Page 21 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - June '22

Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens, Page 21
Andrew George

To Become Honda Classic Executive Director

Ken Kennerly To Remain As this has provided the foundation for success within our George was named associate tournament director in
philanthropic endeavors across South Florida.”
July 2015 and tournament director in February 2016. His
Executive Director Emeritus, Under the direction of Kennerly and George, The Honda role has included leading a team tasked with welcoming
Classic has emerged as one of the elite events on the PGA
fans and sponsors from all over the world, while focusing
Advisor To The Board TOUR. The tournament was named the “Most Fan First on raising funds for local charities in South Florida.
Event” in 2019 after first being recognized as Most Fan
In just six years at the helm, George has increased net
Andrew George, who has been the tournament director First Event in 2014. The tournament was also recognized tournament revenue by over 100 percent and he has
of The Honda Classic for the past seven years, has been in 2018 for Best Onsite Staging among PGA TOUR events. doubled the tournament’s charitable giving total from
elevated to the role of executive director, expanding the The bottom line is that attending The Honda Classic is $28 million to $55 million.
scope of his responsibility for the daily operations of the one of the best fan experiences in tournament golf which Now in his 13th year with the tournament, George
PGA TOUR event. was Kennerly’s aim in 2007 when The Bear Trap was sits on the PGA TOUR’s Tournament Advisory Council
Kenneth R. Kennerly, who has been the executive created and extensive fan activations were introduced (TAC), a leadership team comprised of a select group of
director of The Honda Classic since the tournament’s such as after play concerts and fireworks. Now The Honda tournament directors, and was voted to vice chair of the
move to PGA National Resort in 2007, will remain Classic has advanced with more than 18 activations on committee earlier this year.
executive director emeritus and advisor to the Board the course and even double-decker seating at the 17th Kennerly’s advisory role to the Board keeps him
of Directors of Children’s Healthcare Charity as he hole which will continue to be expanded in 2023 to also involved with an event that has been driven by his vision
transitions into his professional role as the president of the include the 18th hole. for the 16 years since he formed the alliance with Jack
production division of Jupiter-based PopStroke Holdings, “The Honda Classic will always play an enormous role and Barbara Nicklaus, PGA National and the City of
an emerging leader in golf entertainment co-owned by in my life and I cannot be more proud to hand over the Palm Beach Gardens and unfolded a marketing strategy
Greg Bartoli and Tiger Woods. executive director reigns to Andrew George,” Kennerly to make The Honda Classic one of the premier events on
“We are excited to give Andrew this great opportunity said. “He and I have worked side by side for the past the PGA TOUR.
to continue impacting The Honda Classic in an even several years and he is the perfect next leader as he has “While I’m terribly excited about the opportunity
more influential role,” said John Domenico, the outgoing the respect of the team, the vision to continue to grow ahead with PopStroke, I’m extremely proud of what we
president of Children’s Healthcare Charity. “And we feel the Honda, and the tremendous respect not only from our have accomplished over the last 16-plus years as our
comfortable in the knowledge that Ken Kennerly’s ties to community but from his PGA TOUR peers.” team completely rebuilt the Honda Classic into one of
the tournament and community will continue indefinitely George made a quick impression as a tournament intern the premier events on the PGA TOUR,” Kennerly said.
into the future.” in 2009 and was hired as the event’s community relations “Our focus on the ‘fans first’ initiative and the creation of
“Andrew has earned the respect of all involved with coordinator, helping to launch the Birdies for Children outside the ropes entertainment has led to our tremendous
our tournament and his peers with the Tour,” Incoming fundraising initiative, that has now generated nearly $21 growth. We have been so fortunate with Honda’s 41
President Joe Russo said. “I have full confidence that the million for more than 200 charities. In 2012, George was years as title sponsor and the support of our community
tournament will thrive under his leadership.” promoted to director of corporate partnerships, where he partners and fans. Our focus on philanthropy and the
The promotion to executive director continues the secured nearly $2 million in corporate sponsorships for creation of Honda Classic CARES has been at the core
footprint that George has established with The Honda the tournament while also helping to reorganize the sales of our overall focus and we are proud to have raised in
Classic since his arrival as an intern in 2009. reporting process for better efficiency and future growth. excess of $55 million for our community in the history
“I’m excited to continue working alongside our Prior to the 2014 Honda Classic, George shifted of the tournament.”
dedicated team to ensure consistent innovation and to director of operations, managing the tournament The 2023 Honda Classic will be played Feb. 20 to
growth in all aspects of this marquee PGA TOUR event activations, course plan, and over 75 tournament vendors 26, 2023. The Honda Classic will celebrate Honda
each year,” George said. “In my 13-plus years with the in production of the tournament. In just two years, the on- Classic Cares Week June 6 to 10 by making charitable
organization, I’ve been both impressed and appreciative site buildout grew by 35 percent and the 17th hole alone contributions to children’s charities throughout the South
of the unrivaled community support that we receive, and amassed more than 60,000 square feet of structures. Florida community.

