The Sanderson Farms Championship Goes Beyond the Green

How Mississippi’s PGA TOUR Event Impacts the State Year-round

(RELEASE) - Mississippi is home to an array of events every year that provide significant benefits to the state — the Mississippi State Fair, Crawfish Music Festival and Cruisin’ the Coast, to name a few. Events like these are vital to the state’s economy and quality of life, and provide an abundance of opportunities for natives and tourists.

Among the vast contributions these events bring each year, some stand out beyond the others. The Sanderson Farms Championship, Mississippi’s only professional sporting event and an annual stop on the PGA TOUR, falls into this category. The Championship draws people from all over the world, provides a platform for national exposure, boosts economic revenue, and most importantly, aids the state’s children through charitable giving.

“Every year that Sanderson Farms is a part of this event, we grow more proud of all that it accomplishes and what that means to the state of Mississippi and the families and children who benefit from it,” said Joe Sanderson, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Sanderson Farms.

The Championship’s broadcast reaches over 180 countries and 330 million households around the world through the Golf Channel. As the state receives national exposure, thousands of volunteers work tirelessly behind the scenes to show guests the friendliness, natural beauty, and giving spirit that defines the Hospitality State. The guests, in turn, generate an economic impact of $26 million through dining, transportation, lodging, and entertainment.

In addition to the economic impact, the Championship’s charitable giving is unparalleled, giving back 100 percent of the proceeds generated through the tournament. Since 2013, when Sanderson Farms signed on as the official title sponsor, the tournament has continually raised charitable contributions, totaling over $8.1 million. Last year alone, $260,000 was donated to various Mississippi charities, along with a record-breaking $1.375 million donated to Friends of Children’s Hospital, which benefits Batson Children’s Hospital, part of Children’s of Mississippi.

“We know this event wouldn’t be successful without our sponsors, volunteers, spectators, and community that support the Championship year after year. We look forward to giving our fans the best event in tournament history – with some new faces playing the event for the first time – while continuing to make a significant charitable impact,” said Steve Jent, Sanderson Farms Championship executive director.

Children’s of Mississippi, together with its affiliated clinics, treated 175,000 of Mississippi’s children last year alone. The funds given by the tournament are helping to expand the state’s only hospital dedicated solely to the treatment of sick and injured children. A new 7-story building is currently under construction and will include a much-needed expansion of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, the addition of private rooms with overnight accommodations for parents, and a pediatric imaging center.

Next week, 156 of the world’s best golfers will come to Mississippi to compete in the 2019 Sanderson Farms Championship. This year’s tournament is especially significant, as the Championship was recently designated as a stand-alone event, giving Mississippi the chance to welcome some of the most well-known, household names on the PGA TOUR. The winner will receive a $6.6 million purse, the largest in the tournament’s history, along with 500 FedExCup points and an invitation to the 2020 Masters.

“Having a stand-alone event will ensures our 2019 Sanderson Farms Championship will truly be like never before. We look forward to the even bigger impact we can make on Mississippi this year, both from an economic standpoint, as well as through charitable giving,” said Sanderson. “We are proud of the money we have raised and the lives that will be changed for the better as a result of this tournament.”