Tournament generates $285,190 for non-profits
KAPALUA — The Mark and Debi Rolfing Charitable Foundation, host organization of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, on May 20 celebrated the donation of $285,190 to main designated beneficiaries and other Hawaii community organizations.
Funds were raised through programs from the 2011 Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Since 1999, the host organization for this prestigious, season-opening PGA Tour event — through the Mercedes-Benz Championship, the SBS Championship and Hyundai Tournament of Champions — has donated nearly $3.8 million to the Maui community.
This year, designated beneficiaries receiving the majority of the proceeds include the Boy Scouts of America, Maui County Council; Friends of the Children’s Justice Center; Hale Makua; J. Walter Cameron Center; Ka Lima O Maui; Lahainaluna High School Foundation; and Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation.
In addition, this year the event embraced two new charitable organizations and donated funds to Hawaii State Junior Golf Association and Maui Family Support Services.
The Lahainaluna High School Foundation plans to use its contribution to support the Art Department; Music Department; sustainable agriculture classes; Boarding Department; Robotics, Japanese, Academy of Hospitality and Tourism and HOSA clubs; school athletics; and Project Graduation.
The Hyundai Tournament of Champions was held in January at The Plantation Course in Kapalua Resort. It is the first official tournament of the PGA Tour season, and the field is limited to winners only from the previous year’s tournaments.
An large number of volunteers, many of whom return to Maui each year for their service trip, are excited to see a world-class golf tournament up close and lend a helping hand to benefit the Maui community.
More than 600 volunteers help to put on the tournament event, and the economic impact stays with the community long after the contest is over.
“We are grateful for the support and partnership of our designated nonprofit organizations on Maui. Without their ongoing assistance on all facets of our operations, we couldn’t have a successful event each year,” said Tournament Director Nancy Cross at the beneficiary reception.
“The charities have contributed towards the success of the event by distributing brochures, flyers and posters, lowering our operational costs and providing over 3,800 hours of volunteer service, which included washing vans, laundering 450 pounds of linen and cleaning the course. We couldn’t do this without their support.”
The 2012 tournament is slated for Jan. 2-8. For more information and ticket sales, visit www.kapalua.com or call (808) 665-9160.