LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the Coffin family upon the occasion of
their designation as recipient of the 2015 Family of the Year Award by
Kids Oneida on August 18, 2015

WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to take note of and
publicly acknowledge individuals of remarkable integrity and character
who have inspired and brought pride to our majestic Empire State with
their strong contributions to the community and model citizenship; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the
Coffin Family upon the occasion of their designation as recipient of the
2015 Family of the Year Award by Kids Oneida, to be feted at its 24th
Annual Celebration and Festival on Tuesday, August 18, 2015, in the
Jorgensen Athletic and Events Center, at Mohawk Valley Community
College, Utica, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Family of the Year Celebration and Festival will benefit
the Healthy Families Programs of Oneida and Herkimer Counties; these
vital programs are available to both new and expecting parents in both
Counties; and
WHEREAS, The home visiting programs use a strengths-based model to
provide child development and access to community resources; as an
entirely voluntary program with weekly home visits, staff and parents
develop strong, trusting and open relationships that facilitate impres-
sive results; and
WHEREAS, Kids Oneida is a non-profit organization which works with at
risk youth and their families to keep them from out of home placements;
using the wraparound philosophy towards treatment, Kids Oneida works
with a comprehensive team to provide the child and family with individ-
ualized treatment and services to help them meet their goals; and
WHEREAS, This auspicious award honors a local family, such as the
Coffins, for their nurturing attitudes and behavior, and for creating
awareness of the importance and value of all family relationships;
generations of their family have not only instilled values into they own
children, but also, into the children who reside within the Mohawk
Valley; and
WHEREAS, The Coffin family has been called upon to contribute their
time and talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and have
always given of themselves unstintingly; and
WHEREAS, On their wedding day on June 12, 1987, Ike and Kelly Coffin
arranged for a small group of friends and family to play golf at the
Golf Club of Newport in Newport, New York; what transpired from that day
was not only a successful marriage, but the makings of a small town
mid-summer classic, appropriately named the Coffin Family & Friends
Invitational, in the picturesque Kuyahoora Valley located in Central New
York; and
WHEREAS, Thinking it was a great idea to get friends and family
together, Ike Coffin's thoughts turned to organizing an annual golf
event and in time raise money for charity causes; two years later, the
first outing was organized; and
WHEREAS, The first tournament was called the Non-Leon Fore and was
held at the Golf Club of Newport, New York; the second annual tourna-
ment, the first Coffin Family & Friends Invitational Golf Tournament,
drew 96 golfers and was held for the benefit of the Kuyahoora Valley
Ambulance Corp.; and
WHEREAS, In the following years, the Coffin Family & Friends Invita-
tional has grown by leaps and bounds; as many as 288 golfers have
participated in a single event; in addition to the golfers, many friends

and family come to volunteer, support a good cause and enjoy a great
meal and good old-fashioned camaraderie; and
WHEREAS, In 1998, the Memorial Atlanta Classic (the "MAC Daddy") golf
tournament was founded in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Coffin & Friends
Tour was born; the tour has evolved into a way of also helping those in
need in additional local communities and sharing "Small Town Values for
Life" across the country; in 2000, the Coffin & Friends Tour Champion-
ship in Virginia Beach, Virginia was added as the third Major; and
WHEREAS, In 2004, The Kuyahoora Valley Foundation, Inc. was recognized
as a non-profit organization; in planning each event, the Coffins strive
to reach four goals: to help those less fortunate, to have a great time
with friends and family, to relish the great game of golf, and to give
just a little something back; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, the Coffin Family and all of their invaluable
volunteers have proudly raised and donated significant funds to various
charitable organizations and to neighbors and friends with special
needs; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of their community service, a
period of constructive involvement, the Coffin family has stood constant
in dignity, good grace and humor; and
WHEREAS, The Coffin family has continually demonstrated extreme compe-
tence, extraordinary intelligence and diligent leadership in their
unwavering service to their community; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by individuals
for the benefit of others which the Coffin family has displayed through-
out their lives; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Coffin family upon the occasion of their designation as recip-
ient of the 2015 Family of the Year Award by Kids Oneida on August 18,
2015; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Coffin family.