SKANEATELES — Jack Matson was many things. He was a father, a grandfather, an athlete, a mentor and to many people he was a coach.
When Matson passed at the age of 63 his friends and family wanted to do something to honor his memory and his commitment to coaching and athletics.
“He was a lifelong coach and youth sports advocate,” Alanna Matson said. “Soon after his passing, his golf league asked if they could hold a tournament in his honor, and wondered what organization we would like it to benefit. After a lot of deliberation about who would be the best fit, we couldn’t decide on one. My 14-year-old son, Jackson, had the idea to establish our own foundation, one to be named for my father and work towards a goal that he was always passionate about.”
From this the concept of Papi’s Champs, a recently established 501c3 has grown with a focus on Matson’s love of coaching.
According to Alanna her father’s commitment to athletics was something that played an important role throughout his life.
“Our dad was a lifelong athlete and sports enthusiast,” she said. “I don’t think there was a time in his life where he wasn’t involved in sports in some way as an athlete, coach, or fan.”
Matson graduated from Skaneateles High School in 1975 where he played baseball, football, and wrestled, and though there was no golf team at the school at the time, that is when he started to play golf as well, his daughter said.
“He moved in to Skaneateles as a freshman in high school, and always credited the fantastic coaches he had, and his experiences on those teams with helping him to find his footing in school,” Alanna said.
He started coaching as soon as his son Rob began playing little league in the 1980s.
“He knew he wanted to be a part of fostering not only athletic skill, but also the character and life enhancing values children can develop through participation in youth sports,” Alanna said. “He coached him in baseball and basketball for over a decade. When Rob transitioned to school sports in high school, he could be found on every side line for his games. More recently he was thrilled to be able to coach his grandsons Jackson and Colton’s Lakeshore Baseball teams, which resulted in winning the league championship. Our dad always wanted to give every child the chance to play. He hated the thought of any child being left out of the opportunity to participate for any reason. It was common for him to ‘happen to find’ the exact piece of gear a player on his team needed, he never let a player go without.”
To honor Matson’s dedication to sports, it was decided Papi’s Champs would work with area youth sports and similar organizations to ensure that children are able to take part in these activities.
“We will support any athletic activity a child can play from little league to ballet,” Alanna said. “We will start at a really local level and once we establish ourselves further we will expand throughout the region. We will be working directly with youth sports organizations to establish relationships. The organizations will know our mission and be able to come to us to fund players’ program fees, or to provide equipment for participants. We want families to know that we exist and will be available for support so finances don’t deter them from signing their child up for the sport.”
To help get this effort up and running a golf tournament is planned for July 31 at Sunset Ridge Golf Club in Marcellus.
Alanna said in honor of her father the tournament is being referred to as “The Jack” by organizers.
Alanna said Papi’s Champs has a board of six people including Alanna, who serves as president, as well as Robert Matson, vice president, JoAnne Matson, vice president, Susan Riordan, treasurer, Theresa Thoryk and Neil Strodel.
Alanna said all of those involved have a special connection with her father.
“We have been working as a board and with our dad’s long time friend and golf partner Tom Finnegan since February after our charity was accepted and approved by NYS to plan the event,” Alanna said.
Since then a lot of work has gone into planning and organizing for the tournament.
“While on the course, golfers at the tournament will be able to participate in many events such as a closest to the pin contest, a long drive contest, a putting contest, and a skins game,” Alanna said. “The title of golf tournament is almost a misnomer, while that is the main event of the day, during and after dinner golfers, along with additional diners, will enjoy music from Jon Rogalia and the Swamp Boys and have the opportunity to bid on many amazing silent auction items. Items include an authentic Buffalo Bills helmet signed by Stefan Diggs, a signed Arnold Palmer picture, items donated by the Buffalo Sabres, New York Giants, Syracuse Mets, Adrenaline Lacrosse, Powell Brothers Lacrosse, Warstic baseball, Fairway Golf, The Sports Outfit and many more.”
On a personal level, Alanna said the loss of Matson has been difficult.
This is something felt by the Matson family as well as those who knew and were coached by Matson.
And the hope is that Papi’s Champs will keep his memory alive and help connect others with the sports Matson was so passionate about.
“Our loss was a huge, crushing one for everyone in our family, we knew we needed to channel all of our emotions surrounding the loss into something really positive and constructive,” Alanna said. “When my son Jackson had the idea to start our own charity, it just clicked that this was absolutely what we should do. Our dad had a real compassion for children in need, and this absolutely would have been a cause he was invested in and passionate about. In that regard it is bittersweet, it would have been amazing to see him as the president of the board and working on this cause in his retirement, instead we do it to honor him. Our dad told us every day that he was proud of us, it feels so wonderful to be able to work towards our mission with our amazing board and establish this organization for our children to continue working on as well.”
Anyone interested in registering as an individual golfer or as a foursome can do so at papischamps.com, or email [email protected] for more information. Papi’s Champs is also offering a separate dinner and entertainment ticket option to anyone who would like to attend, but isn’t a golfer.
One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to Papi’s Champs, Inc and be used towards the organization’s missions.
