Congratulations to this year’s Lew Ford Memorial golf champions, “The Dirty Birdies” from Otselic Valley Central School District: Eric Wentworth, Jake Preston, Derek Empey, and Brad Wentworth. (Submitted Photo)

AFTON – On Monday, June 30, 84 educators, partners, and friends gathered at the Afton Golf Course for a day of celebration and camaraderie while raising over $9,000 for students at DCMO BOCES.

Since 2022, after a COVID-induced break, the outing has raised nearly $20,000. This year, 21 foursomes hit the links at 9:30 a.m. that beautiful June morning for a round of golf.

Congratulations to this year’s champions, “The Dirty Birdies” from Otselic Valley Central School District: Eric Wentworth, Jake Preston, Derek Empey, and Brad Wentworth.

The celebration memorializes Lew Ford, who served DCMO BOCES as the Assistant Health & Safety Coordinator from 1998 until his untimely death in 2015. Lew had a passion for student safety and for golf. He envisioned an opportunity to come together after the end of the school year, to celebrate and to raise funds for students. This year marked the outing’s 19th event.

This year, the proceeds will be shared between the following programs at DCMO supporting students: The Backpack Program, Mountain Movers, and SkillsUSA

DCMO would like to thank our corporate sponsors for the day, making this a successful event: C&S Companies – Ace Sponsor, Xerox Corporation – Ace Sponsor, NBT Insurance – Bridie Sponsor, MARCH Associates – Birdie Sponsor, Day Automation – Birdie Sponsor, Rapp Signs – Hole Sponsor, Principle Design Engineering – Hole Sponsor, Fiscal Advisors – Hole Sponsor, JW Danforth – Hole Sponsor, and BOCES Administrators Association – Hole Sponsor

In addition, the following companies made donations for a raffle at the end of the outing: the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the Afton Golf Course, and the New York Jets.

DCMO BOCES is a regional provider of educational services to students and schools, and operates school campuses in Sidney Center and Norwich. To learn more about programs and services at DCMO BOCES, visit the website at www.dcmoboces.com.

-Information from DCMO BOCES