Photo courtesy of Century Club Charities/Sanderson Farms Championship
While the 2020 Sanderson Farms Championship looked a bit different due to the ongoing pandemic, it still managed to succeed in its goal of assisting Mississippi children in need as Century Club Charities donated a record-breaking $1.45 million donation to Friends of Children’s Hospital.
At a news conference, Century Club Charities and the Sanderson Farms Championship presented the $1.45M check to Friends of Children’s Hospital (FOCH), the fundraising organization dedicated to supporting the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s pediatric health care mission, including the state’s only children’s hospital.
“Through the efforts of our amazing Tournament Partners, especially our Title Sponsor, Sanderson Farms, as well as the Century Club Charities members, board, and staff; tournament volunteers, The Country Club of Jackson, and the PGA TOUR, the 2020 Sanderson Farms Championship results far exceeded our wildest dreams for what could be done for Mississippi charities in 2020,” Pat Busby, President of Century Club Charities, Inc., said. “Thanks to a generous donation from Sanderson Farms, Century Club Charities and the Sanderson Farms Championship are making record contributions in a year when Children’s of Mississippi and other statewide charities are in greater need.”
In the absence of tickets to the tournament, proceeds from this past year’s event were raised through the sale of branded masks for the ‘All in for Children’s’ campaign.
“Today’s $1.45M gift to Friends of Children’s Hospital for the benefit of Children’s of Mississippi, coupled with over $250,000 to other Mississippi charities, makes the 2020 total giving impact of Century Club Charities amount to over $1.7 million statewide,” Busby continued. “We are truly blessed to be able to do what we do for the children, families, dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff who provide miraculous care to 150-175,000 children, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
The news conference was held at Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital, which recently opened the seven-story Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower at Children’s of Mississippi. The donation to Friends of Children’s Hospital will go toward completing the funding for the project.
“At this very moment, there are children upstairs in this remarkable Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower receiving life-saving treatment. That would never have been possible without the unwavering commitment that Century Club Charities has shown year after year, since 2016, to supporting Friends of Children’s Hospital in our quest to raise the dollars necessary to help make it happen,” Melanie Morgan, Chair for Friends of Children’s Hospital, said. “Every business and individual who supports the Sanderson Farms Championship and Century Club Charities can be proud of the impact their investment has made for current and future generations of children to be cared for in this magnificent facility.”
Since Sanderson Farms, Inc. became the Title Sponsor in 2013, the tournament and Century Club Charities has contributed over $11.5 million to Friends of Children’s Hospital and other Mississippi charities.
“While we weren’t able to gather in person for this year’s event, we are grateful for the opportunity to support Friends of Children’s Hospital and the thousands of children treated at Batson each year. The Sanderson Farms Championship is about much more than golf, and although we are faced with unusual circumstances, our focus remains the same,” Joe F. Sanderson Jr., Sanderson Farms CEO and board chairman, said.
The Sanderson Tower more than doubles the square footage devoted to pediatric care at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The state-of-the art facility includes two floors of private neonatal intensive care rooms where parents can stay with their babies as they grow healthier, a dozen advanced surgical suites, and a floor of private pediatric intensive care rooms. A pediatric imaging center and a multidisciplinary outpatient specialty clinic are also included, as is a parking garage nearby.
“I am very proud of how our sponsors, volunteers, Century Club members, and staff responded to the challenges COVID-19 presented our team in 2020,” Sanderson Farms Championship Executive Director Steve Jent said. “To be able to follow the opening of the new Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower with another incredible charitable result speaks volumes about how committed our tournament constituents are to providing Mississippi’s children with world-class healthcare, no matter what obstacles are put in our path.”
As for the action on the course. Sergio Garcia took home the trophy back in October 2020.
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