by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
When The Players Championship dominates the golf world’s attention May 4-10, there will be many people hoping this is the year they’ll see records broken. Some would like to see Greg Norman’s 1994 tournament-record low score of 24-under-par take over second place on the PGA Tour’s all-time list.
One record the PGA Tour would like to see broken this year is last year’s record $3 million the tournament raised for local charities.
Now more than a month before the first round starts, local charities have already broken a record of their own with 68 organizations participating in the “Birdies for Charity” campaign this year, up from last year’s total of 51.
Similar to a walk-a-thon, “Birdies for Charity” participants make a pledge for each birdie carded by competitors during the tournament with all money resulting from that pledge going directly to the charity of the participant’s choice. Last year, (the record is 1618 in 1996), 1,241 birdies were made during the four-day event, so for example, a 5-cent pledge per birdie resulted in a $62.05 contribution. Approximately $180,000 was raised in 2008 through the pledges.
“Everyone involved with The Players volunteers is proud of the $31 million-plus raised for First Coast organizations through the years,” said PGA Tour Vice President and The Players Executive Director Jay Monahan. “But in these tough economic times, we all need to redouble our commitment to helping neighbors in need. Birdies for Charity, which has grown immensely over the years, is a great way for the community to make a small contribution to any number of local, worthy causes and have fun tracking the best golfers in the world at the same time.”
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) will mark its third year as an eligible organization next month. The campaign raised $1,000 in 2007 for JDRF and $2,000 last year, said Executive Director Brooks Biagini.
“This year our goal is $5,000,” she said. “Like every other nonprofit organization, we have a gap in our fundraising this year. We look at Birdies for Charity as a wonderful fundraising tool. The Players Championship is something the community is always excited about and this is a way to have some fun with the tournament and help us raise funds for diabetes research.”
In view of fundraising being more challenging at this time, Biagini also said, “In the past, we have used Birdies for Charity as a way for people who participate in our annual walk to extend their fundraising effort. This year, we’re asking everybody we can think of to register and choose us as their charity.”
This year is Second Harvest Food Bank’s inaugural year of participation and part of a program to identify ways to engage the community more than ever before, according to Communications Manager Tom Strother.
“As the economy worsens, our service is needed even more,” said Strother. “We have to find new ways to raise funds, especially at this time of year just before schools close for the summer. When school’s out, children who receive free or reduced-cost lunches aren’t getting them and that means families need more food.”
Birdies for Charity also has an advantage in that it’s such an easy fundraiser in terms of administrative time and cost, he added.
“It’s a simple program and the PGA Tour does almost all of the work. We get people to sign up and then send participants an invoice a few days after the tournament is over,” said Strother.
Companies are also invited to pool employees’ resources and pledge as a team. That’s what the staff at PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach did last year.
“And the Tour matched our individual contributions, so we were able to raise a combined $15,000 last year,” said Laura Brown, PGA Tour manager of Charitable Outreach.
Participants also have the opportunity to guess the number of birdies that will be carded during the tournament. The participant who guesses correctly will win an all-expenses-paid trip for two to San Francisco for the 2009 Presidents Cup held Oct. 6-11 at Harding Park Golf Course. Second- and third-place prizes will also be awarded.
Individuals or groups who wish to participate in Birdies for Charity may do so by going to www.playerschampionship.com. The deadline for registration is May 5.
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