Annual charity golf tournament to benefit Pat Moody Foundation

By Masha Yurkevich

A local charity golf tournament will return this month with a goal of raising money for the Pat Moody Foundation, an organization created to support local youth sports in honor of a longtime Windham sports supporter and late resident. The fourth annual charity golf tournament, organized by Windham resident and restaurant owner Kenneth Cianchette, will take place Monday, Sept. 21 with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. at Point Sebago in Casco.

The Fourth Annual Charity Golf Tournament organized by
Kenneth Cianchette, will be held at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 21
at Point Sebago in Casco and proceeds benefit The Pat
Moody Foundation. COURTESY PHOTO   

The event is a private tournament that Cianchette organizes each year, with the beneficiary rotating among local organizations. This year, proceeds will support The Pat Moody Foundation. The foundation was established about two years ago following the death of Moody, who Cianchette described as a highly respected, longtime Windham resident and avid supporter of local youth sports, particularly basketball.

The foundation was established in the name of Moody to support local high school and youth athletic programs, with an emphasis on basketball. Cianchette said the work of the Pat Moody organization directly benefits the community.

Moody was involved in Windham youth sports well beyond the basketball court. He spent more than 30 years involved with local community programs, including 15 years as director of the Windham Youth Basketball Association and time as chairman of the Windham Recreation Advisory Board and Windham Community Center Exploratory Committee. He also volunteered with XLP Basketball, a program that helps make AAU basketball more accessible to young athletes.

His commitment to providing local children with places to play was especially visible through his work on basketball facilities in Windham. Moody played a key role in getting the Windham outdoor basketball courts built, which were named the Patrick Moody Basketball Courts in his honor in 2024. He also built a half-court basketball facility on his own property, giving local players a place to practice during the Maine winters.

The foundation created in his memory has continued that work. In 2025, it awarded its first scholarship to a Windham High School student-athlete and has since continued supporting young athletes and youth programs in Windham and surrounding communities.

The golf tournament this year will feature a traditional charity golf format, with teams competing throughout the day and participating in various activities designed to make the event enjoyable while raising money for the foundation.

The tournament still has team spots and hole sponsorships available and tickets can be purchased online through Sept. 14. Direct donations can be made online through Sept. 21. The link to buy tickets or make a donation can be found at: EriksChurch.com or on eventbrite.

One hundred percent of the profits from the tournament will go directly to the foundation.

“We are hoping to raise anywhere from $7,000 to $10,000 for The Pat Moody Foundation, and to continue to spread awareness of the foundation, and the good work that it does,” Cianchette said.

The tournament is part of an annual effort by Cianchette to support different local causes. Each year, he selects an organization that he believes could benefit from additional financial support and fundraising assistance. The first tournament benefitted the Windham Veterans Center. The second supported the Walk a Mile in Their Shoes Foundation, while the third raised money for the RSU 14 Backpack Program. 

Cianchette said the goal is to create awareness for local organizations in addition to raising money.

“We do it every fall and try to figure out ways to give a little added revenue to a local organization, just to give them a little boost for their next year,” he said.

The beneficiary this year was a personal choice for Cianchette, who said Moody was a friend.

“Pat Moody was a friend, and his foundation has done amazing work, and it is directly contributing to the community,” he said. “I would say anybody that knew or supported Pat, and supports the foundation named in his honor, should consider playing or sponsoring an event.”

The golf tournament represents four years of an effort to bring the community together while supporting organizations that are serving local residents, and this year, Cianchette says he hopes that support will help continue Pat Moody’s legacy of giving back to the community through youth athletics. <