The Big 30 Don Raabe Charities Committee distributed $14,400
Sunday during the 2009 Charities Giveaway, which was held at County
National Bank in Bradford.

The late Don Raabe was the founder of the Big 30 Charities
Classic, the high school football game that pits recent
Pennsylvania graduates from Warren, McKean, Potter, Elk and Cameron
counties against their New York counterparts from Allegany and
Cattaraugus counties. The game is held in Bradford on the first
Saturday in August.

Proceeds from these games benefit organizations, groups and
individuals in the Big 30 area.

In his opening remarks, Frank Williams, a member of the Big 30
Committee, said, “This is the 36th Giveaway Day, which is testimony
to the strength of the game. After today, the Big 30 Don Raabe
Charities will have given away $1.3 million.”

Members of the Big 30 Charities Committee were recognized as was
Joan Raabe, whose late husband founded the game in 1974.

According to Williams, this game is a year-round charity. 

“We meet monthly except for June and July when we hold weeekly
meetings,” he said.

Bill Klineberger, vice president of the committee, announced
this year’s recipients. He was assisted by two players from this
past August’s game – Andrew Olson from Kane and Stephen Jacobson of
Salamanca, N.Y.

The recipients were Dan Beckwith Scholarship, Camp Care, McKean
County Visiting Nurses Voice Care Fund, McKean County Special
Olympics, Bradford Special Police, Sandra Jo Pennington, Dewey
Fund, McKean County Visiting Nurses Bereavement Camp, Camp New
Horizons, McKean County SPCA, Debbie Crum, Shawn Prencipe, James
Menteer, Camp JJ, Twin Tier Pregnancy Care Center, Sam Benedict
Chapter of Football Officials, Bill Satsman, Rodney Jones, Mary
Dean, Elizabeth Yohe and the Bradford Area High School
cheerleaders.