ACCA Kids, an Algarve-based organisation, has been announced as Official Charity of the 2013 Portugal Masters, to be played at Oceânico Victoria Golf Course, Vilamoura, from October 10-13.
The Tour Players Foundation (TPF), the charitable arm of The European Tour, will focus on various initiatives during the week in support of ACCA Kids – which stands for Associação de solidariedade com as Crianças Carenciadas do Algarve and translates into English as ‘helping children in need in the Algarve’.
ACCA, a non-profit charitable organisation, assists disadvantaged children across the whole of the Algarve and is run by volunteers who raise funds to provide vital care and support to children with mental, physical and social needs.
The support is provided to individuals and their families directly or via the institutions that deliver the vital care required to improve a child’s quality of life.
This takes many different forms, including purchasing essential equipment, funding various types of physical and psychological therapy and paying for essential operations.
Spectators attending the popular tournament, which includes a host of European Tour champions and Ryder Cup stars including José Maria Olazábal, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Francesco Molinari, Thomas Björn, Martin Kaymer, Ross Fisher and 2012 winner Shane Lowry, will be invited to support ACCA Kids by making donations in exchange for the Official Daily Drawsheet and Official Programme, a minimum suggested of €1 and €3 respectively.
Both will be available from distribution points staffed by ACCA Kids volunteers within the Welcome Area and Tented Village with 100 per cent of the funds donated benefitting the disadvantaged children of the Algarve.
In addition, the Tour Players Foundation will match each euro donated by the spectating public, thus doubling the amount raised for the Official Charity, with the grand total raised expected to be in the region of €15,000.
Local professional, Ricardo Santos, who is attached to the Oceanico Victoria Club and in 2012 became the first Portuguese player to be named the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year, said: “It’s fantastic to know that the Portugal Masters is supporting a charity helps the less fortunate children of the Algarve.
“I hope to see record crowds at the event and with the generosity of the public and the Tour Players Foundation matching each euro donated, we can make a huge difference in the local community.”
Peter Adams, Championship Director for the Portugal Masters, said: “We are delighted to support a locally-based organisation with its roots in the heart of the community where the Portugal Masters is staged. ACCA Kids is well respected within the local golfing communities in the Algarve and the strong volunteer network should ensure great support for this charitable initiative.”
ACCA was launched in 2000 when Jane Oliphant and a group of ex pats got together to start raising money to help local children. They soon realised there were so many more children across the Algarve who needed help, so ACCA was formed. It is now a registered charity, working with many local institutions, orphanages and families living below the poverty line.
Wanda Crawford, President of ACCA, said: "We feel privileged to be appointed the Official Charity of this year's Portugal Masters and with the support of the tournament and the Tour Players Foundation, our ACCA team of dedicated volunteers will be able to change the lives of many underprivileged and disabled children in the Algarve.
“I truly believe that ACCA creates little miracles every time we impact the lives of these youngsters. With the support of our local community and spectators we are able to provide this amazing humanitarian work."
