Nationwide Tour Championship donated to over 20 local charities in 2004
Prattville, Alabama- The PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour and all of their tournaments, including the Nationwide Tour Championship, are on track to reach the $1 billion milestone through Drive to a Billion, a campaign celebrating the spirit of giving and teamwork with a goal of reaching $1 billion in total charitable contributions by the end of the season.
To date, the TOUR and its tournaments have generated $998 million for charity since 1938. Locally, the Nationwide Tour Championship gave $65,000 in 2004 to over 20 area charities including Autauga County United Way, Baptist Health Care Foundation, Hospice of Montgomery and many other deserving organizations.
"We’re very excited to be a part of this milestone and we celebrate this accomplishment with our fans, sponsors and community partners," said John Marovich, Tournament Director for the Nationwide Tour Championship. "Everyone who comes out to the tournament plays a huge role in helping us give back to the community.
PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem added, "We are on the doorstep of reaching our goal of $1 billion in charitable donations through the Drive to a Billion, thanks to the incredible generosity of the tournaments, fans, volunteers and business partners who support us in hundreds of communities."
The Nationwide Tour Championship will celebrate with the following events.
Wednesday, October 26
All Nationwide Tour players, notably Chris Couch and Troy Matteson at 9:30 am and 9:40 am, respectably, along with Bill Calfee, SVP and Chief Operative Officer, Nationwide Tour and Senior Executives of Nationwide Insurance will hit ceremonial tee shots from the #1 tee. The shots will be hit with a replica 1938 driver to commemorate the TOUR’s first recorded donation of $10,000 made in 1938. The antique driver serves as a torch for the Drive to a Billion campaign as it travels the country from tournament to tournament.
The Drive to a Billion program also features a national television and print PSA campaign. The television spots include:
How the PGA TOUR Gives Back
In addition to relying on almost 80,000 volunteers a year to run its events, nearly all of the TOUR’s tournaments are 501(c)(3) organizations, designed to donate 100% of net proceeds to local charities. The TOUR and its tournaments visit more than 85 communities and partner with more than 2,000 charities every year – from hospitals and youth development organizations, to growth-of-the-game programs and food banks.
The TOUR reached the $500 million mark in 1999 and has been focused on significantly increasing donations to charity every year. Due to the success and health of the organization, the TOUR will reach the $1 billion dollar milestone by giving the second $500 million in just 7 years.
ABOUT NATIONWIDE TOUR
Owned and operated by the PGA TOUR, the Nationwide Tour is in its 16th season in 2005. Nationwide, one of the world’s largest insurance and financial services providers, is in its third year as the umbrella sponsor of the Tour. The 2005 season will consist of 31 events played in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Panama and 23 U.S. states. Purses will top $16 million this year. The Top 20 money winners on the season will automatically earn playing privileges on the 2006 PGA TOUR. The PGA TOUR is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, and its web-site is www.pgatour.com.
ABOUT NATIONWIDE
Nationwide is one of the world’s largest insurance and financial services providers and offers a broad range of personal and commercial insurance and retirement-savings products. It is the country’s fourth-largest homeowner insurer based on premiums written and the sixth-largest auto insurer based on premiums written. Nationwide is ranked 118th on the Fortune 500. The company is headquartered in Columbus, OH, and its web-site is www.nationwide.com.
Contact:
Sara Hood, PR Director
(205) 541-8108
Shood@brunoeventteam.com
