World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, Northern Ohio Golf Charities donate $870,000

March 22, 2012

By PGA TOUR Staff

AKRON, Ohio –The World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational and Northern Ohio Golf Charities announced more than $870,000 in charitable donations to Northeast Ohio from the 2011 tournament.

Representatives from Bridgestone Americas, Inc., the PGA TOUR and Northern Ohio Golf Charities gathered at Firestone Country Club to celebrate the donations at the annual Bridgestone Invitational Northern Ohio Golf Charities Luncheon.  This total includes grants to 37 charities throughout the region; funds raised from Tickets Fore Charity ($36,000), a unique program that gives charities the opportunity to promote ticket sales and receive 75 percent of the ticket price; and Birdies Fore Charity ($9,500), a fundraising program promoted by Akron’s Children Hospital. 

Grant recipients in attendance included: National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Ohio Buckeye Chapter; Akron General Development Foundation; Access, Inc.; Golden Age Centers of Greater Cleveland; Hattie Larlham Foundation; International Soap Box Derby; MetroHealth Foundation Inc.; Haven of Rest Ministries; and Family Promise of Summit County.  Please see attached document for a full listing of grant recipients.

“Thanks to the support of the PGA TOUR and this entire community, the positive reach of the Bridgestone Invitational is felt 52 weeks of the year,” said Gini Paige, President, Executive Committee, Northern Ohio Golf Charities.  “Today, we celebrate the dollars raised by this world-class event and the impact that those dollars make on countless lives throughout Northeast Ohio.”

For the fourth year, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. awarded an additional $5,000 of its own funds to a charitable organization facing a significant challenge.  The Bridgestone Award was presented to Crown Point Ecology Center, which demonstrates practical application of ecology and challenges society to live with simplicity and mindfulness. 

“Bridgestone Americas has a culture of helping to make the communities in which we work be better places to live, and we view our partnership with the Northern Ohio Golf Charities as an extension of this philosophy put into practice,” said Gary Garfield, CEO & President, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. “Congratulations to the Bridgestone Award recipient Crown Point Ecology Center and the other charities recognized today.  We feel privileged to be in a position to support organizations which are so valuable to the community.”

Northern Ohio Golf Charities Foundation is part of a volunteer organization that has sponsored professional golf tournaments at Firestone Country Club for more than 50 years. Tournaments have provided more than $21 million to local charities seeking to improve the quality of life in Northeast Ohio.
 
“The World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational is proud to support deserving charities,” said Don Padgett III, Executive Director, Bridgestone Invitational.  “Thank you to Bridgestone, corporate supporters, the fans and tournament volunteers, all of which help make this charitable giving to Northeast Ohio organizations possible.”
 
Among the dignitaries at Firestone Country Club in Akron were: Hank Hara, Chief Technology Officer, Bridgestone Americas, Inc.; Don Padgett III, Executive Director, Bridgestone Invitational; Gini Paige, President, Executive Committee, Northern Ohio Golf Charities, Inc.; and Chuck Abraham, President, Northern Ohio Golf Charities Foundation, Inc.

Not-for-profit, 501 (c)(3) organizations can receive funds generated in conjunction with the 2012 Bridgestone Invitational by submitting a grant request to Northern Ohio Golf Charities. Further details can be found at www.nogcf.org.  In addition, 501(c) 3 organizations interested in participating in the Tickets Fore Charity program, where participating charities keep 75 percent of the ticket price, can visit
www.worldgolfchampionships.com, or call 330-644-2299 for more information.