HOUSTON (Jan. 10, 2007) – Tiger Woods, whose Tiger Woods Foundation has reached an estimated 10 million young people and dispersed more than $30 million in grants since its inception a decade ago, has been honored with the Golf Writers Association of America’s Charlie Bartlett Award.
The award, named for the first secretary of the GWAA, is given to a professional golfer for his/her unselfish contributions to the betterment of society. Woods will be honored at the GWAA Annual Awards Dinner April 4 in Augusta, Ga.
Woods, who was named GWAA Male Player of the Year for the eighth time in 10 years in December, created the foundation with his late father Earl in 1996. Earl, who passed away in May 2006, nurtured not only Tiger’s game, but his passion for giving back.
The Tiger Woods Learning Center, which opened February 10, 2006, is the foundation’s newest initiative and its centerpiece. The 35,000 square-foot education center offers students in grades 5-12 programs and career explorations in fields as varied as engineering, robotics and forensic science. An estimated 5,000 students are expected to pass through the $25 million center in the first year.
"I’m proud of the work my Foundation has accomplished, and I’m honored the GWAA has chosen to celebrate the 10 million young lives we’ve changed for the better," Woods said. "Receiving the Charlie Bartlett Award is a great honor, and I’m grateful for this support and recognition."
In addition to the TWLC, the TWF partnered with Target Stores in 2000 to create Start Something , a free program for youths 8-17. More than 3.8 million have enrolled in the program, which helps students define personal goals. The TWF Grants Program supports an average of 100 charities and non-profit organizations with $6 million in grants, while the TWF Youth Clinics, a labor of love for both Tiger and Earl, have reached more than 500,000 young people. The foundation also created the TWF National Junior Golf Team which competes in the Friendship Cup.
TWF fundraising events include the Target World Challenge presented by Countrywide, Tiger Jam presented by AT&T and the TWLC Block Party. More information on the foundation is available at www.tigerwoodsfoundation.org.
Former Bartlett winners include the Louisiana trio of Hal Sutton, David Toms and Kelly Gibson, Val Skinner, Betsy King, Tom Watson, Payne Stewart, Tom Lehman, Arnold Palmer, Kenny Perry, Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade, Patty Berg and Andy North.
The GWAA will also honor Female and Senior Players of Year Lorena Ochoa and Jay Haas, Ben Hogan Award winner Judy Rankin, Jim Murray/ASAP Award winner Nancy Lopez and the Harmon family, winners of the William D. Richardson Award, at the dinner.
The 960-member professional organization takes an active role in protecting the interests of all golf journalists, works closely with all of golf’s major governing bodies and the World Golf Hall of Fame and facilitates a scholarship/internship program which is currently helping students at 17 major U.S. universities.
Contact:
Melanie Hauser
Golf Writers Association of America
713.782.6664
