To the Editor:

I would like to share 83 reasons why shopping and doing business locally is important.

We, Cerebral Palsy Association of the North Country, recently held our 15th annual Polar Bear Golf Classic at the Canton Best Western.

100 percent of the proceeds made at this event will be used to help fund our Outdoor Recreation Program. This program allows individuals with disabilities to enjoy activities such as horseback riding, camping, canoeing, snowshoeing, skiing and more.

This annual event was a success.

Thank you to the Best Western maintenance staff for helping set up the course and to the CPNC maintenance staff John Barner, Tom Maroney, Dale Parker, and agency mentor Mark Lyon for directing the set up.

It takes a committee to make this event possible. The 2014 committee was comprised of 15 members: Jessica Ayrassian-Clark, John Barner, Donna Elliott, Mark Ferriter, Lisa Guccione, Shannon Harvey, Sonya Butler, Mark Lyon, Ashley Peggs, Shelli Prepare-Weston, Jim Williams, Claire Villnave, Kelly Hanley and Lindsay Barkley. Many thanks to all for their own unique contributions.

Many thanks to Kay Walton and Donna Webster, from our board of directors, who spent the entire day and evening helping out with various jobs. 
Thanks to these local businesses that either sponsored or donated an item(s) to raffle and in turn helped make our event a success:

Corporate sponsors included North Country Savings Bank; Walmart, Potsdam; Price Chopper, Canton; Excellus BlueCross BlueShield; The Kinney Drugs Foundation, Gouverneur; Robert D. Relph Agency, Watertown; Potsdam Elks Lodge 2074, Rose & Kiernan, Watertown; Edward Seymour VFW Post #1231, Canton; Corning Canton Plant; NBT Bank, Canton; Boyden Brook Body Works, Canton; Mort Backus & Sons, Ogdensburg; JC Merriman, Norwood; Brooks Washburn Architect, Potsdam; Save A Lot Food Stores, Potsdam; Casella Waste, Potsdam; Smile Associates, Canton; Stacey Howlett, Potsdam; SeaComm Federal Credit Union; Blevins Motors, Potsdam; Car Freshener Corp., Watertown; St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union; Body Shop Fitness Center & Salon, Potsdam; LeBerge & Curtis, Canton; Northern New York Newspapers; MacFadden Dier Leonard Insurance; North Coast Therapy, Waddington; Colton Glass, Canton and Route 11 Sales & Service, Canton. 
Donors included 96.7 YES-FM; Q Country 102.9; Super Hits PAC 98.7; 101.5 The Fox; Mix 96.1; 1340 WMSA; Community Bank, N.A., Canton; WWNY TV-7; B99.3FM/1470 Sports Radio, Potsdam; and The Ole Smokehouse, Madrid.

Other corporate sponsors included Rishes Auto, Ogdensburg; Carbino's Jewelers, Ogdensburg; Center for Sight, Ogdensburg; High Maintenance Salon, Ogdensburg; Dunkin Donuts, Canton; Sergi's Italian Restaurant, Canton; Cindy's Cake Shop, Canton; Between the Buns, Potsdam; Sergi's Italian Restaurant, Potsdam; Bessette's Liquors & Wines, Canton; Lobster House, Norwood; Jrecks Subs, Canton; Bessette’s Bottles N Beverage, Canton; JS Cinemas, Canton; Ron Riley, Massena; 1/2 Tons Bar & Grill, Potsdam; Canton Tire; Amanda Miller/Pampered Chef, Waddington; Ye Ole Liquors, Canton; Shelli Prespare-Weston, Colton; Body Shop Fitness Center and Salon, Potsdam; North Country Savings Bank, Canton; Northern Music & Video, Potsdam; Harris Medical, Potsdam; Pepsi-Cola Bottlers- Ogdensburg; Wear on Earth, Potsdam; Lowes, Potsdam; Glow Skincare & Spa, Canton; SLU Athletics/Skating Saints Men's Ice Hockey, Canton; Nature's Storehouse, Canton; Northern Ice and Dance, Potsdam; Brewer Bookstore, Canton; Blevins Ford, Gouverneur; Mary Enslow; Clarkson University Athletics/Golden Knights Men's Ice Hockey, Potsdam; University Bookstore, Potsdam; Great Northern Printing, Potsdam; Mary Lawrence/Golf Pro, Canton; Cape Air, St. Lawrence University Oliver D. Appleton Golf Course, Canton; Frank Mittiga/Golf Pro, Canton; Isle of You, Potsdam; Victory Promotions, Canton; Computer Guys, Canton; Glazier's Packing, Malone; Miller's Greenhouse, Lisbon; Potsdam Golf & Country Club, Potsdam; Stewart's Shops; LeBerge & Curtis, Canton; FISHCAP; Canton Best Western.
Without these local businesses our event, and many other charitable events, would not be possible. Please remember this before you head out to shop!

Many thanks to the participants who braved the cold and joined the fun to support our agency and this great cause. We hope to see you all next year.

Tammy Beaudin