Tampa General Hospital’s Health Ambassador Program

Is A Personal Guide To World-Class Care

The Health Ambassador Program When K.C. Austin, a

reduces stress on patients and resident on Florida’s East
Coast, was battling the
families, so they can focus on Delta variant of COVID-19,
he was rushed to a Palm
what matters most. Beach County hospital’s
intensive care unit. Austin
The Health Ambassador Program at Tampa General was intubated, and he and
Hospital (TGH) provides world-class medical care with his family were soon facing
white-glove service. When patients from across Florida life-or-death decisions.
need to be transferred to TGH, a TGH health ambassador “They started talking
will handle all the details for them, whether they need help about him needing a transfer
making a general appointment, scheduling a test, or preparing for ECMO (extracorporeal
for surgery and/or an inpatient stay. Simply give TGH a call, membrane oxygenation
and they will take care of the rest. through a heart-lung
As an integral part of the TGH team, a designated health machine), and that made
ambassador will: it more real,” said Danielle
• Schedule patient appointments and testing Austin, K.C.’s wife.
• Arrange hotel and other travel needs if the patient and “Luckily, the doctors had
their family are coming to TGH from outside the Tampa started the paperwork for
Bay area the transfer pretty early on. Dr. Abraham Schwarzberg, Senior Vice President of Network Development & Chief of
• Help patients with any business needs they may have When I got that phone call Oncology at Tampa General Hospital, sees patients in Palm Beach County and from
during their stay that he was being transferred across the Treasure Coast. When needed, he refers patients to Tampa General Hospital for
• Coordinate any follow-up care, imaging, or further tests to TGH, I just said, ‘Oh my complex care.
a patient may need gosh, we have a chance.’
Tampa General Hospital is committed to becoming The night he was airlifted, we sat on my in-laws’ patio and Lynn Stockford, RN, BSN
the safest and most innovative academic health system waited to see that helicopter take off.” Manager, Physician Network
in the country. It is working to achieve that by offering “The communication at TGH was unbelievable,” Danielle Business Development
the latest treatment options available, utilizing evidence- said. “The fact that I was able to speak to a physician or Lynn educates healthcare
based practices, providing full transparency every step of representative every day, even when I was in West Palm providers and patients on
the way, and extending personalized, white-glove service Beach, was unbelievable. I never felt like I didn’t know what the complex care TGH’s
to each patient. was going on. I never felt that they weren’t doing everything expert physicians provide
“Patience, empathy and servitude are the basis of our they could.” and where appropriate,
program. We understand and respect each of our patients’ All of the right decisions were made at the right time for facilitates transfers through
unique medical and personal needs,” said Lynn Stockford, Mr. Austin, and that continuum of care at TGH is why he is TGH’s ambassador and
network development manager at TGH. “Our goal is to alive today. transfer teams.
reduce stress, so patients and their families can focus on For a consultation, please call (561) 644-0125.
what matters most.”
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