PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – When Captain Tom Lehman leads the United States Ryder Cup Team into the 2006 Ryder Cup in Ireland this Friday, 30 U.S-based charitable organizations and students at 19 colleges and universities nationwide will benefit from their play. On behalf of the U.S. Ryder Cup Team, The PGA of America will distribute $2.6 million to designated charities and colleges and universities chosen by the U.S. Captain and players.
Each U.S. Ryder Cup Team participant, as well as U.S. Captain Tom Lehman, are contributing $100,000 to the college/university of their choice, with an additional $100,000 directed to the charity of their choice (See player contributions list attached.)
Since the Ryder Cup Outreach Program began in 1999, a total of $10.4 million has been donated on behalf of the U.S. Ryder Cup Team and Captain. This year, along with the Golf: For Business & Life Program, charities such as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, Rita Foundation for Breast Cancer and American Cancer Society will all be recipients of charitable donations, in addition to many community-based charities from the hometowns of the team
members.
The 36th Ryder Cup will be played Friday-Sunday, Sept. 22-24, at The K Club in Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland.
"One of the special perks that comes with serving as Captain or playing on the U.S. Ryder Cup Team is the opportunity to give back to the game of golf by supporting the college or university of one’s choice with the Golf: For Business & Life Program," said U.S. Ryder Cup Team Captain Tom Lehman. "This is an excellent vehicle to grow the game, and I ‘m very pleased to have had this chance to extend my support through both my competing in 1999, and as Captain of this year’s Team."
Taught by PGA Professionals, Golf: For Business and Life was established in
1999 at Purdue University. The program was founded by golf course architect Pete Dye and his wife, Alice, a noted amateur golfer and former member of The PGA of America Board of Directors. Since its establishment, more than 22,000 juniors, seniors and graduate students have participated in the program, and initial surveys revealed that 95 percent of the students who participated in Golf: For Business and Life indicated they would continue to play golf.
This year, a total of 19 colleges/universities will receive funds totaling
$1.3 million to help introduce golf to college juniors and seniors. With this latest contribution, the program is being offered at 59 universities nationwide.
"As we cheer on our U.S. Ryder Cup Team in the most compelling competition in golf, we also are celebrating the difference that these players make to both supporting the future of the game and to charities within their respective communities," said PGA of America Roger Warren. "The Ryder Cup Outreach Program has served many communities, colleges and universities as a premier growth of the game initiative."
A total of 101 player-designated charities and 26 colleges and universities have received funding from the 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2006 U.S. Ryder Cup
Captains and Teams.
Golf: For Business and Life is one of several programs designed to grow and stimulate adult participation in the game of golf under Play Golf America (www.playgolfamerica.com), a national marketing umbrella campaign that is led by The PGA of America and supported by the golf industry.
Golf: For Business and Life is a PGA of America college initiative designed to teach and improve the golf skill of college juniors, seniors and graduate students through instruction provided by PGA Professionals. The successful program educates students, regardless of their chosen career, on how they can use golf as a business tool as they enter the professional world. Local business leaders are also asked to address students on how golf has enhanced their business.
36th Ryder Cup Player Charity Distribution
TOM LEHMAN (Captain)
Charities: The Lehman Family Foundation $100,000
Universities/Colleges:
Cal Poly State University-San Luis Obispo $50,000
University of Minnesota $50,000
TIGER WOODS
Charities: Tiger Woods Learning Center $100,000
Universities/Colleges:
Stanford University $100,000
PHIL MICKELSON
Charities:
Phil & Amy Mickelson Charity Foundation $100,000
Universities/Colleges:
Arizona State University $50,000
University of San Diego $50,000
JIM FURYK
Charities:
Mal Washington Kids Foundation $20,000
Monique Burr Foundation $10,000
Ponte Vedra Athletic Association $10,000
Rita Foundation for Breast Cancer $10,000
FORE Hope $10,000
University of Arizona Foundation-Golf Dept. $20,000
The Ohio State University $20,000
Universities/Colleges:
University of Arizona $100,000
CHAD CAMPBELL
Charities: The Chad Campbell Foundation $100,000
Universities/Colleges:
UNLV $25,000
Texas Tech University $25,000
Odessa College $25,000
Midland Junior College $25,000
DAVID TOMS
Charities: David Toms Charity Foundation $100,000
Universities/Colleges:
Louisiana State University $100,000
CHRIS DIMARCO
Charities: Lake Mary Preparatory School $20,000
St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church $20,000
American Cancer Society(Norma DiMarco Fund) $60,000
Universities/Colleges:
University of Florida $100,000
VAUGHN TAYLOR
Charities: American Cancer Society – So. Atlantic Div. $100,000
Universities/Colleges:
Augusta State University $100,000
J. J. HENRY
Charities: The Henry House Foundation $100,000
Universities/Colleges:
Texas Christian University $100,000
ZACH JOHNSON
Charities: The National Christian Foundation
Johnson Family Fund $100,000
Universities/Colleges:
Drake University $100,000
BRETT WETTERICH
Charities: Big Oak Ranch $100,000
Universities/Colleges:
Wallace State University $100,000
STEWART CINK
Charities: Greater Atlanta Christian School $47,500
Healing Place $20,000
Big Oak Ranch $10,000
Pregnancy Resource Center $10,000
Search Ministries $10,000
City to City Ministries $2,500
Universities/Colleges:
Georgia Institute of Technology $100,000
SCOTT VERPLANK
Charities: Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund $20,000
The Next Level OSU Fund $20,000
Oklahoma Christian School $20,000
First Presbyterian Church of Edmond, Okla. $20,000
Oklahoma State University Golf Team $10,000
McGee-Verplank-Watts Foundation $10,000
Universities/Colleges:
Oklahoma State University $100,000
Celebrating its 90th anniversary, The PGA of America was founded in 1916, and is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf, while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.
Contact:
Jamie Carbone
561-624-8446
jcarbone@pgahq.com
