2012 Travelers Championship Generates Record $1,154,000 for Charity

CROMWELL, Conn., November 13, 2012 – The Travelers Championship, Connecticut’s PGA TOUR event, announced today that the 2012 tournament generated $1,154,000 for more than 100 charities throughout the region. The charity dollars raised is the largest annual amount since Travelers took over as title sponsor in 2007.

“We are pleased to not only surpass $1 million in charitable giving for the fourth straight year, but also to generate the highest amount since Travelers took over as title sponsor for this event six years ago,” said Travelers Championship Tournament Director Nathan Grube. “This record donation would not have been possible without the continued support of our sponsors, volunteers and the thousands of fans who came out during tournament week. We are excited for 2013 and encourage everyone to show their support.”

In support of the PGA TOUR’s tradition of giving back, the Travelers Championship donates 100 percent of net proceeds to charity and offers a variety of fundraising programs as part of the tournament. Since the tournament’s inception in 1952, the Travelers Championship has generated more than $30 million for charity. Since Travelers took over as title sponsor in 2007, the tournament has generated nearly $6 million for charity and had an estimated economic impact of $160 million for the state of Connecticut.

“At Travelers, we are proud that the Travelers Championship achieved another tremendous milestone in charitable giving,” said Andy Bessette, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Travelers. “The funds generated by the tournament will go a long way to help more than 100 charities throughout the region provide even more support to those in need. Thanks to the dedicated volunteers, fans, sponsors, players and tournament staff for playing a vital role in the success of the tournament and impacting so many throughout our community.”

The Travelers Championship has impacted hundreds of charities over the years, including The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Conn, which was founded by Paul Newman in 1988. The Camp provides a special hideout where children coping with cancer, sickle cell anemia and other serious illnesses can kick back for one week during the summer and simply be kids. The Camp, which served 288 campers its first year, now has a reach of more than 20,000 annually. Each year, 2,500 children and family members are served onsite during summer and off-season programs. In addition, 19,000 visits by the Camp’s year-round Hospital Outreach Program bring the fun and friendship of Hole in the Wall to hospitalized children at 24 locations throughout the Northeast. All of the Camp’s services are provided free of charge thanks to the support of more than 25,000 donors each year.

“The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp provides a community where children who often feel isolated because of their illness can immerse themselves in childhood and experience transformational friendships that remind them they are not alone,” said James Canton, chief executive officer of The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2012-13. “We are so grateful for the support of the Travelers Championship and the friendship of its lead sponsor Travelers whose unwavering faith in our mission is allowing us to bring ‘a different kind of healing’ to more and more incredibly brave children.”

More than 100 charities were beneficiaries of the 2012 Travelers Championship through hundreds of thousands of dollars raised in the Birdies for Charity pledge-based fundraiser and the Chip In for Charity ticket-sales fundraiser. Additionally, the Travelers Championship raised awareness and funds for local charities through a variety of special events like the BlumShapiro 5K for Camp Courant, Premier Limo First Tee Classic, Military Appreciation presented by Saint Francis Care, Golf Digest Junior Pro-Am, Michael Bolton Benefit Concert, Women’s Day presented by Travelers, Powerstation Events Concert Series, Newman’s Own Cause-Way Putt for a Cause, HYPE’s Tee It Up for Charity, LEGO® Children’s Charity Golf Tournament and the Birdies for the Brave Golf Outing.

For the fifth consecutive year, CohnReznick was the presenting sponsor of Birdies for Charity, by supporting administration of the program and contributing to a bonus fund for the charities that raised the most money.

“CohnReznick is proud to continue our partnership of this great community event. The Travelers Championship’s mission of giving back is complementary to our firm’s values,” said Frank Longobardi, managing partner for the New England Offices of CohnReznick. “Our firm is committed to supporting Birdies for Charity by providing all administrative support and creating a Birdies Bonus Bucks incentive program again in 2013. We are pleased to announce that working in partnership with The Travelers Championship the Birdies Bonus Bucks pool will increase from $15,000 to $50,000 in 2013. We urge all nonprofit organizations to explore this program and hope to see the funds raised continue to grow each year.”

CohnReznick presented checks to the top-10 fund-collecting charities of the Birdies for Charity program. The First Tee of Connecticut raised $37,869.35 for their organization and received an additional $5,000 from CohnReznick for finishing as the top charity in 2012. Connecticut Association of Nonprofits, endorsee of the Birdies for Charity Program, also awarded the National Federation of the Blind with $500 and one free annual membership as part of the Guess the Birdies contest.

Preparation continues for the 2013 Travelers Championship, which will be held June 17 to 23 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. The Travelers Championship offers special fundraising programs so that all nonprofit organizations in the region can utilize the event as an easy, effective fundraiser.