2022 Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS, presented by Circle K Generates more than $1.34 Million for Community and Charity Partners
JACKSONVILLE, FL – Sparked by a $500,000 direct donation from Constellation, the tournament title sponsor, the Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS presented by Circle K generated more than $1.34 million for North Florida charities. Constellation’s funding supports several deserving North Florida charities, including the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation, First Tee – North Florida, Blessings in a Backpack, St. Johns Riverkeeper, and Beaches Habitat for Humanity. The tournament, hosted at Timuquana Country Club, also benefits a number of other local organizations during the year, including Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Operation Shower, Jacksonville Humane Society, Hope for the Holidays, City Year, K9s for Warriors, Guardian ad Litem Foundation, Guardian Catholic School, and many more.
“We are so thankful for the support from Constellation, Circle K, all of our sponsors, partners, volunteers, and the fans here in Jacksonville for helping our tournament grow its charitable number in 2022,” said tournament co-host and 17-time PGA TOUR winner Jim Furyk. “While the amount is fantastic, it’s the stories of those impacted that drive home how important these incredible organizations are to our community.”
“This significant philanthropic impact is an example of what happens when two organizations join forces with a shared and genuine commitment to preserving the environment and improving the lives of individuals and families in the community,” said Jim McHugh, chief commercial officer, Constellation. “We are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with the Furyks and continue our charitable commitments in 2023.”
A few of these programs include:
St. Johns Riverkeeper – With the tremendous support from Constellation, St. Johns Riverkeeper is a charity partner that helps keep sustainability at the forefront of the Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS presented by Circle K. St. Johns Riverkeeper raises awareness, educates youth, and engages the community to serve our waterways.
Through funding from the Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS presented by Circle K, St. Johns Riverkeeper will provide 16 field trips for local Title 1 schools, enabling them to enjoy the St. Johns River and learn about ways to keep our waterways clean and safe.
Hope for the Holidays – Hope for the Holidays was created by the Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation in 2011 as an opportunity for families to pack bags of shelf-stable holiday meals for families and kids that have been identified as food insecure in Duval and St. Johns counties The foundation provides the funding and products for the holiday meals while hosting this hands-on volunteer opportunity. Hope for the Holidays has increased the number of bags delivered to families in need from 500 in 2011 to over 5,000 this year.
In 2022, Hope for the Holidays distributed over 5,000 bags and over 90,000 pieces of food through the following organizations:
- 3,940 bags to Blessings in a Backpack students
- 385 bags to Guardian Catholic School families
- 300 bags to military families at NAS Jacksonville
- 100 bags to Family Links, Wolfson Children’s Hospital
- 100 bags to MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation children
- 36 bags to Daniel Kids’ families
- 30 bags to Community PedsCare families
- 20 bags to Hubbard House
- 11,000+ food items went to stock pantries across Jacksonville for Jewish Family & Community Services and Feeding Northeast Florida
- 29 Duval, St. Johns & Clay County Schools received holiday bags via the Blessings in a Backpack program
Blessings in a Backpack – for more than 10 years, the Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation has worked closely with Blessings in a Backpack to provide meals to students. The Foundation has adopted three schools in Duval County and provides funding for 1,050 students to receive meals each weekend throughout the school year, including the recent addition of Venetia Elementary near Timuquana Country Club to help support families at NAS Jacksonville. Over 30,000 weekend meals are currently provided throughout the school year.
Family Links – Family Links is a child- and family-centered support program at Wolfson Children’s Hospital made possible by the Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation, addressing health-related social conditions that impact the quality of children’s wellness. For this reason, Family Links aims to assist families by identifying the social needs impacting their health, expanding access to community resources, and empowering family decision-making that leads to better health outcomes for children.
One Family Links Resource Navigator assisted a family with Medicaid when they had their newborn. After a few months, the mother and baby moved into a Women’s Shelter and reached back out to obtain new Medicaid cards and help accessing food and health services. The Resource Navigator assisted the mother with receiving SNAP benefits. The mother was also connected to a new pediatrician and the Healthy Start Coalition for additional maternal and newborn services.
