Sanderson Farms Championship host breaks record with $1.3M Donation
For the sixth year in a row, Century Club Charities has set a record in philanthropy, announcing a $1.3 million donation to Friends of Children’s Hospital from the 2019 Sanderson Farms Championship.
The tournament host presented a check to Friends of Children’s Hospital, the fundraising organization dedicated to supporting the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s pediatric health care mission, including the state’s only children’s hospital.
“Children’s of Mississippi treats 150 to 175 thousand children per year from every city and county in the state of Mississippi. Today’s $1.3 million contribution is a Mississippi statewide event,” stated Pat Busby, President of Century Club Charities, Inc. “The real winner is not the Sanderson Farms Championship winner, but the patients, their families, and the dedicated doctors, nurses and staff at Children’s of Mississippi who provide miraculous care to the children of Mississippi, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. As Sanderson Farms has done so extremely well, we encourage all Mississippi businesses to recognize the statewide effect and get involved to support the mission of Century Club Charities.”
This dedication was honored for a second consecutive year by the PGA TOUR with its “Best Charity Integration” award, which recognizes the tournament that best incorporates its charity and theme into all facets of the event.
Children’s of Mississippi, UMMC’s pediatric arm, is highly visible during the Sanderson Farms Championship, with patients, doctors, and nurses greeting tournament spectators. Likewise, PGA TOUR players and members of the PGA TOUR Wives Association stop in to visit patients and families at Children’s of Mississippi during tournament week.
“It’s really rewarding for the tournament to set another record for our annual donation to Friends and Children’s of Mississippi,” said Sanderson Farms Championship Executive Director Steve Jent. “I’m really excited for our staff, volunteers, sponsors and, more importantly, the patients at Children’s that our first year as a stand-alone event was so successful.”
The record-breaking donation from the 2019 Sanderson Farms Championship follows $1.25 million raised in 2018, $1.2 million raised in 2017, $1.125 million raised in 2016, $1.109 million raised in 2015 and the $1.102 million raised in 2014. The 2013 tournament, the first year Sanderson Farms was the title sponsor, raised more than $500,000 for Friends.
The donation to Friends of Children’s Hospital will go toward bringing a seven-story children’s hospital expansion to completion. In 2016, Friends made a $20 million pledge to the Campaign for Children’s of Mississippi, the philanthropic effort to raise $100 million to fund the project, which will more than double the square footage devoted to pediatrics at UMMC.
To join in the Campaign for Children’s of Mississippi, visit growchildrens.org.
