CALGARY—A stellar field of golfers playing an enhanced golf course will combine to raise significant money for youth-based charities in southern Alberta at the 2014 Shaw Charity Classic.
Shaw Communications has announced it will commit $1.275 million to YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre and Hull Services – the title sponsor’s two official charitable partners for the second annual Champions Tour event in Calgary.
“On behalf of my family and our 14,000 employees across Canada, we are proud to support two fantastic local charities that help educate and support the well-being of our children,” said Brad Shaw, CEO, Shaw Communications. “As an international event that supports our community, the Shaw Charity Classic has quickly become a hallmark event on the Calgary summer calendar. We look forward to continuing to work with our Champions Tour and Patron Group partners to make it even more successful in 2014.”
Tournament officials also confirmed it will support a handful of other youth-based charities in southern Alberta through the 2014 event including: Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta; KidSport Calgary; Children’s Wish Foundation (Alberta and N.W.T.); Ronald McDonald House of Southern Alberta; United Way All-In for Youth; and Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre.
“The Shaw Charity Classic has always been focused on providing Calgarians with the opportunity to witness elite golf to raise money to support children’s charities in southern Alberta,” said Sean Van Kesteren, tournament director, Shaw Charity Classic. “We are grateful of Shaw’s continued support in helping us stay true to our mission.”
YouthLink Calgary is a Calgary Police Foundation funded program that educates youth about crime and its consequences, and helps teach parents and educators how to begin discussions with their children about sensitive and timely topics such as Internet safety, how to handle bullies, how to say no to peer pressure involving drugs and alcohol, and how to recognize the many faces of exploitation and abuse.
Abuse and neglect in childhood leads to behavioural and mental health issues that are painful and costly. Hull Services breaks the cycle with programs designed to end children’s mental health issues as a problem in our community. For more than 50 years, Hull has changed the direction for thousands of children and their families.
Brad Fritsch named Forces & Families Open golf ambassador
(Ottawa) – Ottawa native and second-year PGA Tour member Brad Fritsch will be supporting the Forces & Families Open as its first Professional Ambassador of Golf.
Brad, 36, continues to have roots in Ottawa – even being sponsored by the Ottawa Senators – and is excited to be returning to his hometown to help support such an important event.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to help PGA Tour Canada make a return to the city of Ottawa for Forces and Families Open,” said Fritsch. “It’s extra special to have the military involved, as my father flew in C-130s for the Canadian military for many years. I hope that the city’s golf fans come out and watch exciting young players who will no doubt be making waves on the Web.com Tour and PGA Tour in the years to come.”
The Forces & Families tournament week begins Monday August 4th with the Monday Qualifier at Camelot Golf Club, and three Pro-am tournaments at Hylands Golf Course on Monday and Tuesday with a gala meet and greet on the Monday evening led by General Thomas Lawson, the Chief of the Defence Staff in the Lockheed Martin Pavilion at Hylands. On August 6th, Brad will be putting on a golf clinic for Canadian Armed Forces members, as well as a Q&A clinic for members of Ottawa’s business community at the Web.Com Small Business Summit presented by RBC Royal Bank.
This clinics will precede the official opening ceremonies at 2pm at Hylands GC.
All proceeds from the event will go to the CAF’s own Military Families Fund, supporting the brave men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families.
ProAm, Ticket and Volunteer information can be found at www.forcesandfamilies.ca.