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LOCAL KIDS’ CHARITIES WIN AT PRINCIPAL CHARITY CLASSIC EVENT

Charity Putting Challenge Paired Kids and Media Professionals for a $1,000 Top Prize

 

(DES MOINES, IA) – Despite this morning’s cool and windy weather, the competition was heating up at the Principal Charity Classic’s Charity Putting Challenge, held at Glen Oaks golf course in West Des Moines. The event paired area kids—each representing one of the tournament’s Fore Our Kids charities—with a member of the media for a “closest to the pin” putt-off.

Andy Garman, Sports Director at KCCI, and his putting partner, Jack Raedeker, age 8, of Clive, took home the honors—winning a $1,000 donation for the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and a spot in the tournament’s Pro-Am for Garman.

Donations of $500 were awarded to the other Fore Our Kids charities, represented by the following teams:

  • Kim Baker, Midwest Sports Weekly, and Thomas Bonus, 11, of West Des Moines, played for Blank Children’s Hospital
  • Patrick Dix, WHO-TV, and Kate Pixley, 10, of Clive, played for Bravo Greater Des Moines
  • Matt Perrault, KXnO, and Sheri McMichael, Executive Director of Variety—The Children’s Charity of Iowa (filling in for Matthew Bollander), played for Variety—The Children’s Charity of Iowa
  • John Walters, ABC5, and Tate Beardsley, 10, of Ankeny, played for United Way of Central Iowa

“Over the last three years, The Principal Charity Classic has raised more than $1.7

million for children’s charities right here in Central Iowa,” said Mary O’Keefe, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, the Principal Financial Group®. “We’re thrilled to be able to add to that tally at today’s Charity Putting Challenge—and have some fun in the process.”

About The Principal Charity Classic

The Principal Charity Classic brings the PGA Champions Tour pro golf tournament to Des Moines. The tournament will be played at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines, Iowa, June 1 – June 6, 2010. In addition to the $1.7 million raised for local children’s charities, the tournament also brings more than $20 million in direct community impact—as well as national visibility—to the Greater Des Moines area.

Hosted by the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, event monies raised will benefit “Fore Our Kids,” a group of five select charities that support Iowa’s children. The five charities are Blank Children’s Hospital; Bravo Greater Des Moines; Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines; United Way of Central Iowa; and Variety—The Children’s Charity of Iowa.

To benefit even more central Iowa kids, The Principal Charity Classic sponsors Birdies for Charity, an additional fundraising effort to supplement tournament-generated proceeds. One hundred percent of the funds generated through the Birdies for Charity program will go to participating organizations. For more information on the charities and the tournament, visit www.principalcharityclassic.com.

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