THE HONDA CLASSIC TOPS $1 MILLION IN 2010 CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
PALM BEACH GARDENS , FL - The Honda Classic, Palm Beach County's largest sporting event, topped the $1 million mark in charitable contributions in 2010 for the first time in tournament history.
Children's Healthcare Charity Inc., the organizing foundation of the tournament, awarded a total of $1,002,961 to 58 different South Florida-based children's charities as well as Miami Children's Hospital's Haitian Relief Effort for children with medical needs. The previous highest total the tournament raised was $705,000 in 2008. The event raised $642,000 in 2009.
The increased total is a result of the sustained growth of The Honda Classic in addition to an astounding $225,000 raised in a matter of minutes at the Kenny G Gold Pro Am Pairings dinner to provide emergency medical care for children from earthquake-ravaged Haiti . Dr. Chad Perlyn, a pediatric plastic surgeon at Miami Children's Hospital, inspired those in attendance with an amazing story through the eyes of a nine-year-old boy named Peterson who was sitting in his house watching television when the roof caved in. The cousin Peterson was watching television with died next to him. Peterson spent four days with his face pinned to the rubble by a beam, lost a significant portion of his face and required several days of reconstructive surgery at Miami Children's. American Honda's John Mendel visited the hospital and the next day led the fund raising effort at the Pro-Am Draw party. The money was specifically earmarked to help other kids from Haiti who needed to be transported to the facility for emergency care.
"We are thrilled that we have been able to fulfill our objective of crossing the $1 million milestone in contributions to local charities," Honda Classic Executive Director Kenneth R. Kennerly said. "This accomplishment is a tribute to American Honda, the longest standing title sponsor on the PGA TOUR, and to the remainder of our sponsors who believe in what we are doing with our event and keep stepping up to help us accomplish these ambitious goals. We are thrilled to be able to make this kind of impact on so many different groups of people."
The Nicklaus Children's Healthcare Foundation is the main beneficiary of the tournament, but several other charities also annually receive support.
In 2010, those charities included Adopt A Family of the Palm Beaches, Alternative Education Foundation, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association of Florida, Southeast area, American Red Cross, Artists Showcase of the Palm Beaches Inc., Autism Project of Palm Beach County, Inc., Be A Star Foundation, Big Heart Brigade Inc., Bob Swanson Give A Life Foundation, Boys & Girls Club of PBC, Brees Dream Foundation, Cancer Alliance of Help & Hope, Inc., Canine Castaways, Caridad Center, Inc., City of Palm Beach Gardens, COTA - Jessica Makris, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - Florida Chapter, Dan Marino Foundation, Egoscue Foundation, Els for Autism, Epilepsy Foundation of Florida, Facing It Together, Families First of Palm Beach County, First Tee of the Palm Beaches, Girl Scouts of SE FL, Give A Smile To A Child Foundation, Inc., Gulf Stream Council, Boy Scouts of America (Region Headquarters), Hannah's Home of South Florida, Hearts and Hope Inc., Hope Rural School, Inc., Inner City Youth Golfers', Inc, Jesus and You Outreach Ministries, Inc., Junior Achievement of Palm Beaches, Junior Golf Foundation of America, Inc., Junior League of the Palm Beaches, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Lightspeed Fast Pitch Gold Elite Softball, Little Smiles Inc., Palm Beach County Amateur Golf Association, Palm Beach County Youth For Christ, Palm Beach Gardens Police Foundation, Palm Beach Gardens Youth Athletic Association, Parent Child Center, Pathways to Independence, Inc., Place of Hope, Inc., Project Lifesaver of Palm Beach County, Quantum House, Inc., Renaissance Learning Center, Sickle Cell Foundation of Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast, South Florida Science Museum, STOP! Children's Cancer of Palm Beach County, Take Stock in Children of Palm Beach County, The Children's Healing Institute, United Way of Palm Beach County, Inc., Urban Youth Impact, Inc., and Youth Singers of the Palm Beaches.
"It was truly a phenomenal year in every way from Camilo Villegas' performance on the golf course to the amount of money we were able to raise for charity," Kennerly said. "We have already begun working on ways to make 2011 even better."
The continuing success of The Honda Classic is a byproduct of the tournament's partnership with American Honda, the City of Palm Beach Gardens, PGA of America and the PGA TOUR as well as the support from the local community.
"We are seeing the vision that we had when our foundation took over the event four years ago coming to fruition," said Paul Bremer, President of Children's Healthcare Charity, Inc. "I commend the job done by the entire staff and the more than 1,200 volunteers who are making a difference in our community by being able to assist all of the worthy charities which participate in our event."
The 2011 Honda Classic will be played February 28-March 6.
Last Updated: 6/7/2010 12:10:10 PM / Generated at: 2/5/2012 4:03:18 AM