Golf tournament raises $11.5 million for charity

Despite the name change, the annual Dean & DeLuca Invitational tournament still has a great bird call.

The Birdies for Charity campaign, in which nonprofits secure pledges from residents and businesses, raised $11.5 million this year.

The Dean & DeLuca Invitational, known colloquially as the Colonial, brought the celebrities, the golfers and fun this spring. But the golfing event is much more than a tournament.

As the golfers play the course, the community gets a hole-in-one year after year.

“To be able to leverage the brand of our golf championship in the name of community service is very gratifying. We are so thankful to the many individuals and businesses who support our efforts,” Colonial Club President Rob Hood said in a news release.

The charity campaign’s $11.5 million will go to 150 local organizations, like the ACH Child and Family Services, SafeHaven of Tarrant County and Susan G. Komen Greater Fort Worth.

These deserving organizations can do some great things with the cash.

Giving is a tradition in Fort Worth, and it’s just as much a part of this annual tournament as birdies and bogeys.

Everyone’s a winner.

This story was originally published October 26, 2016 at 4:53 PM with the headline "Golf tournament raises $11.5 million for charity."