Rogers Charity Classic donates $250,000 to Alberta Wildfires Appeal
CALGARY – Days after white hatting Ken Tanigawa as the champion of the 2024 Rogers Charity Classic, the tournament’s Patron Group will donate $250,000 to the Canadian Red Cross Alberta Wildfires Appeal to immediately assist those impacted by the devastating fires in Jasper and other affected areas in Alberta.
“As Albertans, we are saddened to see the impact the wildfires have had on thousands of families in Jasper and surrounding areas,” said Jim Riddell, Tournament Chairman. “In keeping with the charitable spirit of the Rogers Charity Classic, this event has become a powerful example of what can be accomplished when family, community and charity rally together for a common cause.
“From the more than 1,000 volunteers, to our generous corporate community, to friends in the media and all of the passionate golf fans in this city who came down to Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club, we thank you for contributing to this important donation that is needed to help those affected by Alberta’s devastating wildfires.”
Prior to the start of the 12th playing of the the Rogers Charity Classic, the Patron Group comprised of Jim Riddell, Allan Markin, Keith MacPhail, Guy Turcotte, Gary Peddle, Mike Culbert, Brad Shaw and PGA Tour professional Stephen Ames announced they would donate $10 from every ticket sale, up to $250,000 to the Canadian Red Cross Alberta Wildfires Appeal. The tournament welcomed more than 47,900 through the gates throughout the week to see golf’s legends.
The Patron group is responsible for creating Canada’s lone PGA TOUR Champions stop in 2013 to bring world-class, family-friendly professional golf to Calgary with a charitable component. The tournament has raised more than $100 million since its inception, supporting hundreds of children and youth-based charities across Alberta benefitting from the Rogers Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink program.
“We are incredibly grateful and inspired by everything this community has accomplished together through the Rogers Charity Classic to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of our youth – especially in this time of crisis,” added Riddell. “We will never waver in this mission to ensure we can continue to deliver the much-needed services to families who are relying on community support and charity more than ever. It is our hope that chipping in to help those impacted by the wildfires will play a small role in helping to build those communities back stronger.”
The governments of Canada and Alberta will match every dollar donated by Canadians to the Canadian Red Cross 2024 Alberta Wildfires Appeal. This means that every $10 donated for every ticket sale became $30. The Donation will support immediate and ongoing relief including financial assistance, support to evacuees and the communities hosting them, recovery and resilience efforts in response to the wildfires, as well as supporting community preparedness and risk reduction for future all-hazard disaster events within Alberta.
The Rogers Charity Classic will announce the total amount of money raised in 2024 for the more than 290 charities in the Rogers Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink program in the fall. Canadians making donations pledged through the tournament’s fundraising arm until the end of August 2024 to participating charities are matched up to 50% through the program’s matching pool.
About Rogers Charity Classic
Rogers Charity Classic hosts some of greatest names in golf at the Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club in Calgary, Alberta each year. The field consists of stars from the PGA TOUR Champions who compete for US $2.4 million in a three-round, 54-hole stroke-play tournament. Led by a philanthropic Patron Group along with title partner Rogers Communications, the annual PGA TOUR Champions stop in Canada showcases Calgary to the world through its broadcast on the Golf Channel. The Tournament has raised more than $100 million since inception and helps thousands of Alberta youth annually through support to youth-based charities. For more information, please visit https://rogerscharityclassic.com.
