HONDA CLASSIC, BIOMET 3i INTRODUCE BIRDIES FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL - The Honda Classic, in partnership with BIOMET 3i, has created a new Birdies for Children Program, which will allow charitable partners to use the PGA TOUR event as a fundraising tool for their own charities.
Birdies for Children will use the number of birdies scored by PGA TOUR professionals in the 2010 Honda Classic as a measurement for pledged charitable contributions by individuals. The program will return 110% of what is raised by each charity back to their cause through a Bonus Bucks pool funded by the tournament.
Here is how it works: Participating charities solicit pledges from individuals ($20 for 1 guess / $50 for 3 guesses) and allow donors to guess the number of birdies scored at the 2010 Honda Classic. The person who correctly guesses the number of birdies (or comes closest) wins a new 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid vehicle.
The program is expected to generate an additional $100,000 in charitable contributions for the tournament in 2010. The Honda Classic is providing charities with brochures, posters, on-line pledge tracking and accounting support.
"At the heart of our mission is giving back to our community," Honda Classic Tournament Director Ed McEnroe said. "The economy has taken a toll on so many valuable South Florida based charities. We wanted to supplement our current charitable giving with a unique fundraising program that utilizes the world class competition in a way our charitable partners can further benefit. With community minded partners such as American Honda and Biomet 3i, we feel Birdies for Children can become a major source of funding for many worthwhile charities."
Similar charity programs have been developed in PGA TOUR markets with much success. Deutsche Bank, as an example, now generates an additional $775,000 for charity each year with a Birdies charity program. The John Deere Classic, a small market event, generates over $4 million per year through a similar program and has more than 500 charities participating.
Headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with operations throughout the world, BIOMET 3i is one of the leading companies in the oral reconstruction market. BIOMET 3i offers one of implant dentistry's most comprehensive lines of implants and abutments, augmented by a growing line of site preparation and regenerative products.
"We are very excited to be sponsoring this program," said Maggie Anderson, President of BIOMET 3i. "The opportunity to help children's charities in our community ties back to what BIOMET 3i is built upon: support, investing in our partners and reaching out to improve the lives of our doctors and their patients."
The 2010 edition of The Honda Classic will be played March 1-7 at PGA National Resort & Spa.
The tournament, Palm Beach County's largest sporting event, awarded more than $642,000 to area children's charities in 2009 to surpass the $16 million mark in charitable contributions during American Honda's 28-year tenure as title sponsor.
Individual daily tickets can be purchased for $15 (Tuesday and Wednesday), $30 (Thursday and Friday) or $40 (Saturday and Sunday). A Classic Value Pack good for the entire week is $95 and includes over $300 worth of added value coupons from area golf courses, restaurants and PGA National Resort & Spa.
Call 1-866-8HONDA8 (866-846-6328) to order tickets or visit thehondaclassic.com.
Last Updated: 2/19/2010 7:11:36 PM / Generated at: 7/30/2010 4:52:52 PM