The TOUR Championship today announced its support of the East Lake Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Fund, which will aim to provide financial assistance to residents within The Villages of East Lake who are struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The support from the PGA TOUR’s season finale is part of a $3.5 million charitable donation from the 2019 TOUR Championship – a tournament record – to its four primary beneficiaries, which include the East Lake Foundation, Grove Park Foundation, Purpose Built Schools Atlanta and the First Tee® of Metro Atlanta. The TOUR Championship has invested more than $32 million in local nonprofits since the event was first staged at East Lake Golf Club in 1998.
In addition to the East Lake Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Fund, charitable contributions from the TOUR Championship will also support the individual COVID-19 relief efforts of the Grove Park Foundation and Purpose Built Schools Atlanta.
The TOUR Championship will return to East Lake Sept. 3-7, when the top 30 players from the FedExCup standings will vie for the FedExCup title at the PGA TOUR’s season-ending event. The final round is set to be contested on Labor Day.
The East Lake Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Fund will primarily provide rental and utility assistance for residents within The Villages of East Lake – the mixed-income housing developed by the East Lake Foundation – and supply vital personal care and cleaning items. Additionally, the fund will ensure families in need in East Lake and Kirkwood can access critical fee-based education and wellness programs when East Lake Foundation partners resume services.
“These difficult times have reminded us of what is most important, and we thank our charitable partners for all they are doing to continue to make a positive impact on our community,” said TOUR Championship Executive Director Allison Fillmore. “Charitable giving is at the heart of what we do at the PGA TOUR, and we stand with our partners now more than ever as they remain steadfast in carrying out their mission here in Atlanta.”
Founded in 1995, the East Lake Foundation was formed to revitalize a troubled inner-city neighborhood into a vibrant community where all residents can thrive. The East Lake revitalization includes The Villages of East Lake mixed-income apartment homes; Charles R. Drew Charter School, serving more than 1,800 children from Pre-K through grade 12; the East Lake Family YMCA; Sheltering Arms East Lake, the 9-hole public Charlie Yates Golf Course, and East Lake Golf Club.
In addition to the East Lake Foundation that has been supported by the TOUR Championship since it was first staged at East Lake Golf Club in 1998, the TOUR Championship also supports both the Grove Park Foundation and Purpose Built Schools Atlanta, which allows the TOUR Championship to connect more communities and organizations engaged in holistic community revitalization to each other and to one of the greatest annual sporting events in Atlanta.
“As the East Lake Foundation temporarily shifts our focus to providing targeted support to stabilize families and help avert further crisis, we are incredibly grateful for the partnership and continued financial support from the TOUR Championship and its sponsors,” said Daniel J. Shoy, Jr., President and CEO of the East Lake Foundation. “This generous contribution will allow the East Lake Foundation and our Atlanta Purpose Built Communities partner organizations to do what we do best, work together with our partners to serve our communities in need.”
The TOUR Championship’s donation also benefits the First Tee® of Metro Atlanta, an international youth development organization designed 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. In July 2019, the First Tee® of Atlanta and the First Tee® of East Lake combined to form the First Tee® of Metro Atlanta, which serves more than 145,000 participants across eight Metro Atlanta counties.
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Tickets to the 2020 TOUR Championship are available for purchase at TOURChampionship.com/tickets.
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About the TOUR Championship
The top 30 players in FedExCup standings after the BMW Championship qualify for the TOUR Championship, the finale of the FedExCup Playoffs, and will be awarded starting strokes for round one based on their position. The player with the lowest stroke total including starting strokes in the TOUR Championship after 72 holes of competition will be named winner of the FedExCup and will be awarded an official PGA TOUR victory. The TOUR Championship is annually contested at Atlanta’s renowned East Lake Golf Club, the formative home of the legendary Bobby Jones. The 2020 tournament will be played Sept. 3-7. The tournament proudly supports the East Lake Foundation, the Grove Park Foundation, Purpose Built Schools Atlanta and The First Tee® of Metro Atlanta. The Coca-Cola Company and the Southern Company are the exclusive Proud Partners of the TOUR Championship.
The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands and nearly 3,900 beverage choices. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most valuable and recognizable brands, our company’s portfolio features 21 billion-dollar brands, 19 of which are available in reduced-, low- or no-calorie options. These brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, we are the No. 1 provider of both sparkling and still beverages. More than 1.9 billion servings of our beverages are enjoyed by consumers in more than 200 countries each day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world’s top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the Official Energy Company of the PGA TOUR and presenter of the Payne Stewart Award. Southern Company is America’s premier energy company, with 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity and 1,500 billion cubic feet of combined natural gas consumption and throughput volume serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in four states, natural gas distribution companies in seven states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America and a nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are inventing America’s energy future by developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency, and creating new products and services for the benefit of customers. Southern Company has been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, recognized among the Top 50 Companies for Diversity by DiversityInc, listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity and designated a Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company has earned a National Award of Nuclear Science and History from the National Atomic Museum Foundation for its leadership and commitment to nuclear development and is continually ranked among the top energy companies in Fortune’s annual World’s Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.
