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Pro-am organizers present funds, add charities for 2020

Ross Norton //November 26, 2019//

Pro-am organizers present funds, add charities for 2020

Ross Norton //November 26, 2019//

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Four organizations will share $567,775 raised through the 2019 BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by Synnex Corp. 

South Carolina Charities Inc., the non-profit foundation of the golf tournament, announced the final tally at an event in downtown Greenville on Nov. 12. Max Metcalf, BMW Charity Pro-Am secretary/treasurer, and Bob Stegner, senior vice president of marketing, North America, Synnex Corp., made the announcement by unveiling a giant check.

Max Metcalf, left, and Bob Stegner unveil and present a check representing the funds to be divided among four charities from the 2019 tournament. (Photo/Ross Norton)

Beneficiaries of the 2019 tournament are:

  • Mobile Meals of Spartanburg
  • Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Upstate
  • Roper Mountain Science Center
  • The Cliffs Residents Outreach

Since its inception in 2001, the tournament has awarded more than $13.6 million to support the philanthropic missions of non-profit organizations in the Upstate. The effort has involved more than 19,000 volunteers and supports 139 jobs, according to a slide presented during the ceremony. The event has helped 200 charities over the years and attracts 40,000 spectators annually, 20% of them from out of town.

The tournament has an annual economic impact of $7 million, according to Metcalf, who also serves as manager of government and community relations for BMW Manufacturing.

“Our impact is not only about the 4.75 million vehicles we’ve produced in the Upstate these past 25 years,” Metcalf said. “It’s about the impact we can make in our community both economically and philanthropically. That’s what brings us here tonight. It was 20 years ago that we launched the BMW Charity Pro-Am with the vision to showcasing the beauty of the Upstate, but also the hospitality, to the world through a fun week of professional athletes and celebrities — to raise money and awareness for South Carolina nonprofit organizations and we have certainly accomplished this.”

The group also announced that two new charities — Cancer Society of Greenville and the Meyer Center for Special Children — will be added as beneficiaries of next year’s tournament.

“As we kick off the 2020 tournament, the strong foundation built over two decades enables us to generate an even higher level of engagement, exposure, excitement and economic impact for the benefit of our community,” said Metcalf, who thanked sponsors, volunteers, business leaders and ticketholders for their years of support. “The tournament’s 20th anniversary is a milestone we plan to celebrate with special events throughout 2020.”

The 2020 BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by Synnex Corp. is scheduled for June 1-7 at Thornblade Club and The Cliffs Valley.

The 2019 tournament also presented its inaugural military and first responders weekend, supporting the Upstate Warrior Solution and the Palmetto State Chapter of Folds of Honor, raising additional funds through the ongoing Birdies for Charity program, which enables donors to make a one-time flat donation or pledge a penny or more per birdie during the tournament, according to a news release.

“We are honored to host another great event for our community that allows us to give back to these deserving charities, and others through the Birdies for Charity program,” Metcalf said in the release. “From the beginning, this tournament has provided an exciting and memorable week for fans, sponsors and players as we raise money for such deserving causes in our community.”

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