Tom Maletis, President of Tournament Golf Foundation (TGF), today announced that local children’s charities would benefit in the record amount of $1,010,000 from proceeds from the 2006 Safeway Classic presented by Pepsi.
The 2006 Safeway Classic was the 35th consecutive year the LPGA tour event was brought to Portland by TGF. The event, originally called the Portland Classic, has now donated over $11 million to local children’s charities since its inception in 1972, with $7.9 million coming in the past ten 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. The main charities from the 2006 event include Easter Seals of Oregon, the Evans Scholars Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland, Trillium Family Services, Police Activities League and Oregon Junior Golf. In addition, many other local children’s charities will be impacted with supplemental distributions from the 2006 tournament.
"Our goal has been to donate at least half as much money to charity as we have in our purse each year. The success of the 2006 event allows us to more than meet that goal," said Maletis. "With the incredible support of Safeway, our other sponsors, our volunteers and record crowds, we are able to provide over $1 million dollars this year to programs in need."
"Once again, we are pleased to host the Safeway Classic. The 2007 event will mark the 11th anniversary of Safeway as title sponsor," said Safeway’s NW Regional President, Kelly Griffith. "In addition to being a great event for fans, the money that is distributed through the Safeway Foundation for worthwhile children’s charities in Oregon makes it even more rewarding for us. We are proud to continue our support of such a great tournament."
The 2007 edition of The Safeway Classic, presented by Pepsi, will be held at Columbia-Edgewater Country Club, August 20-26, one week later than 2006. The event will be the final tournament for Solheim Cup points and a ceremony will be held following the tournament to introduce the team representing the US. The purse for the event is being significantly increased this year, to $1.7 million. The tournament will be broadcast in 2007 on ESPN all three days of play, with times to be announced.
Pat Hurst won the 2006 event by one shot over Jeong Jang. The field for the event in 2007 should be excellent according to Maletis.
"Safeway has become the sponsor for two LPGA tournaments," says Maletis, "here in Portland and the Safeway International in Phoenix 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, a 501 (c) (3) charitable non-profit organization, is 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 40 local individuals and couples. TGF is also the owner and operator of the Safeway International.
Safeway Inc. is a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America based on sales. The Company operates 1,767 stores in the United States and Western Canada, and had sales of $38.4 billion from continuing operations in 2005. 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.
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