Fore!Kids Foundation, Zurich Classic Distribute $2.3M to Charities

01/17/2022

Site Staff,

NEW ORLEANS — Following the cancellation of the 2020 event, golf fans and sponsors returned to the Zurich Classic in 2021. Foundation CEO and tournament director Steve Worthy said the event generated $2.3 million, which was distributed to local and regional children’s charities.

“We are blessed to have such a supportive title sponsor and partner in Zurich Insurance Group, and we are so gratified that excited fans came out to watch the world’s greatest golfers play in our team format,” said Worthy. “Through the dedication and commitment of our members and volunteers, we were proud to be able to operate a safe and effective event, and set a new record give to our charities.”

Australians Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith defeated South Africans Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel in a playoff for the 2021 title. It was Smith’s second team title at the Zurich Classic, which he also won in a playoff in 2017, the first year of the team format.

This week, Smith won the Sentry Tournament of Champions, setting a PGA Tour record for lowest score under par at -34.

“We were pleased to have so many new event attendees and were very happy with their positive feedback. Many fans took advantage of our new Best of the Zurich Classic pass, which combined our previous Fidelity Bank Champions Club and Acme Oyster House venues featuring the city’s best restaurants, with on-course Oases that gave pass holders multiple locations to visit throughout the course on a single ticket,” Worthy said.

Because of its popularity, the Best of the Zurich Classic pass will return in 2022, along with expanded suite options at the 17th and 18th holes. A new Walk-On’s Stadium Club venue will also be introduced.

This year, the Fore!Kids Foundation distributed major contributions to nine charities:

Children’s Hospital of New Orleans
St. Michael Special School
Educare of New Orleans
First Tee of Greater New Orleans
First Tee of East Baton Rouge Parish
Bayou District Foundation
Louisiana Hospitality Foundation
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana

“We are thankful to have Fore!Kids Foundation as a partner for our Clubs in Metro Louisiana,” said Angel Nelson, Interim CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana. “Together, through this partnership, we will continue to focus on our vision of serving more youth while creating an Optimal Club Experience where all Club members reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.”

In addition, the Fore!Kids Foundation distributed grants to a number of community organizations that applied through the Foundation’s application process. They included:

50 Legs in 50 Days
826 New Orleans
A’s and Aces
Boys Hope Girls Hope of Greater New Orleans
Boys Town Louisiana
Brave Heart – Children in Need
Breakthrough New Orleans
Caps for Kids
CASA Jefferson
CASA New Orleans
Catholic Charities – Cornerstone Kids
Children’s Advocacy Center – Hope House
Children’s Bureau of New Orleans
Children’s Museum of St. Tammany
Communities in Schools Gulf South
Covenant House New Orleans
Excite All Stars
FIRST Louisiana Mississippi
Foundation for Woman’s
Friends Helping Kids
Golden Meadow Lions Club
Good Shepard School
James Samaritan
Jewish Children’s Regional Service
JoJo’s Hope
Lighthouse Louisiana
Live Oak Camp
Louisiana Pulmonary Disease Camp – Camp Pelican
Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation
Make Music Nola
McMain’s Children’s Development Center
Muscular Dystrophy Association of Southeast Louisiana
New Orleans Speech and Hearing Center
Plaquemines Community Care Centers Foundation
PlayBuild Nola
Prescription Joy
Raintree Children and Family Services
Raphael Academy
Son of a Saint
Special Olympics Louisiana
St. Lillian Academy
St. Mary’s Residential Training School
St. Therese Academy
STAIR
StemNOLA
Sunshine Kids
The Bright School for the Deaf
The Chartwell Center
The Emerge School Center
The Roots of Music
Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans
WRBH
YMCA of Greater New Orleans
Youth Empowerment Project
Youth Service Bureau of St. Tammany

The Zurich Classic is the only team tournament on the PGA TOUR season. Since launching the team format in 2017, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans has drawn some of the highest ranking fields for any regular-season tournament on the PGA TOUR.

Since 1958, the Fore!Kids Foundation has raised money to fund children’s service organizations through golf events like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the Holiday Auction Fore!Kids and several charitable golf tournaments. More information at www.forekidsfoundation.com.