Travelers Championship
2016 Travelers Championship Generates More Than
$2.8 Million for Charity
T
he Travelers Championship
announced that it generated more than $2.8 million for
charity at this year’s event, the
highest amount in the history of the tournament, which began in 1952. The record-setting number was boosted by the Bruce Edwards Foundation Benefit Dinner, which
raised more than $1.3 million.
This year’s fundraising effort brings
the total money distributed since Travelers
became title sponsor in 2007 to nearly $13
million. More than 600 charities have received funds from the tournament over that
time.
“Giving back to the community is
the most important part of our tournament,
so we’re thrilled with the record-setting performance this year,” said Travelers Championship Tournament Director Nathan Grube.
“It was an unforgettable week, including the
first 58 on the PGA TOUR by Jim Furyk
and Russell Knox getting his second TOUR
win. But impacting local charities is what
constantly motivates us.”
Alan Schnitzer, Travelers Chief
Executive Officer, added, “We couldn’t be
more pleased with the tournament this year.
The overwhelming participation from the
community enabled us to generate record
support for more than 160 worthy charities.
We’re very proud of that success, and we look
forward to delivering another world-class
event next June.”
This year’s primary charitable beneficiary was the ALS Clinic at the Hospital
for Special Care in New Britain, Connecticut, which treats 250 Connecticut ALS pa-
tients annually. ALS-specific causes were the
charitable focus this year, following the 2015
announcement that Jay Fishman, former Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Travelers, had been diagnosed with the
disease. The Bruce Edwards Foundation dinner, hosted by Fishman, attracted more than
800 people to the Connecticut Convention
Center, with all proceeds going toward ALS
research. Fishman died Aug. 19.
“Jay was such a driving force behind
Travelers’ involvement with this tournament,
so supporting the ALS Clinic at HSC and
the Bruce Edwards Foundation made perfect
sense,” said Travelers Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Andy
Bessette. “He was passionate about helping
others like him afflicted with ALS and funding research to help find a cure, so the ability
to do that through the tournament meant a
great deal to him personally.”
The 2017 Travelers Champions hip
will be held June 19th to 25th at TPC River
Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.
2016 ANNUAL / CONNECTICUT STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION / 85