Lake Tahoe South Non-Profits to see $65,000 from American Century Championship

The American Century Championship will distribute $65,000 to Lake Tahoe South area charities, officials announced Monday.
The Lance Armstrong Foundation, the celebrity golf tournament’s nationally designated charity, in partnership with the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, NBC Sports and American Century Investments, will provide funds to area non-profit organizations for specific needs to help make a difference in the community.

Area non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply for donations by Oct. 15, 2012. Downloadable application forms are available at: www.ltva.org. Recipients will be announced Nov. 1 with checks presented at the LTVA Board of Directors meeting, Nov. 8 at 3 p.m.

For funding consideration, organizations must meet 501(c)3 certified non-profit guidelines and outline its mission, how the donation will be used and expected impact in the community.

Applications must be received in writing by 5 p.m., Oct. 15, 2012 to:
American Century Championship Contribution Committee
P.O. Box 5878
Stateline, NV 89449

“The tournament continues to exhibit economic benefits to Tahoe South with a contribution of $65,000 toward local non-profit organizations,” said Carol Chaplin, executive director of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. “Our partnership with the Lance Armstrong Foundation, American Century Investments, NBC Sports and Edgewood Tahoe helps to benefit the community and financially support organizations that are in need of funding.”

A total of $80,000 will be distributed to area organizations as a result of the July tournament, with $15,000 previously provided through on-site volunteer efforts to area high schools, vendors and restaurants.

For the seventh consecutive year the official tournament charity was the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which is also known by its powerful brand LIVESTRONG®. The Foundation serves people affected by cancer and empowers them to take action against the world’s leading cause of death.

Collaborating with the Foundation is a natural fit for American Century Investments given the fact that more than 40 percent of the asset management firm’s profits go to fund research for the prevention and cure of gene-based diseases such as cancer. In 2011, $15,000 was distributed between local cancer support programs including the Barton Foundation and the Cancer League. In all, nearly 30 Lake Tahoe area non-profits received donations courtesy of the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 2011.

More than two decades of memories with sports and entertainment superstars has made the American Century Championship network television’s longest running celebrity golf tournament. The annual event celebrated its 23rd year in Lake Tahoe, attracting a new record of more than 40,000 fans.

Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Tony Romo, Ray Romano, Alex Smith, John Elway and Jerry Rice were among more than 80 sports and entertainment stars and Hall of Famers competing in the 54-hole, $600,000 tournament televised on NBC Sports.

The 24th annual American Century Championship is July 16-21, 2013.