The Pitchin’ for Wishes Cornhole Tourney, sponsored by general contractor Andrew Roby and Harris Teeter, will take place Oct. 13 at Freedom Park.
The tournament’s fundraising goal is $200,000 to benefit Make-A-Wish® Central & Western North Carolina, which will provide hope, strength and joy for children suffering from life-threatening medical conditions. Last year’s bag toss tournament set a Guinness world record with 256 cornhole competitors, but organizers plan to shatter that mark this year with 512 competitors.
The family-friendly tournament will feature an NCAA bracket-style cornhole competition, as well as food, music, mascots from Charlotte’s professional sports teams, a bouncy house and children’s play zone. The event, organized by Andrew Roby, is in its fifth year.
“We’ve had tremendous success in the past, and we can’t wait for the 2012 tournament,” said David McGuire, Andrew Roby chief operating officer. “But, we can’t do it alone. To reach our fundraising goal, we’ll need cornhole competitors, event volunteers, donations from the community and additional sponsors.”
The average cost to grant a child’s wish through Make-A-Wish Central & Western North Carolina is $6,000.
A recent example of a wish that came true is 15-year-old Amanda from Taylorsville, N.C. Despite battling acute lymphocytic leukemia, Amanda is a self-taught pianist who practices in church, while her pastor father prepares his sermons. Her wish was for a new piano.
Another example is Kenyon, a 7-year-old from Belmont, N.C., who has been battling fibromuscular dysplasia since infancy. Though his arms and legs are scarred from multiple surgeries, Kenyon loves to swim, and he is fascinated by oceanic animals. His wish was granted when he was sent to Discovery Cove and SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla., to swim with dolphins.
Nine-year-old Jack from Charlotte suffers from extrapyramidal cerebral palsy and extreme osteoporosis, and his wish was to meet his favorite wrestler, John Cena. Jack is wheelchair-bound with minimal motor skills, but he loves to watch wrestling on television. So Make-A-Wish arranged a meeting with Cena and provided Jack with an unforgettable experience.
And, 6-year-old Adam from Charlotte, who suffers from spina bifida, wanted to be a Carolina Panther. His wish came true when he was drafted No. 1 by the Panthers in the 2010 Make-A-Wish Draft. Adam also officially welcomed quarterback Cam Newton to the team later that year when the Panthers selected Newton No. 1 in the NFL Draft.
Though Make-A-Wish Central & Western North Carolina grants about 200 wishes each year, it has more than 325 qualified children in its pipeline. The organization relies solely on fundraising support from the local community.
The Pitchin’ for Wishes entry fee is $60 for each two-person team. The first-place team wins $1,000, and the second-place team wins $500.
The event is noon to 7 p.m., rain or shine. Organizers expect up to 1,000 people to attend.
As co-sponsor of Pitchin’ for Wishes, Harris Teeter has committed to raise $75,000 for the cause. Andrew Roby has raised $233,000 for various charities through its cornhole tournaments in previous years.
For more information about the Pitchin’ for Wishes Cornhole Tourney, including sponsorship packages, volunteer opportunities, registration and entry requirements, visit www.pitchinforwishes.com.
Andrew Roby, the premier custom residential contractor in the Carolinas, specializes in remodeling, kitchen and bath renovations, new homes and handyman services. The company was founded more than 60 years ago as a one-man remodeling firm and has grown into the largest in the Charlotte metro area with offices in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Boone and Atlantic Beach, N.C. With fine materials, unsurpassed craftsmanship and commitment to customer service, Andrew Roby produces one-of-a-kind homes that feature style, luxury and comfort. Visit www.andrewroby.com.
