PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The Players Championship held an event Wednesday evening at the TPC Sawgrass to announce a record amount of money raised during the 2015 tournament for local charities.
The "fifth major" of the PGA Tour and the biggest golf tournament in our part of the state showed how much it invests in charities. The Players' annual Charity Celebration posted a big number on its leaderboard: $8.1 million donated to area charities. It's a sign that the PGA Tour's crown jewel in Florida really makes a difference.
The charity contribution from the Players Championship in 2014 was $7.5 million. The Players Championship announced Wednesday night that this year's tournament generated even more.
The community comes together for fun and gives back to meet needs for charities.
"I thought we had a big number last year," said Matt Rapp, executive director for The Players Championship. "But $8.1 million, pretty big stuff. So we're in pretty elite company in terms of what we're able to generate in our community."
"When you compare us to the Dallases and Chicagos and Los Angeles and New York, and we're right up there in charitable giving, it's a great statement about the quality of the people here, the hard work and the belief that you can really use PGA Tour golf to make a difference," said PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem.
Six months from the next edition of The Players Championship, leaders are already working to try to beat their mark in 2015. In the meantime, the group is celebrating the good feeling of giving back.
"But tonight is about recognizing the volunteers, leaders of the charitable organizations and the business community for really stepping up and making it into a premier charitable giving impact event," Finchem said.
"Honestly, it's direct correlation between attendance and corporate sponsorship," Rapp said. "So the more people come out, buy tickets, support the event, the more we're able to give back to charities in our area."
Each year, money from the tournament benefits more than 300 charities throughout northeast Florida. Since the event moved to Ponte Vedra in 1977, the total amount donated is more than $76 million.