In 2020, a lot of events had to be canceled including many of our in-person fundraisers. We are incredibly thankful to the team at Robins Kaplan LLP for getting creative with their annual golf tournament. Not only did they work within the state guidelines to ensure a safe tournament and a great day on the course for all of the golfers, the team ensured many of the annual traditions continued - even if they had to be adjusted to fit into this new virtual environment.

Each year the company welcomes sponsors, partners, employees and friends to the historic Myopia Hunt Club in South Hamilton, MA. The golf is great, but the interactions with the Special Olympics athletes are what bring golfers back year after year. Special Olympics Massachusetts golfer, Keith Peabody, joins the fun each year on the Par 3 16th - taking celebrity tee shots and hanging with the golfers. The day typically concludes with a reception in the historic club house complete with a silent and live auction and an address from a Special Olympics athlete representative. This year the evening portion of the event was hosted via YouTube and featured athletes, Mike Kelley, Tyler Lagasse and Meghan Colby.

The annual auction was also hosted online and helped bring the total raised through the 2020 tournament to $51,467.81! These funds are critical to the organization, especially as we work to get athletes back on the playing field. There is a major focus on growing programming at the community level to address the needs for physical and social activity where the athlete live. Over theist 18 yers, the Robins Kaplan Annual Golf Tournament has raised over $865,000 - providing countless opportunities for the athletes of Special Olympics to train, compete and help the residents of Massachusetts Experience Inclusion through sports.

The initiative taken by the incredible staff team at Robins Kaplan shows just what can be accomplished even in the midst of uncertainty.