The Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper demonstrated its enormous reach once again as the tournament on Thursday distributed a combined $50,000 to 13 local children’s charities.
Executive Director Jerald Andrews announced the gifts during a ceremony at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Last summer’s tournament gifted $900,145 – the second-largest total in its 26-year history – and set aside $50,000 toward a grant program through the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.
Thursday’s financial gifts will greatly assist local charities in their missions. For instance, foster kids will receive new clothing and vouchers to purchase new shoes. Families whose children are battling medical issues will have to worry less about paying for hotel stays or travel costs. And that’s just to name a few ways that Ozarks-area charities will benefit from the PCCC, which is part of the PGA’s Web.com Tour. The tournament has generated almost $13 million for children’s charities in its history.
“Without support from all across the Ozarks, especially local businesses and golf fans, the tournament wouldn’t have nearly this kind of impact,” Andrews said. “We are fortunate to live in a community with a huge heart.”
The latest PCCC gifting is assisting the H.O.P.E. Foundation, Christian County Family Crisis Center, Fordland Clinic, Champion Athletes of the Ozarks, Springfield Advocates for Youth, the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Southwest Missouri, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks, The Arc of the Ozarks, Children’s Smile Center, Dogwood Ranch, Feeding Inc. in Carthage, Rare Breed Youth Services and Ambassadors for Children.
Thursday’s announcement comes at an important time for the PCCC, whose fundraising already is under way. For instance:
- Businesses have the opportunity to sponsor numerous events in and around the tournament, scheduled for Aug. 1-15 with the pros scheduled to play from Aug. 11-14 at Highland Springs Country Club. Sponsorships cover a wide range – skyboxes around the 9th and 18th greens, a Vendor Village where businesses can set up shop, on-course signage and other neat avenues such as the daily newsletter, which is distributed to everyone at the tournament.
- Local golfers can support the PCCC by playing in any number of a dozen pro-ams at area courses.
- Likewise, fans will soon have the opportunity to win a brand-new 2016 Ford truck by purchasing a $25 TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes ticket.
- Call the PCCC at 417-887-3400 to inquire about supporting local children’s charities.
Representatives from each of the 13 charities expressed appreciation for the grant funds, emphasizing that every dollar counts.
One example is Rare Breed Youth Services, an extension of The Kitchen, Inc. It plans to place its donation toward the salary of a childcare worker. Thanks to childcare, a parent can complete his or her GED, said Benjamin Tegeler, Rare Breed’s outreach coordinator. In fact, the learning center is designed with a glass partition, which allows parents to keep an eye on their kids.
“Childcare is a barrier for a lot of teens and young couples that come to us,” Tegeler said. “A lot of them also have trust issues, and it’s hard to separate them from their child.”
The additional grant money also will go a long way at Ambassadors for Children, said its director, Denee Fay. Its center, which includes a clothing store, has seen a record number of foster kids come through its doors each of the past eight years, she said. With Thursday’s grant money, Ambassadors for Children can reach more children, many who have been neglected or have suffered from child abuse.
“We’re seeing an increasing amount of foster kids every year,” Fay said. “There’s a need to build self-esteem in the kids who have seen their valuables thrown away, because of drugs in the home or other issues.”
PCCC grant recipients
H.O.P.E. Foundation, $1,500: Funds to cover family hotel stays and travel costs for patients.
Christian County Family Crisis Center, $1,500: TV, DVD player and school supplies for use of residents
Fordland Clinic, Inc., $1,672: Nearly 3,900 branded toothbrushes to be handed out at outreach events
Champion Athletes of the Ozarks, $2,100: Movable wall partitions and a TV for new classrooms
Springfield Advocates for Youth, $2,643: School and recreational supplies
Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks, Inc., $3,000: A commercial refrigerator for use of houseguests and for groups for provide family dinners
National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwest Missouri: $3,080: Bus passes and hotel vouchers for clients
The Arc of the Ozarks, $3,482: Salary of one floating staff member for No Limits Summer Camp and a special outing for campers
Children’s Smile Center, $4,000: Oral hygiene kits for patients to take home from appointments
Dogwood Ranch, $5,000: Scholarships for equine therapy
Feeding Inc. (former River Street Food Pantry in Carthage), $5,023: Repair flood damage to the pantry
The Kitchen, Inc. Rare Breed Youth Services, $7,500: Salary for childcare worker for young parents working toward GED
Council of Churches of the Ozarks-Ambassadors for Children, $9,500: New clothing and shoe vouchers for children in foster care.