Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett named PGA TOUR Champions Charity of the Year
Benefiting charity of Mitsubishi Electric Classic earns annual PGA TOUR Champions award
GWINNETT – METRO ATLANTA – The Mitsubishi Electric Classic and PGA TOUR Champions announced today that Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett, one of the tournament’s benefitting charities, has been named the 2017 PGA TOUR Champions Charity of the Year.
“We could not be more excited or appreciative of this great honor,” said Susie Collat, vice-chair of Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett. “The generous spirit of the greater metro Atlanta area showcased itself during the 2017 Mitsubishi Electric Classic and we are extremely proud to be a part of such an impactful event in our community. On behalf of the students, families and staff at Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett, we are overwhelmingly thankful for the generosity of PGA TOUR Champions and the dedication of the Mitsubishi Electric Classic. This kind of commitment will help Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett continue to deliver on our IF WE BUILD IT, THEY WILL GROW campaign.”
Based in suburban Atlanta, the Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett provides educational and therapeutic services for children with special needs and mental disabilities. Its mission is for all children to reach their God-given potential with their language and motor skills as well as growing socially and academically. During tournament week in 2017, the Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett provided volunteers that passed out gift bags to fans at the entrance.
By being named the Charity of the Year, PGA TOUR Champions will donate $30,000, which will help meet the goal of the Phase Two construction of a new building that will begin to increase the school’s capacity from 55 to 200 students.
“I’m pleased to present the PGA TOUR Champions Charity of the Year Award to the Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett,” said PGA TOUR Champions Presidents Greg McLaughlin. “This award is a testament to the school’s tremendous impact on children in the Atlanta area, and it speaks to Mitsubishi Electric’s commitment to growing the charitable footprint of the Mitsubishi Electric Classic.”
“The Mitsubishi Electric Classic is proud of its focus on charitable giving in greater metro Atlanta,” said Tournament Director Monte Ortel. “Charity has been a driving force for the Mitsubishi Electric Classic from its beginning and is a primary initiative of the PGA TOUR. To be
recognized by PGA TOUR Champions as the Charity of the Year is a great honor for our tournament, but more important is the positive impact the Tour’s $30,000 donation will have on Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett and the marvelous work they are doing in our community.”
At the 2017 Mitsubishi Electric Classic, Stephen Ames won for the first time and became the third Canadian to win on PGA TOUR Champions, carding a tournament-record 15-under total to win by four strokes over Bernhard Langer. With the win, Ames became the 11th player to win on the Web.com Tour, PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions. In all, he had seven top-10s during the 2017 season and he finished 18th in the final Charles Schwab Cup standings.
The 2018 Mitsubishi Electric Classic is scheduled for April 9-15 at renowned TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Georgia.
For more information about the Mitsubishi Electric Classic, including the Birdies for Charity program, tickets, sponsorship opportunities and how to volunteer, please visit www.mitsubishielectricclassic.com.
About the Mitsubishi Electric Classic
The Mitsubishi Electric Classic is an official event on the PGA TOUR Champions scheduled for April 9-15, 2018. This 54-hole stroke play golf tournament features 78 PGA TOUR Champions professionals competing for a $1.8 million purse at the prestigious TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Georgia. The event, which will benefit local charities through the Gwinnett Championship Foundation, Inc., has raised nearly $2 million since its first tournament in 2013. All three official rounds will be internationally televised on the Golf Channel. For more information, visit www.mitsubishielectricclassic.com.
About PGA TOUR Champions
PGA TOUR Champions is a membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older, including 35 members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The Tour’s mission is to provide financial opportunities for its players, entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back and generate significant charitable and economic impact in tournament communities. In 2018, the PGA TOUR Champions schedule includes 27 tournaments across the United States, Scotland and Canada, with purses totaling more than $56 million. The Charles Schwab Cup, which includes the Regular Season and the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, is used to determine the season-long champion. All events are televised in the United States, with most receiving complete coverage on Golf Channel, the exclusive cable-television partner of PGA TOUR Champions. Internationally, telecasts air in excess of 190 countries and territories, reaching more than 330 million potential households. Follow PGA TOUR Champions online at PGATOUR.com, at facebook.com/PGATOURChampions, on Twitter @ChampionsTour and on Instagram @pgatourchampions.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Tom Sprouse, Mitsubishi Electric Classic, 614-519-1873, tsprouse@hnssports.com
Stewart Moore, PGA TOUR, 904-540-2765, stewartmoore@pgatourhq.com
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