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For nearly 40 years, the Weirton United Way's Golf Classic has stood out as being among the region's top fundraisers.
Its field has been large and varied, attracting not only the best golfers from around the Tri-State Area, but drawing some of the top celebrities as well.
The late Bob Prince, legendary broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the late Joe DiMaggio, who spent a celebrated hall-of-fame career with the New York Yankees, are just two of the greats who have participated in the field.
This year's event, the 39th, is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Monday at Williams Golf and Country Club. It will make a renewal of an event that, like many others across the region and the nation, had to be canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Always offering a great day of golf on one of the region's premiere courses, the event also serves as one of the United Way's biggest fundraisers of the year.
Money raised through the annual tournament will play a significant role in helping the organization reach its annual goal, which will ensure that the agencies which depend on United Way funding wlll be able to continue their work of improving the lives of residents throughout the Northern Panhandle.
Working to ensure that work is succssful are a countless number of dedicated volunteers.
That includes John Kirlangitis, who again returns as tournament director; Casey Richards, campaign chair, and Joyia Lytle, vice-chair; and many area businesses and organizations that have stepped up to serve as golf tournament sponsors. All of that work is coordinated through the efforts of Linda Stear, the organization's longtime executive director.
While raising a lot of money for the United Way, Monday's tournament also will stand out because it will mark the return of in-person fundraising, something we're sure area residents will be looking forward to again after spending more than a year participating in virtual and online events.
The annual golf tournament is one that has been able to stand the test of time, one that remains a much-anticipated event on the calendar. It remains a great reminder that area residents are always willing to step up when they are asked to help one another.