, on East Joppa Road, closed its doors to the public all day Saturday to host the event, which featured local celebrities including Matte and retired Baltimore Ravens safety Bennie Thompson, along with Miss Annapolis Jade Kenney and a contingent of Baltimore Blast cheerleaders.
The charity — which is named for Ed Block, who as head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts was honored for his work with disabled children — works to improve the lives of neglected and at-risk youngsters and to stop the cycle of child abuse.
Following its humble beginning in Baltimore in 1978, recognizing a Colts player each year for out- standing character, the foundation was incorporated as a charitable organization in 1986.
Since then, it has expanded to include all 32 National Football League teams.
Along with Walmart, M&T Bank is a major sponsor of the Mini Golf event and has had a long partnership with the Ed Block foundation, the organization’s communications director, Paul Mittermeier, told Voice of Baltimore in an interview during the event.
This is the second year the major sponsor, M&T, has been involved in the Mini Golf Tourney, Mittermeier said, terming the event “a huge success.”
Ed Block official Will Pateris, left, joins M&T Bank Vice President Dan Fulmer at Perry Hall Mini Golf Tourna- ment, held to raise awareness against child abuse.
Ed Block Courage Award Foundation Mini Golf Tourney at Perry Hall – ‘Puttin’ Away Child Abuse’ (VoB Photos/Sara Heilman)
According to M&T’s Vice President and Regional Marketing & Sales Support Manager Dan Fulmer, events like this help “raise awareness against child abuse” and “spark conver- sation” about protecting the children of the community.
Fulmer added that M&T Bank has a “commitment to the community,” which is why 18 of its employees volunteered Saturday to make the event possible, he said.
The volunteers greeted the celebrities and golfers, as well as sold raffle tickets to raise funds for the foundation, and also organized a reception that followed the games.
M&T Bank employee and grandmother of three, Pat Meyer, volunteered for the first time at the Mini Golf event.
“Volunteering for the community is wonderful,” Meyer said, “especially when you can help kids.”
This year’s Mini Golf Tournament raised $17,000.
sheilm1@students.towson.ed
