For 30 years, York Celebrity Golf Classic has supported York County Special Olympics

Over 40 sports personalities were matched up with local golfers during the 30th Annual Eddie Khayat & George Tarasovic Celebrity Golf Classic at the Outdoor Country Club Monday.

The event has been supporting York County Special Olympics at the Manchester Township club for the past three decades.

According to Charles Calkins, on the committee for the tournament for 28 years, “it’s all about the Special Olympics.” He attributes the longevity of the tournament “to the loyalty of York County and all these NFL, baseball and basketball players, not one gets paid a fee to show up.”

Calkins estimates that the event has grossed over $800,000 for the Special Olympics since the beginning. He predicted that Monday's event, where celebrity golfers play in groups made up of corporate sponsors, will gross $50,000. The main corporate sponsors for this year were the Victory Athletic Association and Bunzl USA.

This year, former Philadelphia Eagles and Penn State college football player Tony Hunt and Blair Thomas, another former Penn State player who later played with the New York Jets, were on hand greeting golfing groups and Special Olympians.

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Calkins anticipates the event will continue into the future even though it's his last year on the committee. Founders Khayat and Tarasovic were not able to attend this year due to their health. It was anticipated that Khayat would make a remote appearance at the closing dinner.

According to Calkins, Tony Covington, a committee member and member of the Baltimore chapter of the NFL Players Association, has been responsible for “bringing new blood” into the event, and his goal is "to keep it going.” Covington played for the Seattle Seahawks.

“We have already reserved the club for year 31,” Calkins said.