Page 12 - PGA Community News - July '21

Page 12, PGA C.A.N.! July 2021 July 2021

The Honda Classic To Distribute A Near Record $5.1 Million

To Local Charities Despite The Challenges Of The Pandemic

More Than 100 Charities And through grants
100,000 Children from Honda
Classic Cares
Will Be Impacted By include Glades
area charities,
Honda Classic Cares ARC of Palm
Beach County,
The Honda Classic is awarding $5.1 million to 100 South Education
Florida philanthropic organizations in 2021, a number that Foundation of
approaches tournament record levels despite the widespread Pal m Beach
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. County, First
The $5.1 million distribution during Honda Classic Tee of Florida
Cares Week (June 7 to 10) will impact the lives of more Golf Coast, and
than 100,000 children and provide a much-needed boost to Inner City Youth
South Florida community charities that faced their own fiscal Golf.
challenges in a tough year. The 2021
The Honda Classic has now surpassed $55 million in Honda Classic
charitable contributions as American Honda approaches its was reimagined to promote safety last March from for a new Honda HRV-Sport that will go to the winner
41st year as title sponsor of the PGA TOUR event, including socially-distanced spectator venues to touchless food and of the Birdies for Children program, a vehicle for local
almost $40 million in the 15 years since Children’s Healthcare beverage locations. Attendance was capped at 10,000 per charities to team up with The Honda Classic. Fans donate
Charity Inc. became the host organization and moved the day, roughly 20 percent of the normal capacity. each year through their charity for the chance to guess the
event to PGA National Resort and Spa. But many sponsors remained loyal or offered donations number of birdies in the tournament. A 5 percent matching
The $5.1 million was just $250,000 below the record in lieu of their sponsorship. Stakeholders led by title contribution is applied to every donation courtesy of
distribution of $5.35 million of 2020 and equaled the sponsor American Honda and Founders Club partner Tire a partnership with LOCALiQ. Sixty-six entrants each
distribution in 2019. The support of the local community Kingdom along with Florida Power & Light, Constellation correctly guessed the total of 1,345 birdies recorded at
and sponsors combined with rigorous cost management by Brands, LOCALiQ, Lilly Pulitzer, Tito’s Handmade the 2021 Honda Classic. The field was pared via drawing
the tournament team made it happen. Vodka, and Goslings Rum helped the tournament build to 18 individuals who will participate in the final drawing
“The Honda Classic is a community event and the local its charitable distribution. to determine the winner of a new Honda vehicle.
fans and businesses along with our longstanding sponsors “This year might be our greatest accomplishment “While the tournament strives to provide Palm Beach
stepped up this year to show their support of our tournament,” from a charity perspective,” Kennerly said. “We are very County with a premier professional sporting event, our
Honda Classic Executive Director Kenneth R. Kennerly said. proud of what we have been able to achieve and couldn’t ultimate goal is to positively impact the youth in our
“Together we stared down the challenges we faced and came be more thankful to those who helped us make it happen. community,” Kennerly said. “We see that goal realized
real close to achieving another record for a 15th consecutive The work of Honda Classic Cares is equally important to during Honda Classic Cares Week.”
year. We look forward to setting new records for the benefit us as the tournament itself because of the lives we are able More information about The Honda Classic and Honda
of the community in 2022 and continuing to produce one of to touch.” Classic Cares can be found at www.thehondaclassic.com.
the premier events in tournament golf.” Honda Classic Cares Week will culminate June 10 with The 2022 Honda Classic will move three weeks earlier
The 2021 charity distribution includes a grant of $1.2 the tournament’s annual Celebration of Philanthropy at in the PGA TOUR calendar to Feb. 21 to 27 and once again
million to the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, the Pelican Club. That’s where a drawing will take place kick off the TOUR’s Florida swing.
the sixth-consecutive year the foundation has received
more than $1 million from Honda Classic Cares. The
foundation, the primary beneficiary of The Honda Classic,
has now surpassed the $10 million mark in distributions
from the tournament. A large portion of the money has
gone toward a partnership created between Nicklaus
Children’s Hospital and Jupiter Medical Center to bring
world-class care to children and families in Palm Beach
County. Nicklaus Children’s doctors and nurses care for
children in the inpatient unit, the pediatric emergency unit
and a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
“That’s fantastic,” Jack Nicklaus said. “The money will
go to improving and saving the lives of many children.
Honda is not only the longest-running title sponsor on
the PGA TOUR, they have been a great friend to our
foundation. We are all greatly appreciative of everything
that The Honda Classic does, year after year.”
“The Honda Classic moving to Palm Beach County was
the catalyst for Jack and me to start the Nicklaus Children’s
Health Care Foundation,” Barbara Nicklaus said. “We are
so proud of the relationship that has only grown with time.
The more than $1 million donated in each of the last six
years has impacted a lot of families through the foundation
and will continue to do so.”
Portions of the $5.1 million raised this year will also
be distributed to organizations specializing in child health
services, youth programs, food security, conservation, the
arts and mentoring. Organizations that are being supported

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