A record $1.007 million was gifted to 52 Ozarks children's charities on Nov. 30, marking a banner year for the PGA Korn Ferry Tour's Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper, a professional golf tournament and charity event held annually at Highland Springs Country Club.
"What a year. We are so happy for our charities, and we cannot thank local businesses and individuals enough for throwing their support to them," Tournament Executive Director Jerald Andrews said during the annual Celebration of Sharing presented by The McQueary Family, held at Highland Springs. "In 2014, we set a goal to gift $1 million, which had never been done in one year, and the community rallied around that effort. Every year since has been a success, and this year is even more incredible, considering the challenges of the pandemic."
Specifically, the tournament gifted $1,007,211 on Tuesday. Since John Q. Hammons founded the tournament in 1990, a total of $18,380,274 has been distributed to charities in southwest Missouri. The 2021 funding amount is more than the previous record set in 2014.
Nearly 93 percent of the overall total -- or $17,085,352 -- has been gifted since Price Cutter Supermarkets started its involvement. Price Cutter has been a presenting or title sponsor the past 23 years. Dr Pepper has been on board as a key sponsor for 18 years.
"Price Cutter and all its employee owners are proud to be involved in such an incredible event," said Rob Marsh, Vice President for Price Cutter Supermarkets. "We have been blessed all 23 years to be able to help each one of these local children's charities. We love how the money stays local and changes the lives of so many. We thank everyone for their hard work and participation. This is proof of where you shop truly matters."
Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin attended the ceremony at Highland Springs. The Korn Ferry Tour is the uppermost tier American developmental tour for the PGA Tour. At the end of each season, the top 25 players on the Korn Ferry Tour are awarded PGA Tour cards for the next year.
"As one of our original tournaments on the Korn Ferry Tour, the Price Cutter Charity Championship has set the standard for 32 years and continues to raise the bar in many facets, most notably in their passion and commitment to charitable giving within the Springfield community," Baldwin said. "We are grateful for the tournament team's hard work and dedication to making a positive impact, and I can't wait to be back in Springfield in July 2022."
Charities of interest to Christian County include Court-Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) of southwest Missouri, Children's Smile Center, Community Partnership of the Ozarks, Convoy of Hope, Diaper Bank of the Ozarks, Dogwood Ranch, Fordland Clinic, Freedom's Rest Family Crisis Center, the H.O.PE. Foundation, Honor Flight of the Ozarks, National Alliance on Mental Illness of southwest Missouri, Ronald McDonald House of the Ozarks and Special Olympics Missouri, among others.
