Massachusetts General Hospital

“At a Mass General research lab, doctors and scientists showed us how every dollar makes a difference. We saw new technologies that are extending lives.” - Tate Bevis   Get Started!

Patricia Ann Bevis drew people to her. She was an avid sports fan, a gifted counselor to young people and a beloved wife, mother and friend. After Patty succumbed to brain cancer in 1998 at age 49, her husband Neil and sons Brad, Tate and Topher decided to honor her with an event that brings her loved ones together through sport. Since 2005, their annual Patty Fund Golf Tournament has kept these bonds strong while raising more than $60,000 for Mass General’s Stephen E. and Catherine Pappas Center for Neuro-Oncology.

Now in its sixth year, the July event attracted a capacity crowd from the start. “While raising funds, we can step back and see how many great friends our family has,” says Topher.

These friends span multiple generations. “So many gather to commemorate our mother’s life—including folks from her younger years as well as our friends,” says Brad. “We get to socialize with people who are dear to us.”

Held since 2009 at the Waverly Oaks Golf Club in Plymouth, the event includes a dinner and raffle. “Our first year was our maiden voyage,” says Brad. “We formed a committee of friends and reached out through our e-mail address books. It was guerrilla marketing. Mass General helped us figure out how to market beyond our immediate networks. Since then, we’ve joined the 21st century. We have a Web site with on-line giving and we use Constant Contact® to build out our e-mail campaign.”

Still, at core the tournament is a family affair. “By Christmas, we set a date,” says Tate, “We’re a close-knit family and we’re in this together.”