(Naples, FL) – The PGA TOUR’s Champions Tour has selected Blank Children’s Hospital of Des Moines, IA, a beneficiary of the Allianz Championship of West Des Moines, IA, as its 2005 Charity of the Year, it was announced today by PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem and Champions Tour President Rick George. The Presentation was made at the Champions Tour’s annual Player Awards Dinner held in conjunction with this week’s ACE Group Classic.
Also recognized at the Dinner were the previously-announced 2005 Champions Tour player award winners; Dana Quigley (Player of the Year/Jack Nicklaus Trophy, Arnold Palmer Award), Tom Watson (Charles Schwab Cup), Jay Haas (Rookie of the Year), Peter Jacobsen (Comeback Player of the Year) and Mark McNulty (Byron Nelson Award). Nicole Anderson of the 3M Championship in Minneapolis, MN was honored as 2005 Champions Tour Volunteer of the Year.
As 2005 Champions Tour Charity of the Year, Blank Children’s Hospital will receive $30,000 from the Tour. The Blank Children’s Hospital was built in 1944 to address the healthcare needs of Iowa’s ill and injured children. At the time Iowa was the only state in the country without a children’s hospital. Almost 60 years later, the hospital is still focused on its mission of family-centered healing, caring and teaching. It is one of only two hospitals in the state to train residents in pediatrics. No child is turned away from the hospital based on inability to pay.
"We are extremely honored to be named the 2005 Champions Tour Charity of the Year," said Steve Stephenson, MD, Medical Director of Blank Children’s Hospital. "Since 2001, the Allianz Championship has provided substantial support to Blank Children’s Hospital, and most recently supporting our Pediatric Surgery Center of Excellence expansion project. We truly value our continued partnership with the Allianz Championship."
"The selection of Blank Children’s Hospital as the 2005 Champions Tour Charity of the Year is exciting for us," said Allianz Championship Tournament Director Jeff Starr. "Over the past five years the Allianz Championship has donated more than $750,000 to local charities. The choice of Blank Children’s Hospital highlights the impact of the Allianz Championship and the Champions Tour in the community and showcases the real winners of our tournament—Iowa-based charities."
"It is a privilege to recognize Blank Children’s Hospital as the Champions Tour’s 2005 Charity of the Year," said George. "They are a most deserving organization, with a legacy of caring for children that dates back more than 60 years. We couldn’t be happier than to present them with this check for $30,000, which will support the hospital’s Pediatric Surgery Center of Excellence expansion project."
The Charity of the Year nomination and selection process was conducted jointly by the Champions Tour and the Champions Tour Tournament Association (CTTA).
The 2006 Allianz Championship will be played May 29-June 4, returning to Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines, IA. Tom Jenkins is defending champion.
Other finalists for Charity of the Year were Camp Smile-A-Mile (Regions Charity Classic, Birmingham, AL), Communities in Schools of Wake County (SAS Championship, Cary, N.C.), The Corner Table, Inc. (Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn, Conover, N.C.), and Diabetic Charitable Services (Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am, Tampa, FL).
Champions Tour events generate significant sums of money for charity. The three tours of the PGA TOUR and their tournaments reached the $1 billion mark in charitable giving, dating back to the first donation in 1938, last October.
Contact:
Jeff Adams
Director of Public Relations, Champions Tour
Tel: 904-273-3397
Email: jadams@pgatourhq.com
Jeff Starr
Tournament Director, Allianz Championship
Tel: 515-279-4653
Email: jstarr@allianzchampioship.com
