FOUNDATION FOCUS
Creative Pairings Pay Off In the next several issues of Elegant Island Living, the Davis Love Foundation will spotlight some of the programs and charities impacted through the support of individuals and businesses during the 2020 RSM Classic.
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ince The RSM Classic arrived in the Golden Isles in 2010, the Official PGA TOUR event has raised more than $22.2 million for local and national charities focused on children and families in need. This number includes more than $4.6 million raised during a very challenging year turned upside down by the global COVID-19 pandemic. As with other organizations focused on raising funds to do good in their communities and beyond, the Davis Love Foundation recognized that it must be creative in its planning to continue to raise dollars to support charities providing hands-on services during this critical time. This was true with one of the tournament’s signature events, The RSM Classic Charity Putting Challenge. The event traditionally pairs a PGA TOUR golfer with Boys and Girls Club members and Special Olympics athletes. The teams enter into fun
and friendly, yet fierce, competition on an obstacle-style putting course with humorous commentary and on-course interviews to raise awareness for the two charities. With PGA TOUR protocols, including COVID testing and social distancing, the 2020 event required a new direction. The Foundation leadership recruited five teams of two PGA TOUR pros to compete for five (instead of two) local charities: Boys and Girls Club, Communities in Schools, First Tee, Southeast Georgia Health System Foundation, and Special Olympics. Five $10,000 corporate partners, CapTech, Chick-fil-A, MetLife, Southeast Georgia Health System Foundation and Workday were recruited and
In its first eleven years, The RSM Classic, hosted by Davis Love III, has raised more than $22.2 million to support local and national charities. The 2021 PGA TOUR event is November 15-21 at Sea Island Golf Club. For partnership information, regardless the size of your business, contact John McKenzie, Director of Sales, at jmckenzie@dlovefoundation.com or visit rsmclassic.com. 62
ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING
paired with a team of pros. RSM, the best title sponsor in golf, contributed another $35,000. This pool of $85,000 was distributed among the five charities based on the team’s finish. (See scoreboard of final results.) “We are so appreciative of the support of these partners who come from within and outside our community,” said Director of Sales John McKenzie. “These dollars directly impacted children and families in the Golden Isles. We have never been more grateful for our community, corporate and charity partners. They were a bright spot in 2020.” The total raised for local charities during the 2020 tournament exceeded half a million dollars. A bright spot, indeed!
