WATERVILLE — More than 250 people participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine “Putt 4 Cass” in honor of Cassidy Charette held May 20 at Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream & Mini Golf. The event raised more than $25,000 for the agency’s local school-based youth mentoring programs.

More than 50 school and athletic teams, service groups and businesses formed mini golf teams and collected pledges in support of BBBS of Mid-Maine. The highest individual fundraiser of the event was Colby Charette, Cassidy’s brother, who raised $1,800 and his team “Cass4Ever” earned the top fundraising award for raising $2,045 in pledges. Teammates included Charette and his “Little Brother” Harrison Quimby, Jake Bernatchez, Conor Ferguson and Cole Smith, all “Big Brothers” from Messalonskee High School.

Cassidy Charette's former Central Maine United Premier Soccer teammates honored their friend by participating in "Putt 4 Cass" May 20 at Gifford's in Waterville. In front, from left, are Gabi Martin, Paige Smith and Emily Grandahl. In back, from left are Fotini Shanos, Sabrina Carey, Lindsey Perkins, Sammy Grandahl and Janna Elwell. Contributed photo

"Big Sister" Anna Dobos and her "Little Sister" Delaney Bickford were among the 250 people who attended Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine's first "Putt 4 Cass" event May 20 at Gifford's Famous Ice Cream and Mini Golf in Waterville. The event, held in memory and honor of Cassidy Charette, raised more than $25,000 to support local BBBS school-based mentoring programs. Contributed photo

The event was sponsored by Aetna, Fabian Oil, Golden Pond Wealth Management, Hammond Lumber, Mainely Trusses, New Balance, Smile Solutions and Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream, with support from more than 20 sponsoring businesses.

Charette, a BBBS volunteer who advocated for a school-based program at Messalonskee High School, was two weeks shy of meeting her first “Little Sister” when she was killed. In her honor, BBBS of Mid-Maine created three new BBBS school-based programs. Two of those programs pair Messalonskee High School students (Bigs) with youth facing adversity (Littles) at Atwood Primary and Williams Elementary schools in Oakland. A third program was launched last year at the Boys/Girls Club and YMCA at Alfond Youth Center in Waterville, where kids in the after-school-care program meet one on one with high school “Bigs” from Messalonskee, Winslow, Waterville and Lawrence high schools.

For more information, call 314-6996 or email monica@bbbsmidmaine.org.

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