$25,000 Challenge Grant announced to support new program site
For Immediate Release
Charlotte, NC—January 17, 2017— Champions for Education, the non-profit organization that manages and operates the Wells Fargo Championship, has designated The First Tee of Greater Wilmington as the primary beneficiary of the 2017 PGA TOUR event scheduled to be played May 1–7 at Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, NC. To initiate its presence and support of the Wilmington area, Champions for Education announced a $25,000 challenge grant to support The First Tee of Greater Wilmington. The grant will be used by the local chapter of The First Tee to encourage financial support that will be matched by Champions for Education, up to $25,000, potentially generating a total of $50,000.
The First Tee of Greater Wilmington’s principal goal is to introduce the game of golf and The First Tee Nine Core Values and Nine Healthy Habits to 25,000 youth within the community by 2019. With support from the City of Wilmington, a track of land adjacent to the Wilmington Municipal Golf Course has been allocated for the development of a new program site to create a solid learning environment. With construction currently underway, the facility will consist of a three-hole practice course, a netted hitting area and a 1,000 square foot classroom building.
The First Tee of Greater Wilmington plans to celebrate the grand opening of the new facility in May during the week of the Wells Fargo Championship. A portion of the tournament’s proceeds will then be distributed to The First Tee of Greater Wilmington in the following months.
Since 2003, the Wells Fargo Championship has donated more than $19 million to local and regional charitable organizations in the Charlotte area, including Teach For America, The First Tee of Greater Charlotte, Levine Children’s Hospital and numerous other organizations that assist in staging the tournament each year. With a one-year stop in Wilmington during the 2017 PGA TOUR season, the tournament aims to make a positive impact on various organizations in the Wilmington area in much the same way. All charitable donations from the 2017 tournament will remain in the Wilmington area.
“We are excited about The First Tee of Greater Wilmington’s plans for this area and look forward to doing whatever we can to assist those efforts,” said Mac Everett, a board member with Champions for Education. “With the help of our title sponsor Wells Fargo, our host Eagle Point Golf Club, other corporate partners, the many volunteers, and the fans who attend the tournament, this will be an opportunity for the Wells Fargo Championship to leave a permanent legacy in the Greater Wilmington area.”
Re-establishing a chapter in Wilmington has been the dream of several local individuals and businesses, including the membership of Eagle Point Golf Club. The First Tee was first brought to this area as The First Tee of the Cape Fear Region through the Carol S. Petrea Youth Foundation in Brunswick County.
“We are so appreciative of the financial support and the increased awareness the 2017 Wells Fargo Championship will provide to The First Tee of Greater Wilmington,” said Gordon Dalgleish, who serves as Chairman of the Board for The First Tee of Greater Wilmington. “The support from Wells Fargo and the tournament will create a lasting community legacy as we seek to impact the lives of so many of our young people in the years ahead.”
“We are proud to continue our support for The First Tee, both at the national and local levels,” said Barry Eichelberger, Business Banking manager and market president for Wells Fargo in Wilmington. “They are making a real difference in our local communities and their work connects directly with Wells Fargo’s vision and values. Our goal is to help build strong and vibrant communities, improve the quality of life and make a positive difference.”
In 2015, Wells Fargo became a National Trustee for The First Tee and pledged $1 million to the program. Wells Fargo also established the Succeeding Together contest for participants of The First Tee around the country to earn the opportunity to attend the tournament and play in the Wednesday Pro-Am.
Patrons can purchase tickets and research hospitality options for the 2017 Wells Fargo Championship in Wilmington by visiting www.wellsfargochampionship.com or by calling (800) 945-0777. To accommodate families, children ages 12 and under are free with a paid adult admission (one child per paying adult).
About the Wells Fargo Championship
The Wells Fargo Championship is one of the largest, most prestigious sporting events in the North Carolina region. Champions for Education, a non-profit organization, operates and manages the tournament and has donated over $19 million to local and regional charities since 2003. Kym Hougham serves as the Executive Director of the tournament and manages a staff of nine individuals who work year round on the annual event. The 2017 tournament will be held May 1-7 at Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, NC and will return to Charlotte, NC and Quail Hollow Club in 2018 and 2019. It’s list of champions include David Toms, Joey Sindelar, Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, Tiger Woods, Anthony Kim, Sean O’Hair, Rory McIlroy, Lucas Glover, Rickie Fowler, Derek Ernst, J.B. Holmes and James Hahn.
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 8,600 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 42 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 269,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 27 on Fortune’s 2016 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. In 2015, Wells Fargo donated $281.3 million to 16,300 nonprofits, ranking No. 3 on the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s rankings of the top corporate cash philanthropists. Wells Fargo team members volunteered 1.86 million hours in 2015, serving more than 40,000 nonprofits. Wells Fargo’s corporate social responsibility efforts are focused on three priorities: economic empowerment in underserved communities, environmental sustainability, and advancing diversity and social inclusion. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.
About The First Tee
The First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. With its home office at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., The First Tee reaches young people on golf courses, in elementary schools and at other youth-serving locations.
Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has grown its network to deliver programs in all 50 United States and select international locations. The First Tee’s Founding Partners are LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA. Shell Oil Company is The First Tee’s Founding Corporate Partner and Johnson & Johnson is its Legacy Partner. Former President George W. Bush serves as honorary chair.
Lee Patterson
Wells Fargo Championship
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