3rd Annual Click It for Cassie Softball Tournament Gets Sponsors

Tom Geary, father of the late Cassie Geary, called and told me that he needed some help with the 3rd Annual "Click It for Cassie" Softball Tournament.

The  at on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The event is a fundraiser for the Click It for Cassie Foundation, which was set up by the Geary family after Cassie, their daughter, a driver with limited experience, died in an automobile accident in bad weather.

Geary said that this is the one and only fundraiser of the year. The money raised enables his family to continue their outreach in the community bringing awareness, especially to young people, about the "Click It for Cassie" message.

Thankfully, a local developer and the head of the police union, stepped up to the plate without hesitation.

POKO Partners, a Norwalk developer and the Norwalk Police Union, Local 1727, will be major sponsors for the event.

"I am particularly grateful to Ken Olson of POKO partners who agreed to donate $1,500 towards the costs of the softball fields and for Tom Roncinske and the Norwalk Police Union for their generous $250 gift," Geary said. "This will really help us realize our mission."

Ken Olson understands the mission too.

"I have a teenage daughter myself," Olson said, "and supporting this tournament is a no-brainer. As someone who has a major development project in Norwalk, being a part of this community is more than just bricks and mortar, it's about making a difference. The Click It for Cassie program clearly makes a difference."

Tom Roncinske, president of the Norwalk Police Union, said his organization's support intersects well with Click It for Cassie.

"As Norwalk police officers, we want to educate all drivers, especially young drivers, about the importance of seat belt safety," he said. "Not only is it the law, but buckling up can literally save lives."

Worthy cause

Times are tough and dollars are short in this economy. However, there are always generous people and organizations out there to support a worthy cause. Neither Ken nor Tom hesitated for a moment when I asked for their help. The entire Geary family—Tom, Anne, Shane and Chelsea—have shown so much resilience since the untimely passing of Cassie.

Herb’s Local Vending Truck will be there again to provide breakfast, lunch and and food throughout the day, and some of Cassie's friends will be there with baked goods, as well.

For more information on the event, call (203) 515-1058 or visit the Click It for Cassie Foundation website. The rain date for the Tournament is Sunday, August 21.

Cassie was only going 30 to 35 mph and wasn't driving while intoxicated when her car hit a tree and a stone wall on Jan. 6, 2008, but police told the family that if she had been wearing a seatbelt, she would have survived the accident.

The Click It for Cassie Foundation website states: "As a family, we are trying to reach out to all drivers, especially the newer ones; in hopes that this story will make them aware of just how important it is to wear a seat belt. Shortly after her death, we began printing bumper stickers with the slogan "Click it for Cassie" in the shape of a seatbelt."

Norwalk Patch Editor David Gurliacci contributed information to this blog post.