Despite tournament’s cancellation, community support endures
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Aug. 24, 2020) – The COVID-19 pandemic canceled the Valero Texas Open, like it did so many prominent events across the country, but it didn’t stop the tournament’s legacy of giving back. Business partners, sponsors and individual donors of the tournament through its associated Benefit for Children and Champions fore Charity efforts still contributed more than $14 million in net proceeds for charitable organizations throughout south Texas and across the United States.
“Although we couldn’t celebrate crowning a champion this year, our commitment to our communities never wavered,” said Eric Fisher, Valero Senior Vice President-Wholesale Marketing and International Commercial Operations and the 2020 Valero Texas Open Tournament Chair. “None of this would be possible without so many incredibly generous groups who, despite the tournament’s cancellation, continued to provide their support because they share in our mission of caring for communities coast to coast.”
Given the urgency of need and enormous demand for social services in the communities where Valero operates, officials will be expediting the disbursement of Benefit for Children funding this year. The leadership in San Antonio and at its refineries and ethanol plants will be selecting the charities in their communities in order to provide immediate funds these organizations desperately need. Champions fore Charity recently distributed funds to 149 charities and schools that participated in the 2020 fundraising campaign.
“We are blessed by our long-standing relationships with our tournament and Benefit for Children sponsors,” said Joe Gorder, Valero Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s charitable contribution is evidence that we are stronger together.”
ABOUT THE VALERO TEXAS OPEN
The Valero Texas Open is the sixth-oldest professional tournament in golf worldwide, the third-oldest on the PGA TOUR and the longest held in the same city. In 2022, the tournament will celebrate its 100th anniversary.
Its list of champions includes some of the greatest names in golf history: Walter Hagen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin, Lee Trevino, Nick Price, Justin Leonard, Zach Johnson, Adam Scott, Jimmy Walker and 2019 champion Corey Conners, to name a few.
Since Valero became title sponsor in 2002, the tournament has become a leader in charitable fundraising among PGA TOUR events. The Valero Texas Open, together with its Benefit for Children and Champions fore Charity initiatives, has contributed more than $171 million to hundreds of worthy charities since inception while producing over $60 million of annual economic impact. Please visit www.ValeroTexasOpen.com for more information.