Another Family Links Resource Navigator has been providing ongoing assistance for a single, pregnant mother and her two children. The family immigrated to the U.S. last year and the Resource Navigator helped them obtain Medicaid coverage and SNAP, as well as connected them with food bags from The Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation, new clothes for the children, bus passes for transportation to doctors’ appointments, and provided the family with additional resources for safe and reliable housing.
Tournament events with a focus on community impact included:
Champions Breakfast – The Champions Breakfast took place before the opening round of the event and featured 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus and his wife, Barbara Nicklaus, and NFL greats Tony Boselli and Ben Roethlisberger. The breakfast was held in connection with Jack and Barbara Nicklaus’ Play Yellow campaign, which extends to the greater Jacksonville area through the event’s support of Wolfson Children’s Hospital, the charity of the day for the tournament’s opening round.
In support of Wolfson Children’s Hospital, 14-year-old patient Jack Jones joined Jack Nicklaus on the first tee following the Champions Breakfast to hit a ceremonial opening tee shot. In early 2021, Jones was playing soccer, the sport he loves, when he collided with another player and suffered a suspected concussion. An MRI revealed a large congenital arachnoid cyst in his brain. He underwent brain surgery at Wolfson Children’s Hospital just days later. Jones is now fully healed, back on the soccer field, and a natural leader.
Celebrity Challenge for Charity – The Celebrity Challenge for Charity teed off during the opening round. After the final PGA TOUR Champions group cleared the 10th hole, Jaguar’s greats Tony Boselli and Josh Scobee took on Steelers legends Ben Roethlisberger and Jerome Bettis on the back nine at Timuquana Country Club. A total of $100,000 in charitable donations were awarded. Roethlisberger and Bettis won $36,000 for Habitat for Humanity, while Boselli made a long birdie putt on the 18th hole to help him and Scobee win $24,000 for Blessings in a Backpack. Each competitor was awarded an additional $10,000 for the charity of their choice.
Military Appreciation – The Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS team presented by Circle K, tournament sponsors, event volunteers, and the PGA TOUR Champions players all have a profound respect for the men and women of the military and their families. Throughout the week, the event hosted a number of different events and initiatives to show appreciation and respect for those who serve, including:
- Jake Owen headlined The Furyk Foundation Concert presented by SRS Distribution, and SRS Distribution donated 1,000 complimentary concert tickets to active duty servicemen and servicewomen. In between acts, Jim and Tabitha Furyk hosted a special, on-stage presentation along with Circle K Vice President of the South Atlantic Region, Tom Harman, and K9 for Warriors VP and Director of Development Lindsay Snyder.
Last year, the tournament sponsored a puppy named Kay in honor of Circle K. The trainers at K9s For Warriors spent everyday teaching Kay how to be a veteran’s eyes and ears out in public – going to grocery stores, watching their back and so much more. Kay officially became a service dog to Army and Navy veteran William Wagoner in August and was recognized on stage.
- VyStar Patriots Outpost and military ticket policy – Thanks to support from VyStar Credit Union, Active Duty, Military Reserve, National Guard, Military Retirees, Military Veterans, and Military Spouses and/or dependents received complimentary tickets to the Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS presented by Circle K (Friday – Sunday) as well as access to the VyStar Patriots Outpost, which included complimentary food and beverage and front-row views of the exciting par-3 7th hole.
- Operation Shower supported by PNC and Circle K – Operation Shower exists for a simple reason: to recognize the military moms and military families who serve our country. Operation Shower provides joyous — awesome — baby showers, going above and beyond and then beyond that! Tournament co-host Tabitha Furyk and Karen Feagins, VP of Client and Community Relations at PNC Bank, hosted approximately 40 “military moms” for an afternoon of respite and gifts to show appreciation for their service and sacrifice.
For more information about Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS presented by Circle K charitable efforts, please visit https://constellationfurykandfriends.com/projects.
great article