(Ponte Vedra Beach, FL) — The Nationwide Tour has selected the Athens Regional Foundation and Melwood Horticultural Training Center as its 2007 Co-Charities of the Year and Richard “Zeke” Lawrence of the Nationwide Tour Players Cup (formerly the National Mining Association Pete Dye Classic) as 2007 Volunteer of the Year, it was announced today by the PGA TOUR.
“With so many worthy benefiting organizations and hard-working individuals serving as volunteers, it is always a challenge to determine winners of the Charity and Volunteer of the Year,” said Nationwide Tour President Bill Calfee. “Both the Athens Regional Foundation and Melwood Horticultural Training Center make extremely important contributions in their communities, while Zeke Lawrence has gone above and beyond behind the scenes in contributing to the success of the Nationwide Tour in West Virginia. We are honored to recognize all three with these awards.”
As the Nationwide Tour’s Co-Charities of the Year, Athens Regional Foundation and Melwood Horticultural Training Center will receive $15,000 checks from the PGA TOUR to further impact their programs and services. The charities are affiliated with the Athens (GA) Regional Foundation Classic (April 14-20) and the Melwood Prince George’s County Open (May 19-25), which is played outside Washington, D.C. in Mitchellville, MD, respectively.
Athens Regional Foundation / Co-Charity of the Year
"It says a lot about the Nationwide Tour because they recognize not only great golfers but the charities that benefit from the association they have with the Tour," said Len Sapera, tournament chairman for the Athens Regional Foundation Classic. "We are honored to be a part of this tremendous organization."
"This distinction also speaks to the impact this Foundation has on our community,” said tournament director Cutts Benedict. “To be recognized in this way is very impressive, especially since this tournament is just beginning its third year."
The Athens Regional Foundation facilitates growth and expansion of the hospital’s influence in the greater Athens area by seeking philanthropic support for services that enhance the level of care already provided by the Athens Regional Medical Center. The funds received from the PGA TOUR will be used for the Foundation’s Cancer Care Services Campaign.
Melwood Prince George’s County Open / Co-Charity of the Year
“We are grateful to the PGA TOUR,” said Janice Frey-Angel, president and CEO of Melwood. “The Melwood Prince George’s County Open has provided a wonderful opportunity to broaden the scope of people who now know about Melwood and the wonderful work our staff does every day.”
“Melwood has been an outstanding charity for over 43 years,” said Teo Sodeman, tournament director of the Melwood Prince George’s County Open. “Our Nationwide Tour event provides an excellent opportunity to educate the public about the critical services Melwood offers throughout the region.”
The Melwood Horticultural Training Center is based in Upper Marlboro, MD and empowers individuals with disabilities to enrich their lives through employment, community and independent living, and other community-based services. Melwood intends to fund a job coach to work on-site with high school students to develop job skills, work ethic and productivity in its Project SEARCH program with the funds it receives.
The Nationwide Tour and its tournaments join the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour in their commitment to support charitable organizations in the communities where they play. The events annually benefit 2,000 organizations and countless individuals. Cumulatively, the three tours have generated more than $1.2 billion for charity through 2007, with the first donation having been made in 1938.
Zeke Lawrence / Volunteer of the Year
The Volunteer of the Year, Richard “Zeke” Lawrence of Clarksburg, WV, has been a dedicated volunteer for the Nationwide Tour’s West Virginia event since its inception in 2004. He is one of approximately 12,000 people who volunteer to support Nationwide Tour events each year. In recognition of his selection, Lawrence will receive a specially-designed Waterford Crystal trophy, two first-class round-trip tickets on Delta Air Lines and a round of golf for two at THE PLAYERS Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass if he chooses to visit Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.
“I am truly honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Lawrence. “I enjoy very much working with the construction crew, the walking scorers and standard bearers and the course maintenance crews in doing all I can to make the tournament the huge success that it has been and look forward to doing so for many years to come. Thanks to all who were responsible for choosing me for this prestigious award from among so many other volunteers.
"Zeke Lawrence has indeed left his mark on our tournament, and his commitment is absolutely contagious,” said Nationwide Tour Players Cup tournament director Tim McNeely. “To be chosen out of 12,000 people is an amazing accomplishment, but it is certainly well-deserved in our eyes. We are very lucky to have him setting the standard for volunteerism here in West Virginia."
The new Nationwide Tour Players Cup will be played July 7-13 at the Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport, WV and offer the first $1 million purse in the 19-year history of the Nationwide Tour.
ABOUT THE NATIONWIDE TOUR
Founded (1990), owned and operated by the PGA TOUR, the Nationwide Tour identifies those players who are ready to compete and win on golf’s greatest stage. As the official proving ground of the PGA TOUR, two-thirds of the current PGA TOUR membership played on the Nationwide Tour. Tour alumni have won 223 PGA TOUR titles, including a grand slam and three PLAYERS Championships. Twenty-five PGA TOUR cards and a record purse approaching $19 million will be at stake over the course of 30 events in 2008 concluding with the $1 million Nationwide Tour Championship at TPC Craig Ranch. Recognizing the Tour’s growing stature, Nationwide Insurance has renewed its umbrella sponsorship of the Nationwide Tour through 2012. The PGA TOUR, through the efforts of its three tours and their tournaments, sponsors, players and volunteers, supports over 2,000 local charities and has surpassed $1 billion in charitable giving. To learn more about the PGA TOUR and Nationwide Tour and to follow the season-long quest for a PGA TOUR card, visit www.PGATOUR.com.
ABOUT NATIONWIDE
Nationwide, based in Columbus, OH, is one of the largest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the world, with more than $160 billion in assets. Nationwide ranks No. 104 on the Fortune 500 list. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions and long-term savings plans. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.
Nationwide is a federally registered service mark of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
Contact:
Jeff Adams
Director of Communications, Champions Tour
Tel: 904-273-3397
Email: jadams@pgatourhq.com
Elaine Cook
Athens Regional Foundation Classic
Tel: 706-475-3350
Email: ecook@armc.org
Teo Sodeman
Tournament Director
Melwood Prince George?s County Open
Tel: 301-599-2732
Email: teo_sodeman@hotmail.com
