By Kate Bartlett
Wednesday, August 13th marks the 3rd annual Frank Pitillo Golf Tournament at Holiday Valley. Proceeds benefit the Ellicottville Little Eagles Football Team and the Frank Pitillo Memorial Scholarship Fund. Registration is open and Sponsorships for the event are available.
Nick Pitillo started this event in 2023 to honor his brother, Frank, who tragically passed away after a motorcycle accident when he was only 16 years old, and Nick was 9. “Frank had a driven personality and an entrepreneurial spirit. He was an athlete ranked in the top skiers in North America in training for the Olympics when he was suddenly taken from us,” reflects Nick. “It’s a priority in our family to honor Frank and his spirit, and give back to the community he loved.”
The event kicks off on Wednesday at 11am with lunch on the patio at the Cabana Bar followed by a full day of golf at Holiday Valley. Vendors are set up throughout the course, with an afterparty at Villaggio following the event. “We bring in unique vendors to keep this event interesting,” explains Nick. “It’s a great event, people gathering together for a good cause makes for great energy. We have deep roots in our community, and the proceeds raised go directly to benefit our area.”
Proceeds from the event will be allocated by The Cattaraugus Regional Community Foundation 501c3 in Olean with funds to benefit the Ellicottville Little Eagles Football Team and The Frank Pitillo Memorial Scholarship Fund. The Frank Pitillo Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to Ellicottville High School students who excel in academics and athletics and demonstrate entrepreneurship skills.
The event was originally started to benefit the Frank Pitillo Lighting Fund, to complete the lights on the Ellicottville Central School football field. “Though the generosity of our community, we finally raised enough money to complete this project last summer; the lights have been on for one complete football season.”
Since the event was already established, Nick saw the opportunity to raise funds for other worthy youth-based causes. “When we started, we thought we’d run the golf event through the completion of the lights,” explains Nick. “I was approached by several people to keep the event going, so we decided to continue and raise funds for other causes in the community. The support from our area businesses and community has been incredibly heartwarming and overwhelming; we’re so grateful.”
Eventually, Nick would like to allocate some of the funds to plant trees in honor of the four teenagers who lost their lives around the same time as his brother Frank. “Our community suffered four tragic losses in such a short time span: Cindy Northrup, Maureen Widger, Curt Root and my brother Frank Pitillo,” explains Nick. “It’d be an honor to replace the trees that were planted as a memorial (but grew unsafe and were therefore removed) shortly after their loss.”
Golf registration is open, and sponsorships are available. Anyone interested in donating a basket to the raffle can contact andrea@villaggioevl.com or call (716) 699-2199. For more information visit lightevl.com and follow The Frank Pitillo Memorial Lighting Fund on Facebook.