The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame has delivered on its promise to the 31 Ozarks children’s and veterans’ charities of the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Hiland Dairy Foods, gifting checks Tuesday totaling more than $525,000.
Hall of Fame President & CEO Rob Marsh, the tournament’s executive director, announced the gifting during the annual Celebration of Sharing presented by the McQueary Family.
Held at Highland Springs Country Club, the ceremony punctuated the Hall of Fame’s determined efforts over the past calendar year to make the 2005 tournament a success.
In fact, the check presentation came only five months after the tournament made all charities whole from the 2024 tournament, as the Hall of Fame rallied after a roughly $750,000 financial deficit last November. Hired as the new CEO in mid-December and officially starting on Jan. 6, Marsh led the Hall of Fame staff’s fundraising efforts. He and the Hall of Fame team executed a number of financial belt-tightening strategies, focusing on cost-control efforts and expense-cutting for both 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organizations.
“We are so thankful that numerous businesses and individuals helped us reach today – maybe the best day on the calendar,” Marsh said. “These checks will help our charities meet their missions, as all do incredible work across the Ozarks.”
Officially, the checks totaled $525,206.48. That figure does not include the charities’ buy-in. It does bring the total of gifting from the tournament’s 36 years to nearly $21.8 million.
Price Cutter Supermarkets has been a presenting or title sponsor since 1998, and Hiland Dairy Foods was the presenting sponsor this year after being involved as a major lead sponsor since the tournament’s inception in 1990.
Numerous other sponsors continued to throw their support behind the tournament, with the PCCC calling 27 Springfield-area businesses Lead sponsors. Additionally, hundreds of businesses and individuals made a positive impact, too. They either sponsored pro-am teams, or purchased auction items or the TLC Properties Sweepstakes tickets – the giveaway for the GMC Canyon and $10,000. Or they joined in on the Corvette Stingray giveaway in the Ultimate presented by Ridewell Suspensions.
“Talk about a total team effort from the community. That’s what this tournament has always been about, and we are so fortunate that so many folks wanted to lend their financial support,” Marsh said. “We also want to say a big thank-you to the hundreds of volunteers who fanned out across the golf course for four days. We tip our hat to them, too.”
NEW TOURNAMENT NAME FOR 2026
The Hall of Fame already has plans for numerous charity fundraisers for 2026, and unveiled a new name and logo – Price Cutter Cares presented by Hiland Dairy.
Marsh has been working diligently on renewing sponsorships and securing new ones for Price Cutter Cares, as many pro-am golf tournaments and other fundraisers will be back on the schedule – with new ones on the way, as well. Among them is the Corporate Cup.
“I’m optimistic about next year, because we really have a lot of positive momentum,” said Marsh, who expressed confidence that Price Cutter Cares will match, if not exceed, this year’s gifting despite the departure of the PGA Korn Ferry Tour’s four-day tournament.
VOLUNTEER AWARDS
Volunteer Chair Sharon Alexander presented the volunteer awards on Tuesday, as well.
Earning the Judy Weekley Volunteer of the Year is Mary Lynn Golden of Springfield Advocates for Youth, and Volunteer of the Week is Lisa George.
Speaking about Golden, Alexander said: “(Mary) has been an integral part of the tournament for many years, working tirelessly to ensure her team successfully manages the hole they marshal. Her dedication extends well beyond tournament week. As she has in years past, she went above and beyond her duties by working closely with her team and supporting operations in every way she could. She spent long days on the course and then headed to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame to assist with the Sweepstakes. Each day, she checked in with me to ask what more she could do to help ensure the tournament ran smoothly. Her friendly demeanor and strong rapport with volunteers make her a true asset to the tournament. It is an honor to work alongside this individual who truly understands the importance of volunteer engagement and is dedicated to the Tournament and the community she calls home.”
Speaking of George, Alexander said: “Traditionally, she has spent her time supporting clubhouse hospitality, but this year she stepped up in every way imaginable. She worked throughout the week, from assisting with player registration to helping clean tables in the VIP tent and willingly took on any task that needed attention. She approached each job with a smile and a genuine commitment to making the tournament experience exceptional for everyone.”
THE PCCC’S 2025 CHARITIES
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Ozarks, Cardinals Fly Together Foundation, Champion Athletes of the Ozarks, Champions Committed to Kids, Children’s Smile Center, Convoy of Hope, Dogwood Ranch, Drury Golf, Fellowship of Christian Athletes-Greater Springfield, First Tee West Plains, Fleet Reserve Association Branch 316, Good Samaratin Boys Ranch, Harbor House, H.O.P.E. Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Bolivar, Kiwanis Club of Christian County, Legal Services of Southern Missouri, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Missouri State Foundation, Missouri State Foundation, Missouri Junior Golf Foundation, Music Therapy of the Ozarks, Project Hope, Project 360 Youth Services, Serenity Honors, Shriner’s Hospital Dads, Silver Dollar City Foundation, Springfield Advocates for Youth, Springfield-Greene County Park Board, The Hive of the Ozarks, Whetstone Boys Ranch, White River Valley Electric Foundation.