Support continues to grow for annual golf outing honoring Pine-Richland athlete who died in 2013

Family and friends of Pine-Richland senior Matt Graf were deeply shaken when the promising 18-year-old died tragically in 2013 just a few weeks before graduation.

To honor the life of the young athlete who was planning to continue his baseball career at the University of Pittsburgh’s Greensburg campus, an annual golf outing has been organized to raise money for student scholarships and causes that benefit the community.

“Matt’s death was devastating to the Graf family and to all of their many friends in the Pine and Richland communities,” said family friend Michael Young, who helps organize the charity golf outing as a board member for the nonprofit HM3 Partners Independence Fund.“The support the Graf family received from friends and community members following Matt’s death was overwhelming, sincere and heartfelt.”

Graf, who lettered in baseball and wrestling and was on the high school golf team for three years, loved all sports, Young said.

“The Graf family wanted to do something that would honor Matt and also give back to the community that had been so kind to them,” Young said. “The Graf family decided to create a golf outing in Matt’s name and utilize the proceeds to provide scholarships for other students as well as for community causes.”

The first golf outing was organized in 2015 and was an instant hit.

“There was so much interest and support from the community that the outing quickly sold out,” Young said.

In addition to the golfers who signed up to play, other members of the community supported the event by attending the dinner that follows the outing and donating prizes for the event.

Young said the golf outing has sold out each year since its debut, with much of the support coming from residents of Pine and Richland.

“It’s become an annual event where many people get to reconnect each year and help the Graf family give back in Matt’s honor,” Young said.

Since its launch, the annual golf outing has raised around $72,000 for scholarships and community initiatives.

The 6th annual Matt Graf Golf Outing is scheduled for June 4 at the Pittsburgh North Golf Club in Gibsonia.

More information about the outing and a link to register is available at hm3independencefund.org.