From the Flight Deck

The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield has a simple mission: “To ensure every child has mentors and champions in life.”

Those champions emerged in droves Monday, June 24, at Marshfield Country Club to participate in the Boys & Girls Club’s 10th annual Golf Classic. And Shoreline Aviation fielded a strong team to participate.

What drives so many supporters to take to the golf course in support of this organization founded 25 years ago?

Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield Golf Classic players sign in.

“We’re a service organization that caters to youth,” said longtime club CEO Jim Bunnell outside MCC near the sign-in table. “And really, what we do, our mission, is providing a safe place for kids when they’re not in school.”

So, what does the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield do?

“It’s a youth center that kids are able to attend – camps, programs, help with their homework, sports, learning how to swim, field trips, the whole works,” said Jim. “And all without using a device. We went device free three years ago. Any program or service that we run for kids, there’s no cellphones and no electronics. It’s just kids being kids.”

From the club’s website (www.bgcmarshfield.org): “The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield currently serves youth, ages 5-18 years old and serves as a second home to many children of working parents. The Club’s primary focus is to keep children safe and engaged. The after-school hours are the most vulnerable time for latch-key kids.”

Shoreline President Keith Douglass, at the wheel, and teammate Mike James prepare to head out.

The Golf Classic is a fundraiser. How are those funds used?

“About 30% of the kids who attend our camps and programs can’t afford it,” said Jim. “These programs provide accessibility for underprivileged, at-risk kids. And transportation, clothes, food, a variety of different things. And it’s all done anonymously, so when families or guardians of young kids apply or come in and they’re in a difficult situation financially or with healthcare or whatever it may be, we’re able to provide financial assistance to these kids and give them access so they can be included in all the fun daily programs that kids need when they’re not in school.”

One of multiple rows of golf cars at the ready to cart players to the Marshfield Country Club golf course.

The golf tournament was expected to raise about $100,000 net, said Jim. “This is one of the events that we do in a year to provide financial assistance to help kids on the South Shore.”

You could say Jim Bunnell is pretty attached to the idea. “I grew up with a Boys and Girls Club in Portland, Maine, back in the ‘60s and ‘70s,” he said. “And now companies like Shoreline Aviation, Cook Family Charitable Fund, the Warsofky family, all the banks, churches, companies in and around Marshfield, all have a piece of taking care of our neighbors’ kids with programs provided at the Boys and Girls Club.”

Shoreline’s players took one for the team, taking to the links on the beautiful, sun-filled summer day. Joining the players to celebrate the Boys & Girls Club was special guest “Gentleman Jim” Lonborg, the great Red Sox pitcher who famously led the team’s “Impossible Dream” season all the way to the World Series.

Red Sox great “Gentleman Jim” Lonborg was on hand to celebrate the Boys & Girls Club.

“It’s a great cause, great people,” said Shoreline President Keith Douglass. “We look forward to it every year. It’s a lot of fun.”