2 weeks Ago
HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. – The Sand Bar & Restaurant in Hoosick Falls, New York hosted the twenty-fifth annual Karen & Molly McGovern Fund Volleyball Tournament and Fundraiser on Saturday, September 7, 2024.
The Karen & Molly McGovern Fund, which long ago adopted the slogan “Neighbors Helping Neighbors,” raises money every year to support individuals and families in the Hoosick Falls and surrounding areas who encounter unexpected health crises that impose often debilitating financial burdens on the families the Fund assists. This year, well over 500 people turned out to support the cause, and the Fund raised a record-breaking $26,400 during this one-day event, comprised of entry fees from volleyball players, proceeds from a 50-50 raffle and a prize auction consisting of prizes donated by over one hundred individuals and businesses in the community, and private donations collected that day. The volleyball tournament generated 18 teams who competed in one of two divisions during a five-hour preliminary round robin, followed by a two-hour playoff tournament.
Each year, players come from all over the capital district, Vermont, and Massachusetts to compete in this tournament, and this year was no exception. After over 100 players battled it out through a sunny morning and a rainy afternoon, The Cornhuskers (Carly Wilken, Chance Wilken, Jody Wilken, and Jared Bazan) won the A Division, and the Maxxinistas (Casey Summer, Cheyanne Hall, Max Goldstein, Cody Motstiff, and Matt Dragos) won the B Division. Each year, the Karen & Molly McGovern Fund selects a specific individual to honor with an award for exhibiting qualities and characteristics reminiscent of those exhibited by their daughters, Karen and Molly, during their times of struggle – specifically, “courage, perseverance, and graciousness in confronting extraordinary challenges.
” This year’s award recipient was Willow Grace Pellerin, a 17-month old child who fought for her life after an early delivery and other health complications. The Fund also honored the Tri State Federal Credit Union in acknowledgment of their continuing support in helping the Fund to help their neighbors. The Fund is extremely grateful for all who donated baskets and gift cards in support of this event as well as those who purchased raffle and auction tickets and made private donations to support the cause.
The Sand Bar is located at 21 Lyman Street in Hoosick Falls, NY. The Sand Bar hosts approximately ten fundraiser volleyball tournaments each year to support various charities and non-profit organizations throughout the Hoosick Falls community and surrounding areas, including the local Food Pantry, the local Youth Center, the Village Concert-In-The-Park Series, the Karen McGovern Fund, the EC Fund, The Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Disorders, and various families who have encountered tragedies that left loved ones behind. The Sand Bar will be adding a third volleyball court next year so that they can accommodate even more teams in future tournaments.
The Sand Bar publishes a schedule of events each year on its website at as well as on its Facebook Group page (The Sand Bar & Restaurant)..
