"Festival for Farley" Continues to Grow in Fourth Year

As a senior at back in 2004 former three-sport athlete Nick Farley (soccer, track and basketball) was voted by his fellow classmates as someone who is “most likely to change the world” as one of the annual class superlatives.

Unfortunately, Farley tragically died in a traffic accident in 2007. But, his presence is still felt by many in the community as seen at the fourth annual “Festival for Farley” and volleyball tournament to benefit the non-profit Nicholas A. Farley Charitable Fund, which was held Saturday afternoon at the high school.

Fifteen volleyball teams registered for the tournament in 2011, but the main goal for those involved like Drew Harrington -- a fellow classmate and one of the driving forces behind the event – was to get everyone together to support a cause and honor Farley, who had a rare form of dyslexia.

“It was another great event,” Harrington said about this year’s festivities. “It’s an opportunity for a lot of people to come out every year and see each other. But it’s really about celebrating Nick and raising money for charity, which helps provide scholarships to kids in need in the public school system.”

Harrington said the goal for the organization is to fund those children who are in need and also provide dyslexic students with assistance, including an audio library of readings required for Easton and Brockton public schools. Some of the money also benefits the Carroll School in Lincoln, Mass -- an independent day school that caters to students with learning disabilities – a school Farley attended primarily during his junior high years.

“The premise of the charity was to raise money for the school department to provide assistance form of technology for reading and to continue their education to other schools,” Harrington said. “Money has also gone to the Carroll school where Nick spent two years.”

Since its inception the same volleyball team has come in first place during the tournament (comprised of '06 alums Scott Johnson and Jake Nevins, just to name a few). However, even with the cloudy conditions Saturday, the event has continued to evolve since its inception in 2008.

“We have definitely established a really great core group,” said Jack Gill (class of 2003), another key volunteer for the event. “And, I think the most important thing about the “Festival for Farley” is the fact that we have a lot of loyal players, who come out year after year. A lot of charities after four years might get a little nervous about people showing up. But, I think we have a stable group now that we can lean on and they always come through for us.”

“I think what’s nice is that we see some fresh faces too,” added classmate Jake Hopkins, who was a tri-captain with Farley on the Spring Track team in 2004. “Kids are spanning the ages of 10 years now and it seems like they bring more people the next year. The event has been growing and it’s been great so far.”

Farley, who returned to Oliver Ames in the Fall of 2001 for his sophomore year, brought a competitive attitude with him on the playing field and would always help his teammates.

Off the field, Farley would do anything to help his peers.

“He was completely different on the court and off the court,” said classmate Andrew Noonan, a former co-captain with Farley on the OA boy’s basketball team during the 2003-04 season. “He was just as competitive as I am. He would do anything for his teammate to help them win and he’d do the same with them off the court he’d help someone out.

“He’s different in a sense because he was more competitive on the court,” Noonan continued. “But in both instances he’d do anything for his teammates.”

For the past three years, the donations to the Farley fund have helped provide scholarships in his name to graduating high school seniors. A reward of $500 is given the recipients of the “Nicholas Anthony Farley Memorial Scholarship” and two seniors who are voted to “Most Likely to Change the World” (like Farley) also receive a scholarship worth $250.

Farley’s life might have been cut short, but his spirit still lives on.

“I know he was there watching the event today [from above],” Harrington said.

Visit the official website for more information on the “Festival for Farley” and the Nicholas A. Charitable fund.