Help Second Harvest with YOUR Birdies for Charity pledge

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Second Harvest Food Bank is reaching out to the First Coast community for its support in helping to fight hunger through the 2009 PLAYERS Championship Birdies for Charity contest.
 
The unique, community-based fundraiser is once again being held in conjunction with THE PLAYERS, which will be played May 4-10 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. The tournament annually features the strongest field on the PGA Tour.
 
Similar to a walk-a-thon, Birdies for Charity participants make a pledge for each birdie made by the player field during THE PLAYERS Championship. In 2008, 1241 birdies were made during the four-day event, so a 5-cent pledge per birdie would have resulted in a $62.05 contribution to the Second Harvest Food Bank or other charity of choice. Close to $180,000 was raised last year through this program and distributed to participating charities.
 
Combined, THE PLAYERS generated $3 million for local charities and scholarship aid in 2008 - with nearly 100 organizations benefiting from the 2008 tournament.
 
In addition to making a pledge for Second Harvest, those who participate in the Birdies for Charity event will have an opportunity to guess the number of birdies that will be made during the competitive rounds of the tournament. The person who comes closest to the number of birdies made will receive a trip to San Francisco for the President's Cup Oct. 7-11, 2009. The trip includes round-trip airfare for two, five nights at the Fairmont San Francisco, two weekly Captain's Club tickets, preferred seating at the closing ceremonies and two tickets to the President's Cup Gala.
 
Second place receives a two-day golf school package at TOUR Academy, TPC Sawgrass. The third-place winner receives dinner for four at TPC Sawgrass.
 
Pledges open on March 30, with the deadline set for Wednesday, May 6.
 
The Second Harvest Food Bank redistributes donated food to more than 500 nonprofit organizations, helping thousands of people in need in 18 north Florida counties. Nearly two-thirds of those organizations serve in Duval County.
 
Those interested in pledging support for the Second Harvest Food Bank can click here and complete a simple online survey. For more information, contact Tia R. Ford, Second Harvest special events coordinator, at 904.730.8284 or e-mail tford@WeNourishHope.org.

2009 THE PLAYERS Championship Birdies for Charity

WHAT:
2009 THE PLAYERS Championship Birdies for Charity contest to support local charities, including the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Florida.

WHEN:
Pledges can be made from March 30-May 6

HOW IT WORKS:
Make a pledge of two cents or more for each birdie made during the competitive rounds of THE PLAYERS. If 1,500 birdies are made during this year's tournament, your pledge would be a $30 contribution to Second Harvest Food Bank of North Florida. Or choose to make a flat pledge ($25 minimum).

A birdie is a score on an individual hole that is one stroke below par. On a par-4, a score of 3 is a birdie; on a par-5, a score of 4 is a birdie; on a par-3, a score of 2 is a birdie.

Total birdies made in the last three tournaments:
2008 TPC - 1,241
2007 TPC - 1,370
2006 TPC - 1,385

WANT TO PLEDGE?
Click here to pledge online

To pledge by phone, call Tia R. Ford, Second Harvest special events coordinator, at 904.730.8284

To pledge by e-mail, tford@WeNourishHope.org