Colonial celebrates $9.1 million in fundraising
Counseling for grieving youngsters, after-school care and one-on-one tutoring are among social service programs to receive funding from a record $9.1 million raised by Colonial Country Club for area charities this year.
The Birdies for Charity Campaign accounted for $8 million raised this year. It raised dollars from pledges tied to 1,290 birdies made by professional golfers during May’s Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.
The $9.1 million helps about 100 charities, including 33 that received checks Thursday during a luncheon ceremony at Colonial.
“This is one of our favorite days of the year,” Colonial President Chuck Scherer said. “It is when we get to actually see the results of all of our hard work — when we get to distribute the checks to the very, very great community services represented.”
About $500,000 will be awarded to Cook Children’s Medical Center, the primary beneficiary of money raised, according to the country club. Other grants have either been distributed already or are in the process of being distributed, the club said.
The Birdies For Charity received a matching fund of $275,000 from Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts and Colonial Country Club.
In the last 25 years, the golf tournament has generated cash and services for more than 130 organizations totaling more than $80 million. More than $8.5 million has been given to Cook Children’s.
Charities supported cover many needs of youngsters. Programs funded have helped abused, neglected and at-risk children. The programs have also boosted scholarships, educational mentoring programs and after-school programs.
Malinda Cowan, vice president for development at Camp Fire First USA Texas Council, said the group is grateful for the $17,000 it received for youth programs. The money will help pay scholarships for after-school programs, overnight camps and continued training for early childhood educators.
“This is critical to the success of our programs,” Cowan said.
The tournament will celebrate its 70th year in May. Efforts to line up a new sponsor continue, Scherer said.
Diane A. Smith: 817-390-7675, @dianeasmith1
Birdies For Charity recipients
- ACH Child and Family Services, All Saints Foundation, Alliance for Children
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Arlington, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth
- Camp Fire USA First Texas Council, Cancer Care Services, CASA of Tarrant County, Cassata High School, Child Study Center, Communities in Schools of Tarrant County, Community Storehouse, Cornerstone Assistance Network
- First Tee of Fort Worth, Fort Worth Museum of Science & History
- Gill Children’s Services, Happy Hill Farm Academy, HOPE Farm, Inc., Imagination Celebration
- Kids Who Care, Lena Pope Home, Inc., Lighthouse for the Blind
- Presbyterian Night Shelter, Recovery Resource Council, Ronald McDonald House
- SafeHaven of Tarrant County, Susan G. Komen Greater Fort Worth
- Texas Health Harris Methodist Foundation, Texas Wesleyan University, The WARM Place
- A Wish With Wings, YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth, Youth Orchestra of Greater Fort Worth
Source: Colonial Country Club
This story was originally published November 6, 2015 at 10:32 AM with the headline "Colonial celebrates $9.1 million in fundraising."