Celebrity Golf Tournament gives over $115,000 to local causes and charities

South Lake Tahoe non-profits were awarded $48,000 during the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority board meeting today. The 22 groups were each given between $1,000 and $3,000. The LTVA, in partnership with NBC Sports and American Century Investments, previously directed an additional $67,200 through on-site volunteer organizations and other efforts during tournament week to area high schools, Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe Booster Club, Boys and Girls Club of South Lake Tahoe, and the Gene Upshaw Scholarship

"After 25 years The American Century Championship continues to support our community every day through its charitable outreach,” said Carol Chaplin, executive director of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. “While funding each year may vary and isn’t guaranteed, we’re grateful for the long standing relationship with American Century and NBC Sports. We look forward to creating new opportunities for area non-profits to raise additional funds in 2015.”

To that end, tournament organizers announced a plan yesterday that invites South Shore non-profits to supplement their funding by selling celebrity amateur spots in a separate event Thursday, July 16 at Clear Creek Tahoe, the Ben Crenshaw/Bill Coore designed masterpiece.

The LTVA and Clear Creek Tahoe are providing 48 total amateur spots to area non-profits and fraternal organizations at $1,500 each, with the non-profit receiving $1,375 of each paid playing spot. For more information visit www.LTVA.org.

From the $48,000, local cancer support programs involving the Barton Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Cancer League received $13,000. Grants of $3,000 went to Assistance League of Sierra Foothills, Christmas Cheer Food Bank, Food Bank El Dorado County, Suicide Prevention Network, and Tahoe Arts Project with $2,000 each to Douglas County Parks & Recreation: Kahle Community Center, Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation, and Live Violence Free. Programs receiving $1,000 - $1,500 included Bringing Arts to Schools, El Dorado County Search and Rescue, Juvenile Service Council, Lake Tahoe Community College Foundation, Tahoe Basin Senior Citizens Center, Tahoe Community Church Food Pantry, Tahoe Magic, Tahoe Prosperity Center, Tahoe Regional Young Professionals, Tahoe Senior Plaza and Whittell Boosters Club.

To be considered, local organizations had to meet 501(c)3 certified non-profit guidelines, provide an outline of their mission, describe how the donation would be used and indicate impact in the community.

Since 2009, more than 80 local non-profits have received donations totaling $745,000. In addition to the local efforts, American Century Investments donated $130,000 to Stowers Institute for Medical Research (a biomedical research organization focused on innovative approaches to treat, diagnose and prevent disease) and $25,000 was awarded to David Feherty's Troops First Foundation on behalf of Iraqi War Veteran Chad Pfeifer, who played this past year.

Tournament title sponsor American Century Investments is a leading, privately-controlled investment management firm serving professionals, institutions, corporations and individuals. Through its ownership structure, more than 40 percent of company profits support research to help find cures for genetically-based diseases including cancer, diabetes and dementia.

The tournament has donated over $4.2 million to local and national non-profits since its inception in 1990. The 25 years of memories with sports and entertainment superstars have made the American Century Championship network television’s longest running celebrity golf tournament. Charles Barkley, Annika Sorenstam, Ray Romano, Larry the Cable Guy, John Elway and Jerry Rice were among more than 80 sports and entertainment stars and Hall of Famers who competed in the 54-hole, $600,000 tournament televised on NBC Sports in July.

The 26th annual American Century Championship is July 14-19, 2015. For more information, visit: www.TahoeCelebrityGolf.com or www.TahoeSouth.com.