Friday, July 11, 2025
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Rockville Centre held its 5th Annual Cornhole Tournament at Firemans Field, drawing dozens of teams and hundreds of spectators in a spirited day of fundraising and community support.
Thirty-two teams competed in the double-elimination tournament, with proceeds benefiting three local children’s organizations: SIBS Place, Sunrise Day Camp, and the Rockville Centre Little League Challenger Division. The June 7 event combined friendly competition with food, local brews and charity, continuing a growing tradition of civic engagement led by the Odd Fellows Lodge.
Founded in 1888, the Rockville Centre Lodge is part of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a non-political, non-sectarian fraternal organization dedicated to charity and mutual aid. The RVC lodge includes over 50 active members from across Long Island and is one of more than 10,000 lodges worldwide.
The cornhole tournament is one of two major fundraising events hosted annually by the lodge, alongside its St. Patrick’s Day Parade Party. All event costs are covered by the lodge, allowing 100 percent of proceeds to benefit selected charities.
Each participating team paid a $125 entry fee, while spectators contributed $40 for admission, which included food from Churchill’s Restaurant and other local eateries, and beer from seven Long Island breweries, including the lodge’s own home-brewed Summer Ale.
More than 40 local restaurants and businesses contributed sponsorships of $200 to $300, further supporting the fundraising total.
While the lodge chooses three new local children’s charities each year, national organizations like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Tunnel to Towers Foundation are supported on a recurring basis. The lodge also maintains a Charity Committee that offers financial assistance to individuals in need throughout the community.
With strong turnout, generous contributions and an enthusiastic atmosphere, the tournament highlighted the Odd Fellows’ ongoing commitment to local service.
