With the $1.8 million check for the Winn-Dixie Foundation are (left to right): PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem; Mary Kellmanson, group VP of marketing for Winn-Dixie Stores, and the president of the Winn-Dixie Foundation; Peter Lynch, Winn-Dixie chairman, CEO and president; Nationwide Tour President Bill Calfee; and Ray De Riggi, president of Dole Fresh Vegetable, representing Pro-Am sponsor Dole Food Co.
In only its second year, the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open presented by Planters raised a record $1.8 million for the Winn-Dixie Foundation, which supports hundreds of non-profit organizations in the communities Winn-Dixie serves. Last year, the tournament raised $1.6 million.
“I am proud of all the great companies and people who helped Winn-Dixie raise $1.8 million dollars to charity this year,” said Winn-Dixie Chairman, CEO and President Peter Lynch in a press release. “Our main goal in partnering with the PGA TOUR to bring the Nationwide Tour to Jacksonville was to provide much-needed financial support for charity.”
More than 175 local charities have earned nearly $225,000 by selling tickets to the tournament through the Tickets Fore Charity program sponsored by PepsiCo. The organizations are able to keep all of the funds for each $25 ticket sold. The tickets provide admission to today’s Pro-Am as well as all four rounds of the tournament.
PepsiCo will also provide a $50,000 bonus pool to be divided among the charities selling tickets, based on their percentage of the overall amount sold. This will increase the total number earned by charity at the culmination of the event.
