Tournament tradition continues through generosity of local companies
Overland Park, Kansas – The Pride of Kansas City Foundation today announced that Kansas City’s annual Champions Tour event has secured a sponsorship and a new date. The event has been named the Greater Kansas City Golf Classic and will be held June 26 – July 2, 2006. Sprint Nextel, HCA, Garmin and Cerner have agreed to co-sponsor the event. The Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate in Overland Park, Kan., will remain as the host facility. The Kansas City stop is one of the longest running events on the Champions Tour schedule.
"This is wonderful news for golf fans, the Greater Kansas City area, and most of all, the children who will benefit from this event," said Bob Burris, Executive Director of the Greater Kansas City Golf Classic. "Many people have been working diligently over the past several months to make this happen. Throughout the highs and lows, I was confident we would get this done. We are thrilled to have this partnership with Sprint Nextel, HCA, Garmin and Cerner. Without their support, we would not be able to continue this strong event."
The 2006 event will mark the 16th consecutive year for the world’s best golfers, age 50 and above, to showcase their talent in the Greater Kansas City area. The Champions Tour has become very competitive and the product has strong appeal for spectators and sponsors alike.
"Kansas City is a very important market for the Champions Tour, so we’re thrilled to be able to make this announcement today," said Champions Tour President Rick George. "Last year’s move to Overland Park and the Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate was an excellent one for the tournament and we look forward to returning in June. With the partnership of Sprint Nextel, HCA, Garmin and Cerner now in place, the Greater Kansas City Golf Classic is poised to become one of the very best events on the Champions Tour. We thank these four Kansas City companies for their commitment to the Champions Tour, their city and the benefiting charities and adding to the momentum the event clearly has."
Clearly, the history of the event, and its charitable mission, made an impression on the new sponsors.
"We are pleased to join with three other great local companies, the Pride of Kansas City Foundation and the PGA Tour to continue to bring the Champions Tour to Kansas City," stated Len Lauer, Chief Operating Officer, Sprint Nextel Corporation. "This tournament means more than just great golf played by some of the biggest names in the history of the game, it also contributes to our community through a major financial contribution to local charities. Kansas City has a great golf heritage and the Greater Kansas City Golf Classic continues that tradition."
Legendary golfer Tom Watson is pleased the tournament will return to Overland Park with the support of the new sponsors.
"This is very good news for golf fans of Kansas City and the area charities that benefit from the Champions Tour playing here," said Kansas City native and popular Champions Tour star Tom Watson. "The collective investment of Sprint Nextel, HCA, Garmin and Cerner have made it all possible. On behalf of my fellow Champions Tour players, I would like to thank these four companies for their commitment and support."
The PGA Tour, which recently hit the $1 billion mark in charitable donations, started its charitable giving in 1938. Coincidentally, that’s the same year professional tournament golf began. Kansas City’s long history of tournament golf dates back to the first PGA Tour event held here in 1938. The city has also hosted several LPGA events, a Hogan Tour event (now the Nationwide Tour), and since 1991 has hosted both Senior PGA and Champions Tour events.
"As Kansas City’s largest healthcare provider and third-largest employer HCA Midwest Health System has become a valued community partner by giving back to the communities it serves through public service efforts, volunteering, and serving on area boards," Bryan R. Rogers, President of HCA Midwest Health System stated. "We have demonstrated our commitment to the community numerous times and this is another example. We are stepping up to the plate to ensure we do not lose this exciting Champions Tour tournament and the charitable donations it makes towards the betterment of the Kansas City community."
"Kansas City has both a storied heritage of world-class sports and private sector support for key civic interests," said Cliff Illig, Vice Chairman, Cerner Corporation. "Cerner Corporation is pleased to play a small role in the continuation of that rich tradition through our sponsorship of this important event."
That sentiment is echoed by Jon Cassat, Director of Marketing Communications for Garmin. "We are thrilled to be able to join with these great companies to support what is one of the top Champions Tour events on the schedule and its mission to provide opportunities for those in need throughout the community."
The date change provides both the opportunity for a more stable weather pattern and one of the strongest fields on the Champions Tour schedule. The latter part of June is traditionally a drier time of the year in the Kansas City area. In addition, the U.S. Senior Open is scheduled for the following week in Hutchinson, Kan., and should enhance an already stellar field the Kansas City event has been able to attract throughout the years.
