ORLANDO, Fla. – The world of professional golf is synonymous with giving back to communities and causes. In 2015, the PGA Tour reached a major milestone raising a record $160 million for its charities. From their own foundations to partnerships with local, regional and national charities, tour professionals individually support a wide range of charities and causes. The same holds true for the PGA of America and a number of golf industry organizations and affiliations.
In the wake of the Orlando tragedy last month, a group of Orlando-based golf industry professionals have banded together to form GOLFUNITED. The purpose of GOLFUNITED is to recognize that ALL lives matter and to support individuals, families and local communities in their time of need through high-profile fund raising events.
The inaugural event, GOLFUNITED FORE PULSE ORLANDO, is a charity golf scramble scheduled for Friday August 26, 2016, at 8 a.m., in honor of the 49 victims and 53 injured during the Pulse Shooting June 12. The tournament will be held on the award-winning New Course at the Villas of Grand Cypress in Orlando, Fla. Grand Cypress is the presenting host and hospitality sponsor with 100 percent of the net proceeds to benefit the Pulse of Orlando and OneOrlando Funds.
The New Course is a Jack Nicklaus Signature design, set in the midst of an open meadow, with steep bunkers and sloping greens, paying homage to the famed Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland – complete with double greens, stone bridges and walls, gorse and put bunkers. This links-style design is unique to Orlando and will be a special golf experience for all the participants.
“The Villas of Grand Cypress is very honored to be involved and support this inaugural GOLFUNITED event,” said Robert Scott, Tournament Director for Grand Cypress Golf Club and member of the GOLFUNITED founding committee. “The Pulse tragedy impacted so many individuals and families in our community including our management and employees. The synergy that coalesced between Grand Cypress and GOLFUNITED to give back, make a difference and stage this event has been uplifting and inspiring.”
GOLFUNITED is working together with its team of generous service providers, sponsors, unpaid staff and volunteers to ensure that all donations raised will be distributed directly back to the surviving victims and families in coordination and partnership with Pulse of Orlando and OneOrlando Fund, both 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.
“Pulse of Orlando is an all-volunteer organization distributing funds directly to the Orlando surviving victims and families for financial assistance and also works to guide them through their respective individual healing process,” said Aly N. Benitez, JD, MBA and Founder/Board President of Pulse of Orlando, Inc. “We want to thank GOLFUNITED for working to make this event a success and for choosing Pulse of Orlando as one of the beneficiaries.”
The golf tournament will begin at 8:00 am followed by lunch, silent auction, and entertainment.
Sponsors, players, individual donations and volunteers are welcome. There are many ways to participate and help make a difference. For more information or to register for GOLFUNITED FORE PULSE ORLANDO, visit www.golfunited.org or call Paula Keyes at 407-810-0271.
ABOUT ONEORLANDO FUND
Following the horrific tragedy at Pulse, there was a tremendous outpouring from the community seeking to provide financial support. In response, the OneOrlando Fund was set up by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and is a project within Strengthen Orlando, Inc. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation previously established by the City of Orlando. Equality Florida, the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida (The Center) and the National Compassion Fund created a partnership with OneOrlando to ensure that funds collected are disbursed in a unified process. For more information, go to www.oneorlandofund.org.
ABOUT PULSE OF ORLANDO FUND
Pulse of Orlando is a locally focused grassroots 501(c)(3) non-profit created to reach out with expeditious allocation of funds for those surviving victims affected; to recover through local survivor navigation; and to rebuild a united Orlando community. Pulse of Orlando is endorsed by Pulse ownership and the globally focused onePULSEFOUNDATION. For more information, go to www.pulseoforlando.org.
Contact:
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Holly Geoghegan
President
Golf Marketing Services
holly@golfmarketinginc.com
321-303-9684
Will Perry
Founder and Creative Director
EVVUS
will@evolvewithevvus.com
727-364-6384
TOURNAMENT INFO:
Paula Keyes
President
Paula Keyes and Associates
paula@paulakeyes.com
