Playing With a Purpose

July 26, 2011

By PGA TOUR Staff

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Making a positive impact on the communities where its tournaments are held and players live is part of the culture of the PGA TOUR, and one that has resulted in more than $1.6 billion generated for charity since the first tournament donation in 1938.  Playing with a Purpose presented by Barclays, an hour-long CBS Sports special airing Saturday, Aug. 6, at 1 p.m. ET, illustrates the charitable commitments by players, tournaments and organizations within the TOUR family, sharing inspirational stories of those who are part of the TOUR’s “Together, anything’s possible” mission.

Among the stories to be told are:

o    Established in 2010, The Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation was developed to help children and families in need. With Furyk’s success – especially recently with his 2010 FedExCup title – the Furyks felt it was time to give back to the Jacksonville, Fla., community in which they live and raise their family. In Playing with a Purpose presented by Barclays, viewers get a glimpse of the Furyks’ dedication to local organizations that offer food for underprivileged children, care for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions that insurance does not cover, family counseling, or simply a safe place for a child.

o    United States Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets, bear the burden of having more wounded personnel than any other U.S. Special Operations Forces proponent, and the Green Beret Foundation provides support to the Special Forces community through health and welfare programs, travel and lodging for medical treatments, family assistance and financial hardship assistance for the families of Green Berets lost in performance of their duty.  Playing with a Purpose presented by Barclays highlights Bubba Watson’s involvement in the Green Beret Foundation, which was inspired by his father, Gerry, a member of the Green Berets who passed away in October. 

o    When he was just 13-years-old, Robert Allenby lost a close friend to childhood cancer, an experience that instilled in him a desire to one day help young children with cancer. For more than 20 years, Allenby has been personally involved in “Challenge,” an organization that offers children living with cancer and other life-threatening blood disorders the opportunity to put their illness aside and interact with other children in similar circumstances.  Allenby’s efforts have helped raise more than $11 million for the organization, and he has been an integral part in Challenge’s bi-annual “Trip of a Lifetime” program, which allows 10 teenagers living with cancer to travel to and tour the United States for one month. Playing with a Purpose presented by Barclays offers a touching account of what is achieved on these trips and what Allenby has personally made possible for the children – many of whom stay at his home as part of their U.S. experience. 

o    When Justin Rose and his wife, Kate, were introduced to the charitable organization Blessings in Backpack, they knew they wanted to start a chapter near their adopted hometown of Orlando, Fla. Blessings in a Backpack provides a backpack full of easy-to-prepare food items to elementary school students who are part of the federal government’s free and reduced meal plan – enough food and supplies each Friday to sustain them through the weekend.  The Roses have participated in “backpack stuffing” events, but also hosted a charity golf outing to raise money for the organization.  Playing with a Purpose presented by Barclays tagged along as the Roses took 80 children from the Blessings in a Backpack program in inner-city Orlando to the beach two hours away, for a fun-filled field trip.  For many, it was the first time they had ever seen the Atlantic Ocean. 

o    Every week on the PGA TOUR, thousands of volunteers give up their personal time in an effort to help stage world-class tournaments, which in turn raise millions of dollars for local charities.  Faith and Larry Tanner planned to combine their life-long loves of community service and golf by volunteering at every PGA TOUR event in 2010.  Tragically, Larry passed away in 2009 before they could begin their journey, but Faith is honoring her late husband’s memory by volunteering at 37 PGA TOUR events throughout 2011.  Playing with a Purpose presented by Barclays helps tell Faith’s incredible story and her mission of encouraging others to volunteer as a way to affect positive change in communities across the country.

o    The Barclays combines all the excitement of the start of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup and the buzz of the New York City metropolitan area. But the tournament is about more than just golf, and since its inception has donated more than $38 million to charity, including $1 million in 2010. The tournament provides charitable support to multiple organizations including The First Tee of Metropolitan New York and The American Red Cross, as well as a strong focus on military initiatives. All active, retired and reserve members of the military receive free admission all week, and beginning Wednesday of tournament week, they and their families can stop in to the Patriots’ Outpost hospitality chalet presented by Barclays for free food and drink, interactive activities and a great view of the 9th hole. Playing with a Purpose presented by Barclays highlights and previews all of these activities, as well as provides a behind-the-scenes look at the tournament’s 2010 Military Appreciation Kick-Off Event to benefit Birdies for the Brave, which featured Phil Mickelson hitting balls off the deck of the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier.

o    In 2011, The First Tee announced the launch of a major fundraising campaign The First Tee Campaign for 10 Million Young People, a comprehensive effort to raise $100 million and to reach 10 million young people by 2017. One of the chapters, The First Tee Plainfield, is perhaps the most unique First Tee chapter in the country. As the first private country club to house a First Tee facility, Plainfield Country Club – site of The Barclays 2011 – has more than 1,000 participants.  Playing with a Purpose presented by Barclays takes a closer look at this chapter’s Path to College program, which gives young people from inner-city schools college preparatory tools, tutoring and the chance to go to four-year universities. 

Additional Playing with a Purpose presented by Barclays segments will feature: Ryo Ishikawa, who is donating all of his 2011 tournament winnings to disaster relief efforts in his native Japan, as well as an additional $1,200 for every birdie he makes; Nationwide Tour player Erik Compton, the recipient of two heart transplants who won the Mexico Open Presented by Banamex and will be a rookie for the 2012 PGA TOUR season; and the Valero Texas Open, which raised a record-breaking $9 million for children’s charities in 2011.  The event has generated an unprecedented $62.5 million for charity since Valero became the title sponsor in 2002.

Playing with a Purpose presented by Barclays is produced by PGA TOUR Entertainment in high definition.