Why We Play

Robbie Mills was a 14-year-old boy who enjoyed basketball, NASCAR and baseball.  He had his whole life ahead of him, but, in summer 1998, it was cut short in a senseless act of violence. Robbie was riding his bike when he was approached by two 18-year-old young men who subsequently murdered him and stole his bicycle.

His mother, Wendy Mills, now a 34-year employee of MetroCast/Atlantic Broadband, remembers how the community and fellow employees banded together to initiate the Robbie Mills Golf Tournament in order to help her and her family cope with this tragedy, while defraying the costs of Robbie's funeral. The Tournament was a great success, as the community came together to honor Robbie and help the Mills family financially.

However, when an anonymous donor covered the cost of the funeral in its entirety, Wendy felt she couldn't justify keeping the money raised from the Tournament when there were so many other children in need. So, she took the Tournament proceeds and put them back into the community, specifically organizations serving area youth. Since then, the Spaulding Youth Center, Child Advocacy Center, Greater Lakes Region Children's Auction and Lakes Region Boys & Girls Club have been supported through monies raised from the Tournament.

This year, Atlantic Broadband and the Boys and Girls Club of the Lakes Region continue to honor Robbie's memory by hosting the annual Robbie Mills Memorial Golf Tournament, now in its 20th year.

The Mills family, Atlantic Broadband, the Boys and Girls Club and the Lakes Region community at large thank you for your support of and involvement in this event.