Children’s Charity Golf Tournament Raises $580,000 Contributions to Lexington golf event increase 82 percent over 2001

The results are in for the Children’s Charity Celebrity Golf Tournament, and they’re nothing short of amazing. In a year when many charities are finding it tougher than ever to raise needed funds, the Children’s Charity Fund of the Bluegrass raised an astonishing $580,000. Even more striking is that this amount represents an increase of 82 percent over last year’s total.

"We’re humbled by the willingness of local sponsors and participants to dig deep when it counts," said Tournament Chair Jim Richardson. "People’s willingness to work hard to make the event a success - from our sponsors and our board members to literally hundreds of volunteers - will make a huge difference in the lives of the children of central Kentucky."

This year’s Children’s Charity Celebrity Golf Tournament was held for the 22nd consecutive year at Greenbrier Golf and Country Club in Lexington on June 20-22. The annual tournament is one of the country’s oldest and most successful charitable golf events.

Over the past 22 years, the Children’s Charity Celebrity Golf Classic has raised more than $3.4 million dollars for the children of central Kentucky. In 2001 alone, the Fund contributed money to 17 different charities that affected the lives of over 40,000 children.

One key to this year’s growth was the first-time participation of Central Baptist Hospital, which had formerly hosted its own charity golf tournament. "Central Baptist’s involvement enabled us to attract a broader spectrum of sponsors and participants than ever before, which took us to a whole new level," added Richardson.

Lexington mayor Pam Miller also issued a proclamation declaring Children’s Charity of the Bluegrass Week to bring further focus on the charity and its impact on Kentucky children.

The Children’s Charity Fund of the Bluegrass was founded in 1981 to help provide needed funds for the Child Development Center of the Bluegrass, an agency that provides a full range of services for children from birth to 5 years of age who have disabilities.