Magnanimous Memorial

Pre-tournament events raise money for Nationwide Children’s Hospital

TTHE CHARITABLE FUnDRAISInG footprint of The Memorial Tournament is far bigger than Muirfield Village Golf Club, a Dublin landmark. It spreads across central Ohio in its growing effort to benefit Nationwide Children’s Hospital, a tournament benefactor for the last 37 years.

This year’s 38th annual tournament will begin May 28, but charitable efforts directed to the hospital will have a large chunk of change on hand by then. The bulk of the tournament’s donations go to the Memorial Tournament Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or for indigent care, says Nicki Shafer, vice president of the Nationwide Children’s Foundation.

The biggest portion of money raised pre-tournament will come from the Legends Luncheon, organized by Nationwide Insurance, the tournament’s presenting sponsor. The 2011 inaugural luncheon in the Statehouse Atrium featured Jack and Barbara Nicklaus, tournament honoree Nancy Lopez, and TV

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personality and analyst David Feherty. It drew about 400 attendees and raised more than $260,000.

Both the popularity of the event and the crowd that attends are expected to grow for this year’s luncheon April 16. The event has been moved to the Ohio Union on The Ohio State University campus, which offers greater capacity. Featured for a luncheon conversation will be tournament host Nicklaus and Steve Stricker, last year’s Memorial winner. Television golf analyst Andy North, a two time U.S. Open winner, will be moderator. Barbara Nicklaus will participate, too, in an award presentation.

The luncheon has community leaders joining forces to support the hospital, says John Aman, vice president of strategic sponsorships for Nationwide. “This is a great example of Nationwide and the Memorial coming together to support a common community partner in a meaningful way.”

Another away-from-the-course fundraiser is the popular annual concert. The 2012 event, slated for May 18 at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion near Nationwide Arena, will feature pianist, composer and singer Ben Folds. Folds – known for music as part of his 1990s band Ben Folds Five, including smash hit Brick, and his later solo career with songs like Rockin’ the Suburbs – has, for the past three years, been a judge on The Sing Off, a network television a capella chorus competition. It’s billed as IGS Energy Evening with Ben Folds presented by the City of Dublin.

Last year’s concert featuring jam band O.A.R. – some of whose members have OSU roots and which is known for songs including Hey Girl and Shattered – raised more than $120,000 with tickets priced at $175 each. The concerts have raised more than $250,000 in their first three years. For information, go to www.mtbenefitconcert.com.

Perhaps more visible are the cuddly Bears for Children’s, furry little creatures clothed in Memorial T-shirts that are sold for a $10 donation. Proceeds go to the Memorial Tournament Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Traci Crabtree is heading the sales effort this year, her seventh as a bear marketing volunteer. She was volunteering in concessions when bear sales replaced the original fundraiser, Birdies for Children, which was based on the number of birdies scored during the tournament.

A non-golfer who describes herself as a “big fan” of the sport, Crabtree says she wanted to sell the bears because “It’s a different program; it’s unique.” Although she has no children, she likes the personal touch and the work to prevent and treat childhood illnesses.

In the first year of her two-year stint as bear sales chairwoman, Crabtree will oversee approximately 160 volunteers. Many will spread out to a dozen Kroger stores May 18-20 to sell the bears. It’s when the most are purchased. And she’ll have some volunteers help her and vice chairwoman Christina Copeland sell them each day of the tournament from a tent just behind the Pavilion. Macy’s will be selling them, too, but without volunteers assigned.

About 4,000 bears were ordered and sold last year. Some people buy one and keep it for a grandchild, some send it to the hospital, some buy one to keep and one for the hospital, and some folks “just give us $20” as a donation. Crabtree and Shafer estimate