Charity Championship back for 14th year of golf, giving

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It's summertime in the Ozarks, which means it's time for the Price Cutter Charity Championship at Highland Springs Country Club. |ret||ret||tab|

This is the 14th year for the event, according to Jerald Andrews, executive director of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.|ret||ret||tab|

"There are 30 of these tournaments across the nation. Four have been around all 14 years, and this is one of those four," Andrews said. |ret||ret||tab|

The professional portion of the tournament will take place Aug. 14-17; however, tournament-related activities begin Aug. 10. |ret||ret||tab|

The tournament is now part of the Nationwide Tour, which has entered a five-year agreement with the PGA to be the umbrella national sponsor of the tour, Andrews said. Price Cutter is the local title sponsor.|ret||ret||tab|

The number of charities that benefit from the tournament varies each year, Andrews said, but he expects more than 30 will be involved this year. |ret||ret||tab|

"Last year the tournament gave away $614,500," Andrews said. "All 30 tournaments across the nation last year gave away $2.7 million. This tournament gave away 23 percent of that total."|ret||ret||tab|

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Beneficiaries|ret||ret||tab|

Which charities benefit from the tournament is determined in different ways, Andrews said. A few have been involved since the beginning days of the tournament, some were brought in by title sponsors, some are involved due to pro-am efforts in surrounding communities and some are directly related to sponsor requests. |ret||ret||tab|

The Victory Mission received $7,000 from last year's tournament, according to Jim Harriger, executive director. That money helped fund the mission's back-to-school program, which helps more than 2,000 students each year, he said. |ret||ret||tab|

"It has most definitely helped us in growing our back-to-school program and in touching more lives here in our community," Harriger said. |ret||ret||tab|

Lynne Meyerkord, executive director of AIDS Project of the Ozarks, said this is the organization's third year of involvement with the tournament. |ret||ret||tab|

The money it receives goes toward the project's claim services fund, which helps clients with emergency needs such as utilities, food and other emergency assistance. The organization serves more than 29 counties in southwest Missouri, she said. |ret||ret||tab|

"We work with more than 200 children whose parents, one or both, are infected," Meyerkord said. "We're very fortunate to have a low rate of infection among kids in our community."|ret||ret||tab|

AIDS Project of the Ozarks received $7,000 from the tournament last year. Meyerkord said the tournament is not a primary fund raiser for the organization, but it provides good exposure to the public.|ret||ret||tab|

"People of all backgrounds need to know we're here and that we're here for the entire community," she said. |ret||ret||tab|

AIDS Project of the Ozarks will be the sponsor of the day at the tournament Aug. 16. |ret||ret||tab|

Tournament attendees will receive free admission with the donation of one personal pantry item per person, such as shampoo, toothpaste, detergent or other items. |ret||ret||tab|

Meyerkord said this not only benefits the organization by supplying its panty, but also benefits people in the community who can't afford the regular tournament admission price. |ret||ret||tab|

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Admission|ret||ret||tab|

Daily admission to the tournament is $10 for teen-agers and adults. |ret||ret||tab|

Andrews said many other ticket opportunities, such as multiple-day passes, VIP seating and other offers also are available.|ret||ret||tab|

Approximate tournament times will be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 14-15 and mid-morning to 4 p.m. on Aug. 16-17. Exact times are not known until the PGA arrives and sets the schedule, Andrews said. |ret||ret||tab|

Additional activities include nine different pro-am tournaments, women's golf clinic, celebrity skins game, long-drive contest, nine-hole night golf classic, family fun day and a fireworks show. |ret||ret||tab|

A junior pro-am will allow middle school and high school-age youth to play with professional golfers in a pro-am setting, Andrews said. |ret||ret||tab|

Something new this year is the Big Time Tickets Giveaway. |ret||ret||tab|

"We're trying to sell 2,000 tickets at $50 each," Andrew said.|ret||ret||tab|

A $50 donation buys a four-day tournament pass, which is a $40 value, and the purchaser's name goes into a hopper for a chance to win one of 200 prizes, all valued at $50 or more. Daily grand prizes include a diamond ring, private use of the Jordan Valley Ice Park executive suite, a three-night stay in Orlando with Universal Studio tickets and a $500 Battlefield Mall shopping spree.|ret||ret||tab|

"Then the kicker comes on Sunday," Andrews said. "Immediately following play on the 18th green, we will draw for $10,000 cash, and we will give away a new Cadillac CTS. You must be present to win those two items."|ret||ret||tab|

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