The 24th annual Boothbay Charities Classic weekend of events kicked off with the annual meet and greet Thursday night that brought together all manner of sports celebrities and event volunteers who support the Special Olympics of Maine.

This year, the event will run Sept. 25-27.

The meet and greet, held this year at The Gallery on Route 96, allows veteran and rookie supporters of the Charities Classic to meet each other in an informal setting with plenty of food and conversation available for the picking.

In one sense, they gathered to prepare for the rounds of golf, charity auction and lobster bake events that were to come, but Phil Geelhoed, president and CEO of Special Olympics Maine, said he sees it as a display of the generosity of all the individuals involved and allows his organization to continue supporting athletes throughout the rest of the year.

"The level of support we get," Geelhoed said, "it allows us to offer our events with no concern for cost. It allows us to finish our program year strong."

He said Special Olympics of Maine offers 18 state and regional competitions throughout the year, and conducting those events could not happen without the continuing monetary support from financial backers and the support of volunteers at all the organization's events.

"(This weekend) wouldn't be possible without the support of the Charity Classic volunteers who work year-round to make this possible," he said.

Geelhoed continued by mentioning that sports celebrities from many walks of life have gathered in Boothbay for nearly a quarter century to support Special Olympics, but they do not stop there.

They offer to represent Special Olympics at various events throughout the country and have shown their support in National Games years — those years that are most demanding of volunteers' time and generosity.

"That is something that really resonates with us," he said.

In addition to speaking to Geelhoed, the Boothbay Register had the opportunity to speak with a few celebrities at the meet and greet to get their feelings about the weekend and to learn why they support Special Olympics.

Former Red Sox Pitcher Bill "Spaceman" Lee said he has been involved with Special Olympics in Maine and Vermont and has helped with a number of events. He mentioned specifically that he enjoys being able to see the joy on athletes' faces when they get to participate.

"I love seeing the smile on these guys’ faces," Lee said. "It makes me feel good, and I'm glad they get to participate."

His sentiment was echoed by Otis Sistrunk, a former defensive lineman for the Oakland Raiders. Sistrunk noted that one of his nephews informs his giving.

"I have a special nephew," Sistrunk said, "so getting to support this means a lot to me."

"They do such a good job," he said of the Special Olympics program. "I will continue supporting throughout my life."

Near the close of the night's event, Charities Classic committee member Ken Marston spoke to the crowd about those in attendance and told a few stories about shenanigans from the sports stars' respective pasts.

Many laughed, and the stories played along with the overall lightness of the atmosphere.

The joking aside, however, he eventually reached a point where it was time to honor a Charities Classic volunteer who recently died, but had supported the event from its inception: Ron Appel.

Marston described, for the Register, Appel's dedication to the cause. He said Appel and his wife, Estelle Appel, were tireless in their commitment to Special Olympics and that Ron will certainly be missed.

Brenda Blackman, a co-chairman of the Charities Classic, provided Estelle with a plaque that read, "In loving memory of Ron Appel Jr.," and a moment of silence was taken for all who had passed in the previous year.

Geelhoed also took that time to award another member of the community with a plaque for his assistance to the Charities Classic. He presented the Jackson Libby Award to Knickerbocker Group owner Stephen Malcolm, and then provided a few closing comments for the evening when he again spoke about the dedication of the volunteers and the opportunities that the Charities Classic helps provide.

"This is a big event for us, but it really goes beyond the field of play and on the court where (athletes) compete," he said. "The cornerstone of our program is opportunity and acceptance."