Rain or Shine, Softball Tournament Thrives

This year the rain, as hard as it tried, couldn’t damper the spirits or the success reaped by the Ninth Annual Todd J. Schwartz Softball Tournament to raise money for the Jimmy Fund’s Family Festival.

The tournament was formed by Schwartz’s camp friends up in New Hampshire as a way to remember him as a person who wanted to give back, especially to kids who were battling cancer.

Schwartz's friends raised $20,000 dollars that first year and realized that this year's tournament could grow into something pretty special, and it certainly has.

“It’s a day Todd would love,” said his oldest sister Laura on Saturday. “His whole thing was getting everyone together and having a good time, and the fact everyone is having a good time in the rain for a good cause. It’s just something he would love.”

And while everyone comes together for Todd’s memory, and the Jimmy Fund’s Family Festival, which has raised well more than $250,000 since its inception, the tournament now is well sponsored from Dana-Farber to WEEI radio, to Westwood’s own  which donated all the fruits and vegetables for the gathering of more than 500 people and 18 teams.

Todd’s mother Janet lauded the community in their response and need for this wonderful cause.

“First of all, the community all turns out, they come old and young, it’s terrific," she said.

Janet also shared what this tournament means to not only the Westwood community and beyond, but all those influenced by Schwartz's spirit.

“When Todd relapsed, he decided it was time to give back," Janet said. "And taking his lead, that is what everybody is doing, and that is giving back doing what we can to support families and kids who are in treatment."

The fundraiser included a silent auction the featured everything from local merchandise to sports memorabilia to Red Sox tickets, all with the hope of raising more than $40,000 for Saturday’s event. 

Janet also praised the and the  for their loving generosity in support of the Schwartz family.

“The Rec. department is beyond belief, in terms of the amount of work they do to help us set up.” she said. "The Senior Center clears out while the seniors are happy to be apart of such a big event.”

And concerning the Family Festival, which reaps a majority of the proceeds raised, Janet added, “There is nothing better than seeing all these kids together and enjoying themselves at the festival and knowing we can have some fun and at the same time raise money which is really, really meaningful and what Todd would have wanted.”

For more information about the spirit of Todd Schwartz and his journey visit ForTodd.org, which displays a list of the sponsors and charitable organizations that could use support, but more importantly lists testimonies of the type of person and spirit that Todd Schwartz carries.

“It is so nice to see he had so many group of friends," said his little sister Amy. "Westwood friends, camp friends, cousins, UMass kids. It’s amazing now. It’s a little thing he (Todd) is doing to bring everyone together. This event is just joining all his friends.”