PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The PGA TOUR Tournaments Association (PGATTA), the trade association of PGA TOUR tournament directors and key volunteers, recognized the charitable endeavors of member tournaments and announced its 2007 Board of Directors at its recent Annual Meeting, hosted by The Thunderbirds and the FBR Open, in Scottsdale, Ariz. One of the PGATTA’s key missions is to promote charitable giving within the communities where member tournaments are held. The association recognized the Valero Texas Open at La Cantera as the recipient of the PGATTA Benefactor Award, which acknowledges the member tournament that donates the largest amount to charity. The Valero Texas Open contributed more than $7 million in proceeds from the 2006 tournament and the affiliated Valero Texas Open Benefit for Children Golf Classic. The events combined to support 470+ charities in San Antonio and other communities where Valero Energy Corporation (the title sponsor) has a significant presence.
"We want to thank the chairman of Valero, Bill Greehey, and the entire Valero family for their commitment to the charitable mission of the PGA TOUR and the Valero Texas Open. In five short years, we’ve gone from near the bottom of the charity leaderboard to number one with the largest single year donation in PGA TOUR history. It is very satisfying to our business partners, volunteers and community to be recognized for this accomplishment," said Tony Piazzi, President & Chief Executive Officer, Golf San Antonio & the Valero Texas Open at La Cantera.
The association also recognizes the tournament whose charitable giving has increased the most from the previous year. The 2006 BellSouth Classic and Buick Invitational were joint recipients of that award as each increased their charitable donations 46% from 2005.
Dave Kaplan, Tournament Director of the Atlanta-based BellSouth Classic, said, "It is so satisfying for our volunteers to know their efforts on behalf of the BellSouth Classic have changed so many lives. Giving back to the community is at the heart of the Classic and all tournaments of the PGA TOUR."
Tom Wilson, Executive Director of the Century Club and the Buick Invitational, received the award on behalf of the tournament. "In 2006 the Century Club put a concerted effort into creating new activities and functions build around tournament week to increase our impact to the community in both awareness and charity contributions. It is totally gratifying that those endeavors ended up generating an additional $1 million to local charities over the previous year’s record charity distribution. Working in partnership with our title sponsor Buick and the PGA TOUR to create this dramatic increase in one year was truly heartwarming," Wilson said.
PGA TOUR Tournaments Association, Charity Awards and 2007 Board Page 2 of 3 The 2007 Board of Directors was also announced at the meeting. The two available Board positions were filled by the Scott Henderson of The Thunderbirds, host organization for the FBR Open, and a Past Chairman of the FBR Open, and Dan Sullivan, Executive Director of the Memorial Tournament. PGATTA President Kym Hougham, Executive Director of the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, said that he looks forward to the direction of the association is taking.
"We will continue to cultivate the existing lines of communication on business matters between the PGATTA with the PGA TOUR and its constituents," Hougham said. "The PGATTA leadership and membership looks forward to the continuation of our mission of promoting charities within our communities and to working with the PGA TOUR, and our collective partners, as we commence the New Era in Golf with the premier of the FedExCup in the 2007 season."
The full slate of directors is as follows: Officers Kym Hougham, President. Mr. Hougham is the Executive Director of the Wachovia Championship.
Ollie Nutt, Vice President. Mr. Nutt is President of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, organizers of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Tom Knoll, Secretary/Treasurer. Mr. Knoll is an Independent Director and an attorney practicing out of Akron, Ohio.
Frank Houseman, Immediate Past President PGATTA, EDS Byron Nelson Championship. Mr. Houseman is a member of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas and a former chairman of the Dallas tournament Directors:
– Dan Croak, Tournament Director of the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee
– Scott Henderson, past Chairman of the FBR Open, and a member of The Phoenix Thunderbirds.
– Ted May, past Chairman of the Travelers Championship
– Russ Perlich, member of the Tucson Conquistadores and past Chairman of the Chrysler Classic of Tucson
– Dan Sullivan, Executive Director, the Memorial Tournament
– Steve Timms, President/CEO of the Houston Golf Association, Host Organization for the Shell Houston Open.
– Steve Wilmot, Tournament Director of the Verizon Heritage
About the PGATTA
The PGATTA is the umbrella organization of PGA TOUR tournament host organizations, whose objective is to continuously improve the quality of PGA TOUR tournaments and to promote charitable giving within the communities where member tournaments are held. Tournament staff and the 60,000-plus volunteers associated with PGATTA events have collectively raised more than $770 million for charity since 1977. The association recognizes the charitable and volunteer aspects of PGA TOUR tournaments when it bestows yearly awards at its annual meeting. The 2007 annual meeting will be held November 12-16 at the Sawgrass Marriott, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
Contact:
Suzanne Bohle, Executive Director
suzanne@pgatta.org
Phone: (904) 285-4222
