Toronto – The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada announced on Thursday that its 12 tournaments combined to raise more than $1 million for charity in 2017, surpassing the million-dollar mark for the second consecutive season and bringing the total donated to charity since 2013 to more than $3.2 million.
Each event on the 2017 schedule directed funds toward official charitable partners and was aided by a $150,000 donation by the Mackenzie Tour on behalf of Mackenzie Investments.
“Making a positive impact in the communities where we play is a priority for each and every tournament under the PGA TOUR umbrella, and we’re so proud to see the work Mackenzie Tour events have done to help 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 are thrilled to have surpassed $1 million in donations again this year.”
“We are so pleased with the success of the 2017 Mackenzie Tour. The team at Mackenzie is especially proud of the Tour’s focus on charity and community, and we’d like to thank everyone who helped reach this significant milestone for the second season in a row,” said Barry McInerney, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mackenzie Investments.
Leading the way once again in 2017 was the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel, which raised $271,500 for families battling cancer in Northwestern Ontario. The event was the top fundraiser for all 2017 tournaments and brings the Staal Foundation Open’s total amount donated since 2014 to more than $800,000.
Below is a list of all charitable causes supported by Mackenzie Tour events in 2017:
| Tournament | Charity | Cause Supported |
| Freedom 55 Financial Open | Canucks for Kids Fund | The Canucks for Kids Fund, supporting 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 Cardtronics Open presented by Times Colonist | Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island | The development of a Mental Health Hub in Victoria, bringing together the vital services offered by the Victoria Youth Clinic, NEED2 Suicide Prevention Education & Support, Island Health and other community organizations. |
| GolfBC Championship | BC Cancer Foundation and Red Cross Canada for Kelowna Flood Relief | The purchase of a new PET/CT scanner at the BC Cancer Agency Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior, as well as Kelowna Flood Relief Efforts for the Canadian Red Cross. |
| Players Cup | Play Through Foundation | Financial assistance to skilled, trade students who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity via the Princess Auto Foundation. They also provided a safe, supportive place for members of the Boys and Girls Club of Winnipeg. Funds also supported Golf Mentor, a junior mentorship golf camp in Winnipeg. |
| Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel | Staal Family Foundation | 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. |
| Mackenzie Investments Open presented by Jaguar Laval | CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation | 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. |
| Syncrude Oil Country Championship presented by AECON | Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation | The development of a new Pediatrics Procedure Suite at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. |
| ATB Financial Classic | Stampeders Foundation | The support of amateur and grassroots football in Calgary and southern Alberta communities. |
| National Capital Open to Support Our Troops | Soldier On | Contributions to Soldier On, which provides ill and injured members of the Canadian Armed Forces overcome their physical or mental health illness or injury through physical activity and sport.
Funds went to help members acquire sporting or recreational equipment and/or participate in structured group activities. |
| Cape Breton Open | Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation | The cancer care unit at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation, going towards travel, accommodation and expenses for families fighting cancer in Cape Breton. |
| Ontario Championship hosted by National Pines Golf Club | Canadian Mental Health Association – Simcoe County Chapter | The Client Bursary, allowing the funding of educational, recreational, and vocational pursuits, making a significant contribution to the efforts of those served to engage in their community and move forward with their individual recovery goals. |
| Freedom 55 Financial Championship | Thames Valley Children’s Centre | The purchase of equipment for the Adapted Fitness Centre at the Thames Valley Children’s Centre. |
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.
