Courtesy of Charles Schwab Challenge
Representatives from the nonprofit groups participating in Birdies for Charity celebrated with tournament officials and received their checks at an event in November at Colonial Country Club.
The 2021 Charles Schwab Challenge may be behind us, but the philanthropic efforts of the annual PGA TOUR event are still swinging, driving in a grand total of $14 million for local charities this year.
On Tuesday, representatives from 33 nonprofits came to Colonial Country Club to receive their checks from the Birdies for Charity campaign, which raised the majority of the funds ($13.7 million) while other tournament community service activities and initiatives raised the remaining amount.
During the Birdies for Charity campaign, nonprofits worked to secure pledges from friends and businesses based on the number of birdies made during the Colonial tournament. This year's event saw a total of 1,230 birdies made by pro competitors.
Benefiting organizations include ACH Child and Family Services, The First Tee of Fort Worth, Lena Pope, Presbyterian Night Shelter, and more.
“It is very gratifying to be able to work with and support so many great charities in the Tarrant County area,” Colonial tournament chairman Jim Whitten said in a statement. “Many of these organizations have been with us for more than 10 years, but in the community much, much longer than that. We are proud to have a meaningful impact on their success in serving others.”
Over the past 75 years, the Colonial tournament has generated cash and services for more than 150 different organizations in the last two decades, surpassing $150 million. The funds raised have gone toward everything from educational programs to military-related charities like the Military Warriors Support Foundation and its Homes4WoundedHeroes program. According to Colonial, the tournament helped donate 20 homes to injured veterans in recent years.
The Birdies for Charity campaign, specifically, has raised more than $120 million since 2005; its $13.7 million raised this year was one of the largest on the PGA TOUR, according to Colonial.
Learn more about the Charles Schwab Challenge's philanthropic efforts here.