Val Matteotti Italian Open returns to benefit CRHA

By Ry Clarke - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on August 11, 2022.

Herald photo by Ry Clarke Cyndi Bester reacts to her shot alongside teammates Geoff Cox, Brent Morris and Bruce Galts as they play a round of bocce ball on Hole No. 3 during the Val Matteotti Italian Open golf tournament Wednesday at the Lethbridge Country Club.

Golfers teed off at Lethbridge Country Club Wednesday for the Val Matteotti Italian Open celebrating the event’s 25th year and return after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Partnering with the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation the event raises funds from the community donating all proceeds back to the hospital.

“This year 100 per cent of proceeds will be going into the cardiology area of the hospital. We’re very pleased and excited to be able to dedicate the funds,” said Allan Bartolcic, executive director of CRHF.

“We’re very excited to be back. Yesterday, we had a Matteotti appreciation sponsorship dinner thanking everyone. It was the first in person event we’ve had in a number of years, which is very exciting. Having this golf tournament really gives us a sense of being back to some sense of normalcy. Back in the community, seeing faces that we haven’t seen for a number of years. We’re very, very excited to be back,” said Bartolcic.

The event had been sold out for months with 144 golfers ready to hit the greens and donating to a worthy cause. Raising $1.6 million in the 24 years since beginning, the event looks to dedicate more programs and services within the hospital and continue to give back.

The event was started when John Talerico, Tony Rose and Rocco Suriano, local entrepreneurs here in Lethbridge, became inspired by an Italian-style golf tournament hoping to give back to the community and celebrate Italian heritage. With sponsorship from the Matteotti family, the tournament was able to come to fruition.

“At the time, we had just gone through a whole bunch of healthcare cuts, when Premier Klein came into office. We said we should use the hospital as our charity of choice,” said Talerico. “We feel proud, because it’s one thing about the money, but more importantly, it’s the equipment, the services, and the fact that all the money stays in southern Alberta. We feel very proud as a community.”

“We’re just thankful that so many people believe in this tournament,” said Rose. “They give their hard-earned money that they worked for, and we’re lucky to be given that money. With the support of all the local businesses and surrounding areas, we were very fortunate. Without the community this tournament has nothing. We’re just a small part of it as an organizing committee and we’re just honoured that our community believes in our hospital and is willing to give money.”

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