"The Greater Kansas City Golf Classic, with the commitment of the community, the Champions Tour, and countless others, personifies the spirit and dedication of the Greater Kansas City area," said Steve Palermo, Chairman of The Pride of Kansas City Foundation. "Our mission is to enrich and enhance the community through our charitable endeavors. In 2005 we donated more than $400,000 to local charities, including more than $200,000 to Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. This commitment by Sprint Nextel, HCA, Garmin and Cerner provides us the opportunity to continue to help those in need."
The Pride of Kansas City Foundation is in the process of determining the beneficiaries of the 2006 Greater Kansas City Golf Classic.
A special holiday ticket promotion is now available. Through January 1, 2006, golf fans can purchase two weekly grounds badges to the Greater Kansas City Golf Classic, two rounds of golf at Deer Creek Golf Club (cart fee not included), and a complimentary appetizer at Nick & Jake’s for just $99 (a $300 value).
Daily Tickets and Weekly Badges may be purchased by calling 816.363.STAR (7827) or by visiting www.greaterkansascitygolfclassic.com.
The unique format of the Greater Kansas City Golf Classic offers golf fans the chance to see 76 Champions TOUR professionals team up with 76 amateurs in a two player team format, similar to the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. The low 12 teams with scores posted during the Friday and Saturday Pro-Am will advance into Sunday’s final round. The Tournament is managed by The Pride of Kansas City Foundation and benefits local children’s charities. For event or corporate sponsorship information, Bob Burris, Executive Director, may be contacted at 913-814-7744 or bob@prideofkc.org.
About The Pride of Kansas City Foundation
The Pride of Kansas City Foundation is a not for profit 501.C.3 private charitable organization initially formed to produce Kansas City’s annual Champions TOUR event and disburse the charitable proceeds raised. Ultimately, the Foundation will produce enriching community activities all-year-long that enhance the lifestyles of those who live in Kansas City, work in Kansas City and play in Kansas City. The Executive Board is made up of corporate and civic community leaders whose job will be to develop the guidelines for distributing charitable funds to the named charity.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business and government customers. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks offering industry leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.
About HCA
HCA Midwest Health System operates 12 hospitals in the Kansas City metropolitan area, including Allen County Hospital, Menorah Medical Center, and Overland Park Regional Medical Center in Kansas; and Baptist-Lutheran Medical Center, Cass Medical Center, Independence Regional Health Center, Lafayette Regional Health Center, Lee’s Summit Hospital, Medical Center of Independence, Research Belton Hospital, Research Medical Center, and Research Psychiatric Center in Missouri. Nashville-based HCA (NYSE: HCA) formalized its $1.13 billion acquisition of Kansas City’s Health Midwest network of hospitals in April 2003. You may visit us online at www.HCAMidwest.com.
About Garmin
Based in Olathe, Kansas, Garmin International is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture, and sale of GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation, communication, and information equipment. The company has built and sold millions of products that serve automotive, consumer, wireless, marine, aviation, recreation, and fitness markets. From its StreetPilot® line of portable and easy-to-use automotive navigators – to the nüviâ?¢, a groundbreaking personal travel assistant – to the Forerunnerâ?¢ family of wrist-worn GPS training gear for fitness enthusiasts – Garmin makes products that improve people’s everyday lives.
About Cerner
Cerner Corp. is taking the paper chart out of healthcare, eliminating error, variance and waste in the care process. With more than 1,500 clients worldwide, Cerner is the leading supplier of healthcare information technology. NASDAQ: CERN www.cerner.com.
About The Champions Tour
The Champions Tour is a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older. Conceived in 1980 as the Senior PGA Tour, it has grown to 29 official events offering a minimum of $52.7 million in prize money in 2005 and its highest average purse ever of $1.82 million. The Champions Tour’s primary purpose is to provide significant competitive and earnings opportunities for players age 50 and older; to protect the integrity of the game; and to help grow the reach of the game in the U.S. and around the world. In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, Champions Tour events also generate significant sums of money for charity. On Oct. 30th, the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour and their tournaments announced they had reached the $1 billion milestone in charitable donations dating back to the first recorded donation in 1938. The commissioner of the PGA TOUR is Tim Finchem. Rick George is president of the Champions Tour. TOUR headquarters is in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Our web site address is PGATOUR.COM.
Contact:
Brian Wright
Media Director
Greater Kansas City Golf Classic
Office: 913-648-5709 Cell: 913-484-7861
brian@prideofkc.org
www.greaterkansascitygolfclassic.com
