The last week in February, the place to been seen is on the grounds of the luxe PGA National Resort, enjoying the sights and sounds of the Honda Classic, the premier golf event of the Palm Beaches. From the Bear Trap to the practice putting green, the fun and excitement of having the top professional golfers from around the world in our backyard buzzes along PGA Boulevard.
But even after those players leave the area, the impact of the tournament is felt year-round. While generating over $65 million in economic impact, Honda Classic Cares, the charitable arm of The Honda Classic, distributes millions of dollars to local nonprofits that focus on children’s health and well-being.
The Education Foundation is one of those nonprofits that receives a grant from Honda Classic Cares and much more, their time. Not only has The Honda Classic team visited the Education Foundation to hand us a check, their staff and volunteer team have stepped up and assisted in distributing backpacks to schools in the Glades and helped stuff bags with school supplies.
“The Honda Classic is really a Community Transformation….disguised as a PGA Tournament! So many lives are touched by the generosity of the Honda Classic Cares, none more so than the 179,000 students in the Palm Beach County Public School System. Books, pencils, pens and scotch tape are needed by students in Palm Beach County where 1 in 5 students live below the poverty level,” said James Gavrilos, President and CEO of the Education Foundation. “The Honda Classic Cares grant allows us to make sure that every child in our county has what they need to be successful in school.”
The tournament has set records 15 of the past 16 years, its rapid growth slowed only by the Coronavirus pandemic in 2021 when it injected $5.1 million into the local community, $250,000 short of a record.
“We are so appreciative of the support of all of our tournament sponsors and fans and proud that we are able to continue moving the needle upward for the benefit of our philanthropic partners,” Honda Classic Executive Director Andrew George. said. “While the tournament strives to provide Palm Beach County, the Treasure Coast and the entire South Florida area with a premier professional sporting event, the ultimate goal is to improve the lives of youth in need and to create a brighter future for our community.”
The 25% increase in grant money from 2021 to 2022 has allowed The Honda Classic to surpass $61.7 million in charitable contributions including almost $46 million in the 16 years since Children’s Healthcare Charity, Inc. became the host organization.
All told, over 100,000 kids and families are positively impacted by Honda Classic Cares each year, giving support to the claim that The Honda Classic is ‘more than just a golf tournament’. To learn more about Honda Classic Cares, please visit HCCares.org.
