A Grand River of Giving

March 11, 2010

RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico

The island nation’s only PGA TOUR event is more than just about the golf; it’s about making a positive impact in the community in which it plays. Max Alverio, Rafael Campos, Erick Morales and Miguel Suárez —the four Puerto Rican players competing in their national championship—took a break from tournament preparation earlier this week to visit the Centro Sor Isolina Ferre in Canovanas, a member of the local United Way chapter, the main beneficiary of the Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular.

Alverio, Campos, Morales and Suárez toured the facilities and services Program Care and Life III offer to children, juniors and adults that reside in the Sierra Maestra and Pueblo Indio areas of Canovanas.

During their visit, the players met with a group of elementary school children who attend the Center daily and receive tutoring in math, Spanish, English, computers and recreational activities. The programs are focused on prevention and strengthening family values. “This visit allowed us to see the efforts being made by the Centro Sor Isolina Ferre to ensure a positive future for our country’s youth,” said Campos.

This visit is part of the partnership between the Puerto Rico Open organizing committee and Fondos Unidos (United Way of Puerto Rico), which invests in projects that benefit the local community.

“Thanks to this partnership, in 2009 we were able to continue our work with the Compaz de Taller Salud project to help promote a culture of peace among the youth of Loiza, as well as issue college scholarships to six students in the Rio Grande area,” said María Elena Lampaya, Fondos Unidos’ vice president for communications.

“The PGA TOUR and this tournament are committed to supporting the local community, so this visit is very important to us. In the last two years, the Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular, has contributed nearly $400,000 to Fondo Unidos of Puerto Rico, all of which has had a direct impact in the local communities. We hope to keep adding to that total this year,” said Sidney Wolf, the Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular’s chairman.