Golfers Tee Up in Matthew's Memory
9/11/2005
Ken Potter, Sr. keeps a photo of his grandson Matthew in his wallet – he’s got a Martin’s hat, Martin’s shirt and is holding a bag of popcorn.
“I always have him with me, whenever I want to smile a little,” said Potter, the former president and CEO of Martin’s Potato Chips.
On Sept. 10, 2001, 7-year-old Matthew Allen Potter was fatally injured on a ride at the York Fair.
Family friend Jack Lehr, who lives next to Matthew’s parents in York Township, wanted to preserve the memory of Matthew, and had always wanted to organize and promote a charity event.
In May 2002, he introduced Matthew’s parents, Janet and Kenneth “Butch” Potter, Jr. to his friend Lou Castriota, Jr. Since 1997, Castriota had been planning Leg Up Farm, a physical and occupational therapy complex for children with disabilities in East Manchester Township.
Castriota began the project after realizing how difficult it was to bring his daughter, Brooke, now 8, to various therapies. After talking with therapists and parents, he decided to bring nearly all of the various therapies under one roof.
He had been lobbying the state for capital redevelopment assistance funds, and had begun fundraising for the project, but still needed help.
What if there was a golf tournament in Matthew’s honor that benefited Leg Up Farm, Lehr proposed.
“They liked the idea of Leg Up Farm and how it is going to help children with special needs, so we can turn our tragedy into something positive,” Lehr said of the Potters.
And so the Matthew Allen Potter Memorial Golf Tournament began.
Now in its fourth year, the tournament’s net proceeds for the past three years exceed $100,000, said Castriota.
At the Sept. 19 tournament, four-person teams will compete at the Country Club of York at a noontime shotgun start. The event also includes a cocktail hour, dinner, awards and a silent auction.
Potter said the tournament is not a somber event – it’s a celebration.
“It keeps the memory of my grandson alive and it’s for a great cause,” he said. “It’s a special event and he was a special child.”
Lehr agreed, saying, “You’re feeling sad, but you’re also rejoicing because you’re celebrating Matthew’s life and you know something good is coming out of it . . . This is a great way to honor his life.”
Castriota said the nearly-eight-year quest to build Leg Up Farm is a “true test of perseverance . . . The reality that I’m faced with every day is we need to make this happen, because we can touch the lives of 5,000 families in the area we live in.”
About Leg Up Farm, Potter said, “We’ll get it done, we’re all hammering away.”
About Leg Up Farm
Lou Castriota, Jr. said he’s hoping Gov. Ed Rendell will approve $4.56 million in capital redevelopment assistance funds, which is about half of what Castriota needs to build Leg Up Farm.
He hopes it happens soon.
“We are truly getting to a point at the end of this year, that there’s not much more we can do until the money is released,” he said.
In March 2001, Barbara Warren donated 18.5 acres of her property in the 4200 block of North Sherman Street Extended, East Manchester Township, to Leg Up Farm.
In addition, Castriota says the land development plan is nearly finalized and they’ve had meetings with PennDOT on the facility’s entrance.
At the 110,000-square-foot facility, traditional therapies such as occupational and physical therapy will be offered, as well as less traditional therapies such as horseback riding.
By TED CZECH, The York Daily Record/Sunday News