2016 Travelers Championship Generates
More Than $2.8 Million For Charity
Tournament has raised nearly $13 million since Travelers became title sponsor in 2007
HARTFORD, Conn., Oct. 18, 2016 – The Travelers Championship today announced that it generated more than $2.8 million for charity at this year’s event, the highest amount in the history of the tournament, which began in 1952. The record-setting number was boosted by the Bruce Edwards Foundation Benefit Dinner, which raised more than $1.3 million.
This year’s fundraising effort brings the total money distributed since Travelers became title sponsor in 2007 to nearly $13 million. More than 600 charities have received funds from the tournament over that time.
“Giving back to the community is the most important part of our tournament, so we’re thrilled with the record-setting performance this year,” said Travelers Championship Tournament Director Nathan Grube. “It was an unforgettable week, including the first 58 on the PGA TOUR by Jim Furyk and Russell Knox getting his second TOUR win. But impacting local charities is what constantly motivates us.”
Alan Schnitzer, Travelers Chief Executive Officer, added, “We couldn’t be more pleased with the tournament this year. The overwhelming participation from the community enabled us to generate record support for more than 160 worthy charities. We’re very proud of that success, and we look forward to delivering another world-class event next June.”
This year’s primary charitable beneficiary was the ALS Clinic at the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain, Connecticut, which treats 250 Connecticut ALS patients annually. ALS-specific causes were the charitable focus this year, following the 2015 announcement that Jay Fishman, former Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Travelers, had been diagnosed with the disease. The Bruce Edwards Foundation dinner, hosted by Fishman, attracted more than 800 people to the Connecticut Convention Center, with all proceeds going toward ALS research. Fishman died Aug. 19.
“Jay was such a driving force behind Travelers’ involvement with this tournament, so supporting the ALS Clinic at HSC and the Bruce Edwards Foundation made perfect sense,” said Travelers Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Andy Bessette. “He was passionate about helping others like him afflicted with ALS and funding research to help find a cure, so the ability to do that through the tournament meant a great deal to him personally.”
Preparation already has begun for the 2017 Travelers Championship, which will be held June 19-25 at TPC River Highlands. For more information, visit www.TravelersChampionship.com.
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About the Travelers Championship
The Travelers Championship, held in Cromwell, Connecticut, is one of the premier events on the PGA TOUR and part of the FedExCup series. The tournament proudly supports the PGA TOUR’s Tradition of Giving Back by donating 100 percent of net proceeds to charities. Travelers, a leading provider of property casualty insurance for home, auto and business, is the Official Property Casualty Insurance Provider of the PGA TOUR. The company became the tournament’s title sponsor in 2007. Travelers has been doing business in the community for more than 160 years and has been a corporate sponsor of this event each year since its inception in 1952. Complete details are available at www.TravelersChampionship.com.
