Tom Maletis, President of Tournament Golf Foundation Inc. (TGFI), today announced that local children’s charities would benefit in the amount of $852,000 from proceeds from the 2005 Safeway Classic, presented by Pepsi.
The tournament is the second oldest event on the LPGA Tour. The 2006 Safeway Classic will mark the 35th consecutive year the LPGA tour event has been brought to Portland by TGFI. The event, originally called the Portland Classic, has now donated over $10 million to local children’s charities since its inception in 1972, with $5.8 million coming in the past nine years with Safeway as title sponsor.
The money will be given to the Safeway Foundation, which will disburse the funds to local organizations in Oregon. There are six major designated charities for the event, including Easter Seals of Oregon, the Evans Scholars Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland, Trillium Family Services, Police Activities League, the Children’s Course and Oregon Junior Golf. In addition, many other local children’s charities will be impacted with supplemental distributions from the 2005 tournament.
"The 2005 Safeway Classic was a tremendous success with record crowds, record sponsor participation, tremendous weather and an outstanding field. Our goal has been to donate at least half as much money to charity as we have in our purse each year ($1.4 million in 2005). The success of the 2005 event allows us to more than meet that goal," said Maletis. "As we enter our 35th year of operation, TGFI is proud to be able to bring this important event to Portland yet again," said Maletis.
"Once again, we are pleased to host the Safeway Classic. The 2006 event will mark the 10th anniversary of Safeway as title sponsor, and with the growth in popularity of the LPGA tour, the event promises to be even more exciting than in previous years," said Safeway’s Portland Division President, Kelly Griffith. "In addition to being a great event for fans, the money that is raised for worthwhile children’s charities in Oregon through the Safeway Foundation makes it even more rewarding for us. We are proud to continue our support of such a great tournament."
The 2006 edition of The Safeway Classic, presented by Pepsi, will be held at Columbia-Edgewater Country Club, August 14-20. The purse in 2006 will be $1.4 million. The Golf Channel will again broadcast the event all three days of tournament play.
Soo-Yun Kang won the 2005 event by four shots over Jeong Jang. The field for the event in 2005 was one of the strongest on the LPGA tour last year, and Maletis anticipates that the 2006 edition will be no exception.
"Safeway has become the sponsor for two LPGA tournaments," says Maletis, "here in Portland and the Safeway International in Arizona in March. Safeway’s commitment to the LPGA tour and local charities in each market are a tribute to their company and to the growth in popularity of the LPGA tour."
Tournament Golf Foundation Inc. is comprised of a local Portland area group of volunteers who donate their time and provide the primary operations for the annual event. Begun in 1972, the group is now comprised of 47 local individuals and couples. TGFI is also the owner and operator of the Safeway International.
Safeway Inc. is a Fortune 50 company and one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America based on sales. The Company operates 1,800 stores in the United States and Western Canada, and had annual sales of $35.8 billion from continuing operations in 2004. The Company’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWY. Safeway’s Portland division operates 121 stores in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
For more information on the Safeway Classic and Tournament Golf Foundation, visit their website: www. safewaygolf.com. For more information on Safeway Stores, visit www.safeway.com.
Contact:
Tom Maletis
(503) 702-5000
Reid Hutchins
(503) 291-0109
