THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada announced on Thursday that its 12 tournaments combined to raise more than $1 million for charity in 2018, surpassing the million-dollar mark for the third consecutive season, bringing the total donated to charity since our 2013 launch to more than $4.1 million.
“Making a positive impact in the communities where we play is a significant focus of each and every tournament under the PGA TOUR umbrella, and we’re thrilled to see the work Mackenzie Tour events have done to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Mackenzie Tour President Jeff Monday. “Along with our umbrella sponsor, Mackenzie Investments, we’re proud to support each of these causes and would like to recognize the volunteers and local sponsors who’ve made it possible to surpass $1 million in donations again this year.”
Each event on the 2018 schedule directed funds toward official charitable partners and was aided by the Mackenzie Tour, which made donations across all tournaments on behalf of Mackenzie Investments.
“Community and philanthropy are at the core of Mackenzie Investments’ values, and we are so proud to once again see the tournaments raise more than $1 million dollars for Canadian charities,” said Barry McInerney, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mackenzie Investments. “This is our fourth season as the umbrella sponsor of the Mackenzie Tour and it continues to grow and evolve year-after-year, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the PGA TOUR staff, the tournament directors and all the amazing volunteers.”
Leading the way once again in 2018 was the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel, which raised $189,000 for families battling cancer in Northwestern Ontario. The event was the top fundraiser for all 2018 tournaments and brings the Staal Foundation Open’s total amount donated since 2014 to more than $1 million.
Below is a list of all charitable causes supported by Mackenzie Tour events in 2018:
| Tournament | Charity | Cause Supported |
| Freedom 55 Financial Open | Canucks for Kids Fund | The Canucks for Kids Fund supports a variety of charities related to children’s health and wellness, grassroots hockey and education. Funds were primarily devoted to Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, the Canucks Autism Network and BC Children’s Hospital. |
| Bayview Place DCBank Open presented by Times Colonist | Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island | The Children’s Health Foundation delivers programs that specifically target early intervention, child and youth mental health and access to care no matter how rural or remote a child is located. Funding supports Foundry Victoria, a clinic where youth can get help for physical, mental-health and addictions issues. |
| GolfBC Championship | BC Cancer Foundation | Money goes towards advancing cancer research and enhancing care for patients throughout B.C. |
| Lethbridge Paradise Canyon Open | Lethbridge Family Services | Founded in 1910, Lethbridge Family Services is a leading agency in the social and health services sector and community health services throughout southwestern Alberta. Their emphasis is on community collaboration. |
| Windsor Championship | Hospice of Windsor-Essex County | The Hospice Village serves patients and their families dealing with life-altering diagnosis. This means that Hospice services are available to patients and their families from pre-diagnosis to bereavement. Funds go to ensuring that the Hospice can continue to provide services at no cost to patients and families. |
| Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel | Staal Family Foundation | Funds went towards equipment for the Cancer Centre at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center and Camp Quality, a camp in Northwestern Ontario for children with Cancer. Additionally, funds supported the ‘Smile Zone,’ the development of rooms in the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and one in the George Jeffreys Children’s Centre |
| Osprey Valley Open | Credit Valley Conservation, the Bethell Hospice Foundation and Caledon Community Services | Credit Valley Conservation protects, restores and enhances the natural environment of the Credit River Watershed. The Bethell Hospice is the only residential hospice serving all of Caledon, Brampton and Dufferin County. Caledon Community Services focuses on community building, especially in Senior’s Health and Wellness, Employment, Business Development, Specialized Transportation, Youth Training, Poverty Reduction and Resettlement Services. |
| Syncrude Oil Country Championship presented by AECON | Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation | Funds raised go towards the continued development of the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. |
| ATB Financial Classic | Stampeders Foundation | Fund went towards the support of amateur and grassroots football in Calgary and southern Alberta communities. |
| The Players Cup | Play Through Foundation | Gives financial assistance to skilled, trade students who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity via the Princess Auto Foundation. Also provided funds via the “Birdies for Kids Program” to the Children’s Hospital. Funds also supported the Golf Mentorship Foundation, a junior mentorship golf camp in Winnipeg. |
| Mackenzie Investments Open presented by Jaguar Laval | CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation | Funds supported the Healing More Better Campaign, focusing on state-of-the-art research to not only heal more children, but to do so with as few after-effects as possible. |
| Freedom 55 Financial Championship | ChildCan | Raised funds for childhood cancer in order to support research and provide responsive and compassionate programs and services to families facing the journey through childhood cancer, from diagnosis through treatment, to recovery or bereavement. |
About the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada
The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada is a series of tournaments played across Canada
each summer, where tomorrow’s stars begin the path to the PGA TOUR. The leading five
money winners at the end of each season earn status on the Web.com Tour for the following
season. The Mackenzie Tour’s mission is to deliver a PGA TOUR experience for our members,
fans, volunteers and our partners in order to develop the future stars of professional golf and
enrich the communities it visits.
