GOLF 20/20 Announces Golf’s Charitable Impact of $3.9 Billion

(ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA.) – GOLF 20/20 - the collaboration of leading organizations representing all segments of the United States golf industry – announced golf’s charitable impact of $3.9 billion in 2011.

According to a study conducted by the National Golf Foundation, golf as a fundraising vehicle includes an estimated:
* 12,000 golf facilities (75 percent of U.S. total)
* 143,000 events
* 12 million participants
* $26,300 average per function

“Regardless of the economic climate, golf is a key driver of charitable giving in the U.S.,” says Steve Mona, CEO of the World Golf Foundation, administrator of GOLF 20/20.  “As a major focus of the golf industry, working with organizers of philanthropic events helps improve millions of lives.”

Beneficiaries include health, youth, education, environmental and cultural groups nationally, regionally and locally.

More than 85 percent of organizations conducting golf events find them important because, in addition to raising significant funds, they are easy to organize and provide exposure and networking opportunities among supporters.

The charitable impact findings are based on qualitative calls and data collection from a coast-to-coast sampling of public and private golf facilities, and non-profit organizations producing golf events.

Donations, including those from professional tournaments, are a significant part of the golf industry, which is comparable in size to the motion picture and video industries.

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For more information about GOLF 20/20:  www.golf2020.com.

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