David Toms (hitting) and his teammates are contributing to a wide variety of schools and causes. (Photo: Getty Images)

Ryder Cup team and PGA again contribute to charity

The PGA of America again will distribute $2.6 million to a wide variety of schools and charities on behalf of the 2006 U.S. Ryder Cup team as part of the Ryder Cup Outreach Program instituted in 1999.

PGA.com news services
September 20, 2006

STRAFFAN, Ireland -- The U.S. Ryder Cup team again will assign $2.6 million to various charities as part of the Ryder Cup Outreach Program instituted by The PGA of America.

Each member of the side, plus Captain Tom Lehman, can contribute $100,000 to the colleges or universities of their choice, with the same amount going to charities of their choice. Since the program began in 1999, $10.4 million has been donated.

This year, along with the PGA of America's Golf: For Business & Life Program, charities such as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, Rita Foundation for Breast Cancer and American Cancer Society will all be recipients of charitable donations, in addition to many community-based charities from the hometowns of the team members.

Two players -- Chris DiMarco and Jim Furyk -- have given a sum to cancer charities. Darren Clarke's wife Heather, of course, died of the disease on Aug. 13.

"One of the special perks that comes with serving as captain or playing on the U.S. Ryder Cup team is the opportunity to give back to the game of golf by supporting the college or university of one's choice," Lehman said. "This is an excellent vehicle to grow the game."

"As we cheer on our U.S. Ryder Cup team in the most compelling competition in golf, we also are celebrating the difference that these players make to both supporting the future of the game and to charities within their respective communities," added PGA of America President Roger Warren.

The European Ryder Cup team has no such program in place, but money is distributed to charity from the profits of each match.

2006 Ryder Cup Player Charity Distribution:

TOM LEHMAN (Captain)
Charities:
The Lehman Family Foundation, $100,000

Universities/Colleges:
Cal Poly State University-San Luis Obispo, $50,000
University of Minnesota, $50,000

TIGER WOODS
Charities:
Tiger Woods Learning Center, $100,000

Universities/Colleges:
Stanford University, $100,000

PHIL MICKELSON
Charities:
Phil & Amy Mickelson Charity Foundation, $100,000

Universities/Colleges:
Arizona State University, $50,000
University of San Diego, $50,000

JIM FURYK
Charities:
Mal Washington Kids Foundation, $20,000
Monique Burr Foundation, $10,000
Ponte Vedra Athletic Association, $10,000
Rita Foundation for Breast Cancer, $10,000
FORE Hope, $10,000
University of Arizona Foundation-Golf Dept., $20,000
The Ohio State University, $20,000

Universities/Colleges:
University of Arizona, $100,000

CHAD CAMPBELL
Charities: The Chad Campbell Foundation, $100,000

Universities/Colleges:
UNLV, $25,000
Texas Tech University, $25,000
Odessa College, $25,000
Midland Junior College, $25,000

DAVID TOMS
Charities:
David Toms Charity Foundation, $100,000

Universities/Colleges:
Louisiana State University, $100,000

CHRIS DIMARCO
Charities:
Lake Mary Preparatory School, $20,000
St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, $20,000
American Cancer Society (Norma DiMarco Fund), $60,000

Universities/Colleges:
University of Florida, $100,000

VAUGHN TAYLOR
Charities:
American Cancer Society - So. Atlantic Div., $100,000

Universities/Colleges:
Augusta State University, $100,000

J. J. HENRY
Charities:
The Henry House Foundation, $100,000

Universities/Colleges:
Texas Christian University, $100,000

ZACH JOHNSON
Charities:
The National Christian Foundation, Johnson Family Fund, $100,000

Universities/Colleges:
Drake University, $100,000

BRETT WETTERICH
Charities:
Big Oak Ranch, $100,000

Universities/Colleges:
Wallace State University, $100,000

STEWART CINK
Charities:
Greater Atlanta Christian School, $47,500
Healing Place, $20,000
Big Oak Ranch, $10,000
Pregnancy Resource Center, $10,000
Search Ministries, $10,000
City to City Ministries, $2,500

Universities/Colleges:
Georgia Institute of Technology, $100,000

SCOTT VERPLANK
Charities:
Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, $20,000
The Next Level OSU Fund, 420,000
Oklahoma Christian School, $20,000
First Presbyterian Church of Edmond, Okla., $20,000
Oklahoma State University Golf Team, $10,000
McGee-Verplank-Watts Foundation, $10,000

Universities/Colleges:
Oklahoma State University: $100,000

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