The European Tour Foundation proudly unveiled their newly formed charity initiativeIMPACT: Driving for Changeat Wentworth Club in Surrey, joining forces with Wentworth Club’s own Charity Foundation and The Black Heart Foundation to give back to local communities in which the European Tour operates.
With far-reaching connections and a history of successful fundraising activity, the three Foundations plan to combine skills, resources and knowledge to provide even greater opportunities and funding for their chosen charities.
Wentworth Club will play host to a series of events to support IMPACT: Driving for Change throughout 2019, including playing host to a Family Cricket Day with cricketing legends Kevin Pietersen, Kumar Sangakkara, Michael Vaughan and Mark Ramprakash on Sunday June 2.
The Foundations will also be involved in the annual Wentworth Captain’s Charity Ball on Sunday June 30, a golf day with Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin celebrating the 50th anniversary of Concession on Saturday July 6, and the BMW PGA Gala Dinner on Saturday September 14 featuring Rod Stewart.
The funds raised in 2019 by these events, as well as additional initiatives, will enable the European Tour Foundation to support The Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice, The Woking & Sam Beare Hospice and Dreamflight, all of which will benefit the local community of Surrey.
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “The European Tour Foundation is committed to helping improve lives on a global basis, wherever the European Tour plays, and this innovative partnership with Wentworth also enables us to support important projects closer to our main headquarters. I believe the uniting of our organisations will create many exciting and viable fundraising opportunities.”
The Wentworth Foundation will provide scholarships to several young people from the local the community with the opportunity to develop their skills in tennis and golf, whilst The Black Heart Foundation, which was founded by philanthropist Ric Lewis, improves access to quality education for children with under-privileged backgrounds.
Jeremy Martell, Wentworth Club’s Captain, said: “I first sowed the seed of creating something bigger and better for underprivileged people in our communities over a year ago, with my tenure of Captaincy seemingly miles away. It gives me huge pride and immense pleasure to see our three great organisations come together to create IMPACT: Driving for Change. Now the hard work really begins!”
Ric Lewis, Founder of the Black Heart Foundation, added: “The Black Heart Foundation is enthused and energised by the IMPACT: Driving for Change initiative and our partnership with Wentworth Club and the European Tour Foundation. The opportunity and potential of combining our resources, relationships and reach to help talented and under-resourced children and young adults remove the barriers blocking their paths to better, greater and more productive lives is exciting.”
