PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL (January 24, 2005) — Underscoring its commitment to give back, the PGA TOUR teamed up with 23 Tournament Players Clubs (TPCs) nationwide last summer to raise funds for U.S. Troops and their families. More than $420,000 was raised through golf tournaments and other activities conducted at the Clubs from July through September under the umbrella of America Supports You – a nationwide program launched by the Department of Defense that recognizes citizens’ support for military men and women and communicates that support to members of our Armed Forces at home and abroad.
All net proceeds raised at the TPCs were disbursed equally to the following three beneficiaries:
Representatives from the PGA TOUR and the TPCs joined America Supports You at a Military Appreciation Luncheon today at the Buick Invitational in La Jolla, CA to present the funds raised to the Department of Defense on behalf of the above three benefactors.
"We applaud our TOUR players and TPC members, guests and employees for embracing this important initiative in support of the brave men and women of the U.S. military who perform acts of bravery and self-sacrifice on a daily basis," said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. "This outstanding fundraising effort complements the TOUR’s giving back mission aimed at enhancing and enriching our communities through support of worthy charitable causes such as this one."
"We are very appreciative to the PGA TOUR, TPCs and PGA TOUR players for their hard work, generosity and support of our Troops," said Allison Barber, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Internal Communications and Public Liaison. "This extraordinary effort will go a long way toward assisting members of the U.S. military both here and abroad."
About America Support You
Since the Department of Defense launched the "America Supports You" program last November, hundreds of thousands of Americans, including individual citizens, businesses and organizations, have logged onto the AmericaSupportsYou.mil website to register the activities and projects in their communities that demonstrate their support for America’s Armed Forces.
About the PGA TOUR
The PGA TOUR is a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers. Its primary purpose is to provide competitive earnings opportunities for past, current and future members of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour; to protect the integrity of the game; and to help grow the reach of the game in the U.S. and around the world.
Nearly 110 events are being contested on the three Tours in 2005, for approximately $320 million in prize money. In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, TOUR events also generate significant sums of money for charity. TOUR events have eclipsed the $1 billion mark in all-time charitable giving, dating back to 1938, the first year such records were kept. The PGA TOUR’s Web site address is www.pgatour.com.
About the TPC Network
Managed by PGA TOUR subsidiary PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties, Inc., the Tournament Players Clubs (TPC) Network is comprised of 24 premier private, resort and daily fee golf properties designed by some of golf’s most elite architects. Each TPC has hosted or has been specifically designed to host major golf championships. Since the TPC at Sawgrass first opened its world-renowned Stadium Course in the fall of 1980, TPCs have provided the PGA TOUR with rent-free venues for tournaments, helping to boost championship golf purses and increasing charitable donations to grass roots non-profit organizations. At the same time, TPCs have provided recreational golfers with the unique opportunity to test their skills on the same layouts where the world’s best golfers compete.
Distinctive in character but consistent in quality, TPCs are known for their impeccable conditioning, outstanding amenities and commitment to environmental excellence. To date, 21 of the 24 TPCs are Certified as Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary Systems. The TPC Network is also distinguished by its commitment to give back to local communities through support of charitable and community-based programs. For more information, please visit www.tpc.com.
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