(Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part column series on Monday’s Coaches vs. Cancer golf tournament in Olean.)
OLEAN — Every year it grows.
New ways are found to build on the cause: Coaches vs. Cancer.
Monday marked the fourth year Bartlett Country Club has hosted the 716 Golf Classic, benefitting the American Cancer Society. The Schmidts, St. Bonaventure coach Mark and his wife Anita, are the driving force behind the tournament, but are quick to point out just how many people it takes to pull off such an event.
This year, it expanded to two days to include a Sunday evening, pre-tournament reception, in which two awards were presented: Jim Stitt Jr. (CEO of Cutco) and Susanna Stitt received the Jim & Kathy Satalin Inspiration Award, while Jim Satalin received the Bob Lanier Impact Award.
Then came the golf, with a sold-out field of foursomes ($500 per player) playing Monday on a perfect day in Olean. In addition to the team prize, golfers played for closest-to-the-pin prizes on Bartlett’s four par-three holes and eight golfers earned a shot at a huge payout: Each took one swing, knowing that a hole-in-one would earn $1 million (none, however, made it).
Inside the country club doors, tables stretched across the hall with auction items such as signed jerseys (from Magic Johnson to Josh Allen) and other memorabilia to unique sports experiences at Big 4 basketball games or conference tournaments or even a round of golf with Mark Schmidt at Bartlett. Capping the night, emcee Sal Capaccio held a surprise auction for tickets and hotel accommodations to the Bills vs. Ravens game in Baltimore this season, with the winning bid topping $1,000.
“I think it went really well,” Anita Schmidt said. “Everything from check-in through the amazing volunteers, both from our community and employees of the American Cancer Society. And we had people doing registration, we had volunteers out on the course. It couldn’t happen without all the volunteers.
“I would say we had no less than 40 people helping, and that doesn’t include the Bartlett staff, who were amazing,” she added. “The food was amazing. The bartenders were amazing. The food last night, the food today. But in terms of volunteers, we probably had 40, maybe more than that.”
According to the American Cancer Society, the CvC 716 Classic has raised more than $300,000 since 2021. That was before 2024’s tourney, where the goal was to raise more than $140,000. Those funds have gone toward cancer research in Western New York and providing free lodging (771 nights total) for cancer patients and their caregivers from the Southern Tier at ACS Hope Lodges with $88,643 in estimated lodging costs saved for guests from Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties.
“So many people, both that we know and love and are related to, have been touched by cancer in one way or another,” Anita Schmidt said. “So, wouldn’t it be great if we could find a cure, and American Cancer Society does a lot to focus on funding research and providing assistance to those who are battling, whether that be at the Hope Lodge in Rochester, or whether that be providing rides to and from treatments. So the ACS does a lot in our region to help the folks.”
In June, Mark Schmidt received recognition from Coaches vs. Cancer at the national level. He was the honoree at the organization’s Circle of Honor Dinner, part of the annual CvC National Golf Classic at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester.
Capaccio introduced a video for Schmidt at Monday’s dinner where basketball and St. Bonaventure luminaries commended Schmidt’s commitment to CvC. Even Jim Boeheim sang Schmidt’s praises before the video cut out, leading Schmidt to joke that it was “interesting” the video cut off “our beloved coach from Syracuse.”
In 2021, Schmidt helped bring the tournament to Olean from Buffalo, thinking the committee could raise more at Bartlett.
“This is a great event,” he said from the podium before introducing speaker Seth Greenberg. “And when we started (it) three years ago … we had no idea if this thing was going to go, and you always have trepidations that you put this thing together and no one shows up. It’s amazing to me that every year it gets better and better and better, and it’s because of the community that we have here.”
Mark Schmidt recalled remarks from the night before from Jim and Susanna Stitt, who in turn said “it takes a village” and “it takes a community to have a community.”
“This place is really, really special, and for you guys to come out and support it the way you do is fantastic,” he said. “We don’t live in the Hamptons. We don’t live in Beverly Hills. We live in Olean, New York, and it may not be the richest town, but it’s a unique and special town because of the people that we have.”
The Bona coach, now in his 18th year at the Reilly Center, thanked the tournament committee and, in particular, Anita and Jeff Nix, who lent countless hours to the cause. Nix, he said, even called NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to ask for a donation and auction items.
“The committee’s important, but really the brains behind this whole thing are Anita and Jeff,” he said.
Schmidt insisted he doesn’t “do a lot with this event, per se,” but has two jobs: helping find golfers to fill out the foursomes and finding a guest speaker, this year’s being Greenberg. He thanked the many volunteers and Bartlett staffers who again made it possible.
He was also thankful to an A-10 rival coach and friend, Frank Martin, for making the long drive from UMass.
For Niagara coach Greg Paulus, the tournament is a chance to give back while mingling with rivals on their turf.
“To be able to be a part of the 716 Golf Classic, and the important cause that we’re all here, joining together, being united, it impacts so many of us that it’s really important for Niagara and our program to be a part of it,” Paulus said.
“I think it gives you a chance to spend time with other programs, other coaches and families. Coach Schmidt and his family have done an incredible job with all that they’ve done for Coaches vs. Cancer, and there’s so many other people that you can thank and that have come together. And so I’ve really enjoyed the time that I’ve been able to meet the coaches, spend time with the coaches and spend time with their families. And that’s something we look forward to.”
Paulus called it “the Vincentian way” at his school. For many Bonnies, it’s likely the Franciscan way too.
“For us at Niagara, (that means) to give back and be a part of something bigger than ourselves,” he said. “And Coaches vs. Cancer is that. And we’re not just a part of that for one day in this golf event and the reception, we’re a part of it throughout the course of the season and trying to raise awareness, raise money and that’s what we want to be a part of.”
