Picture-Perfect Day for the 1st Annual Michael Sowich Memorial Golf Outing!

October 7, 2007 - Sherrill, NY

Mother Nature provided a picture-perfect day for the 1st annual Michael Sowich Memorial Golf Outing on September 29, 2007! More than 100 firefighters, friends and family attended the event at the Shamrock Golf and Country Club in Oriskany, New York to honor firefighter Michael "Mikey" Sowich. The outpouring of kindness and support from everyone was overwhelming and truly appreciated by both the Sowich family and KEYS.

The competition for the win was close on the course with Camp Vineall and Team New Hartford having tied scores. In the end, Camp Vineall was named the winner determined by their handicap on Hole #13. The winning team received trophies and custom "My Team Won" golf outing t-shirts to commemorate the event.

Camp Vineall - Winning Team
(view more event photos)

Thanks to everyone’s support, over $4,000 was raised with $2,027 going to the Sowich family and $2,027 toward KEYS Dawn's Song Project for the pediatric burn victims we serve.

Thank you to all of our sponsors and donors who made this day possible, including; New Hartford Volunteer Fire Dept, Sherrill-Kenwood Volunteer Fire Dept, Vineall Ambulance, Pharmacy Solutions, Floyd Volunteer Fire Dept, Oneida Limited, Whitesboro Fire Dept, Rome Fire Dept, Conehead’s, MyWebPathSolutions, Reliable Telephone Answering Service, Lee Center Fire Dept, Dave Barker, Verona Fire Dept and Auxiliary, Cushman Truck Repair, Westmoreland Fire Dept, Volunteer Fire Company of Vernon, Nice 'N Easy Grocery Shoppes, D & D Oil Co, Park Outdoor Advertising, Joe Gibb's Racing, Childress Racing, Petty Enterprises, Robert Yates Racing and Ganassi Racing.

Special thanks to; the Sherrill-Kenwood Volunteer Fire Department for providing a delicious Lunch at the Turn; to the Shamrock Golf and Country Club for use of their course, their wonderful hospitality and great food; and to our awesome volunteers who made everything run smoothly; Jason Tiffin, Billy & Renee Vineall, Andy & Mike Bennett, Rob Healy, The Davis Family, MaryLou Smith and Barb Sowich.

Michael Sowich, was a longtime member of the fire service through the Sherrill-Kenwood Fire Department and the New Hartford Fire Department, and passed away March 2, 2007 while attending a training seminar at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Michael was a 16 year veteran of the fire service and had attained the position of State Fire Instructor for the Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

This event kicks-off a new program for KEYS… the Michael Sowich Memorial Firefighter's Fund. This special program will enable us, and all of those who knew Mikey, to continue to honor his memory by assisting both fallen firefighter’s families and children in need for many years to come. We hope we can capture a fraction of Mikey's enthusiasm and dedication to the fire service through this very special program.

If you would like to make a donation to the Michael Sowich Memorial Firefighter's Fund or know a firefighter's family in need, please contact us at info@keysprogram.org. All donations are tax-deductible.

Thanks so much for helping us to capture the hearts♥ of the Sowich family and children in need, one beat at a time!

Back to Top