Pernice gets behind charity event

(Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

August 3, 2012

By Mirjam Swanson, The Press Enterprise

This article has been reposted courtesy of The Press-Enterprise.

Murrieta, Calif.-  Tom Pernice Jr. has a reputation for keeping it real.

The 52-year-old current member of both the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour never has been afraid to comment honestly, whether it’s about the PGA TOUR's commissioner or its biggest star.

So the Murrieta golfer clearly means it when he throws his weight behind a cause, as he has with the second Tom Pernice Jr. Charity Golf Classic on Monday, Aug.6, at Bear Creek Golf Club.

"Tom is well-respected not only as a good, stand-up individual, but because he speaks his mind and he’s passionate about what he believes," said Tim Evans, founder of the Unforgettables Foundation, one of the groups that will benefit from the fund raiser.

The Unforgettables is an organization that raises funds for cash-strapped families whose children have died. Funds also will be raised for a charity researching childhood blindness in honor of Pernice’s daughter Brooke, who is blind.

"So having someone who really is that way be hard-core, ultra-committed is not seen that often," Evans said. "To have a guy like Tom Pernice, it’s a huge thing."

In addition to playing the role of host, Evans said Pernice has secured an impressive haul of auction items.

That includes United Airlines trips and goodies from Titleist and Fry’s Electronics. He’s also collected items from Tour players such as fellow Murrieta golfer Rickie Fowler, Masters champion Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson, Tom Watson, Luke Donald and Charley Hoffman.

The tournament is sold out, but tickets for the dinner and auction remain.

For more information, visit theunforgettables.com.