Dick’s and Joey Sindelar Help Binghamton Kids Have a Nicer Christmas

Last night I was out doing last minute Christmas shopping. I ran into the Dick's Sporting Goods store in the Town Square Mall to grab a present.

As I walked in the door I saw most of the staff from the Dick's Sporting Goods Open standing right inside. I jokingly asked them if they were having a meeting? They told me that it was their annual shop with Joey event.

For the 9th year in a row, Dick's Sporting Goods along with Broome Community Charities hosted an event where underprivileged kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Binghamton Western Broome can go on a $200 shopping spree at the Dick's Sporting Goods store in Vestal.

PGA Tour Champion and Horsehead native Joey Sindelar hosts the event every year. The kids are encouraged to get boots and jackets to keep warm during the winter but the kids can get pretty much whatever they want. They also feed the kids with a pizza party while they are there.

As I was leaving the store and about back my vehicle out of its parking spot, I saw Joey Sindelar walking behind my car. I put it in park stuck my head out the window and wished him a Merry Christmas.

I played in the Dick's Sporting Goods Open Pro-Am with Joey a couple of years ago and I kept his scored during the event while volunteering as a walking scorer.

So he came over, shook my hand and spoke to me for a couple of minutes, then I said, "you have a bunch of people waiting for you inside so I won't hold you up anymore".

Joey is a very humble and kind man. It does not surprise me that he helps with this event every year.

I want to thank the Stack Family, owners of Dick's Sporting Goods, for all the things they do for our community. This is just one of many ways they give back to our community where their business started so many years ago.