The Honda Classic, which kicks off the PGA TOUR’s Florida swing, is one of the elite events in professional golf, annually drawing the top players in the world and over 200,000 spectators to PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. has sponsored the event for 37 years, making it the longest active title sponsor on the PGA TOUR.
But as much worldwide attention as the golf tournament generates, the true story of The Honda Classic is the impact the event makes on children’s charities in the Palm Beach County region.
The tournament has achieved new charity milestones for 11 consecutive years, awarding a record $3.6 million to local charities in 2017 in the wake of Rickie Fowler’s exciting victory. That charity total exceeded the previous mark of $3.2 million distributed in 2016, and for the second year in a row includes an individual grant of $1 million to the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, which designates the funds to support the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Outpatient and Urgent Care centers throughout South Florida. The Honda Classic also awarded grants to 58 different local charitable organizations, impacting the lives of more than 32,000 children.
When The Honda Classic moved to PGA National Resort & Spa in 2007, it awarded $505,000 to charity. Now 11 years later, the tournament has surpassed over $35 million since the inception of the tournament and has sights set on surpassing $4 million per year moving forward.
The growth of this community experience is a testament to American Honda’s loyalty to the event as well as partnerships with PGA National Resort & Spa, the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach County, and the PGA TOUR, along with the support from Founders Club Partners Tire Kingdom & United Technologies. In total, over 200 community-minded sponsors, along with player and patron support, has been vital to the growth of the tournament and has helped achieve the philanthropic milestones imbedded in the Honda Classic Cares’ mission.
Player, corporate and spectator support has been vital to increased ticket sales, parking revenues, concessions and sponsorships, all leading to the positive impact of The Honda Classic Cares philanthropic mission within the community.
The 2018 Honda Classic will be contested February 19-25 with Fowler defending his title against another world-class field. Fowler joined an illustrious list of former Honda Classic champions that includes Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Hale Irwin, Johnny Miller, Fred Couples, Nick Price, Ernie Els, Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington and Adam Scott.
*Photos courtesy of the Honda Classic & Jason Myers Photography. All rights reserved.
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