Race for Matt and Grace Golf Tournament teeing up for third year

By JACOB MARROCO
Posted 7/31/19

By JACOB MARROCCO Jack and Sallyann DiIorio said they are always blown away by the support they receive for the Race for Matt and Grace and the Friedrich's Ataxia Research Alliance, but especially so when August rolls around. Aug. 17 will mark the third

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Race for Matt and Grace Golf Tournament teeing up for third year

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Jack and Sallyann DiIorio said they are always blown away by the support they receive for the Race for Matt and Grace and the Friedrich’s Ataxia Research Alliance, but especially so when August rolls around.

Aug. 17 will mark the third Race for Matt and Grace Golf Tournament at the Connecticut National Golf Course. Jack DiIorio said the event has sold out each of the previous two years, and is well on its way to hitting that mark again.

Registration costs $125 per player – or just $25 for dinner – and that fee includes $10 worth of raffle tickets, 18 holes of golf with a cart provided, a souvenir bag and a meal afterward. Registration must be completed by Aug. 1.

Friedrich’s Ataxia — a genetic, degenerative neuromuscular disorder — affects one in every 50,000 people in the United States, including Jack and Sallyann’s son, Matt. He was diagnosed in 1994, while Grace Hopkins, the other namesake for the Race for Matt and Grace, was diagnosed in 2008.

“It’s very humbling, and it’s just great to see people that you’ve known all your life and when the kids were younger we were close to these people, then you kind of drift apart,” Jack said shortly before a meeting at the DiIorios’ home to discuss details of the golf tournament. “Then, when this happened to Matt, it’s just like people came out of the woodwork for support. It’s been great.”

The genesis of the golf tournament came about four years ago when Matt’s high school friends Derrick Gelsomino, David Interlini and Ryan Sukaskas thought it would be a successful fundraiser.

Initially, they were unable to secure a golf course or a date for the event. Then, Interlini found himself working out at the same gym as former Johnston parks and recreation director Vin LaFazia, whose department typically held three golf tournaments a year.

“One of the golf tournaments, the people they were raising money for, they didn’t need it any more,” Jack said. “[Interlini] was talking to him and Vinny said, ‘We still have that date at Connecticut National. If you still want that date, I’m sure you can have it.’ So that’s what happened. So they got together and said, ‘Yeah, let’s make it work.’”

Both Jack and Sallyann lauded several town officials, including current parks and recreation director Dan Mazzulla, for their help in making the tournament a success every year.

Jack also discussed the event’s menu, which includes everything from clam chowder to sausage and peppers, while Sallyann reminded him that a bevy of drinks are available as well — including limoncello.

“We’re not sold out yet, but it will be,” Jack said. “We’ve raised over $12,000 both years. We’ve got some donations from local people, golf courses donate foursomes and we do silent auctions. It’s been very positive. We have a really good dinner after, the food there is really good.”

The golf tournament is only part of the annual $100,000 fundraising goal for the DiIorios. Sallyann teased future events as well, including Zumba activities and a beer festival they will be holding this October.

The upcoming August fundraiser, though, is an entirely different animal. Jack said that Race for Matt and Grace co-chair Michael Crawley is surprised every year at how much “money that the golfers throw around.”

“We’re selling raffle tickets and they're just taking $20s out, this and that,” Jack said with a smile.

The DiIorio family loves to pay it forward, too. Sallyann noted that they were involved in events well before the Race for Matt and Grace, and they continue to reciprocate as the community shows out for them.

“I’m getting a lot of enjoyment out of it. A lot of people that have come to the golf tournament have invited me to support golf tournaments that they’re doing,” Jack said, as Sallyann added that he has been “playing a lot of golf these days.”

“I’ve played a lot of golf this year,” he said with a laugh. “They’re all for good causes.”

Tee memorial signs can be purchased for $50, while tee business sponsorships are available for $75. Those interested in becoming major sponsors can do so for $500.

For more information, reach out to Gelsomino (derrick.gelsomino@gmail.com, 401-862-3231), Interlini (dinterlini@gmail.com, 401-255-0178) or Sukaskas (ryansukaskas@gmail.com, 401-413-5494).

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