Community health efforts supported by Memorial Health foundations will
receive a $50,000 donation from the proceeds of the 2021 Memorial Health Championship presented by LRS, tournament officials and sponsors announced Wednesday.
Kate Peters, the tournament’s executive director, made the donation announcement during a ceremony at Panther Creek Country Club, which hosts the annual Korn Ferry Tour event.
“The 2021 tournament was a great success, and we expect it to grow even more this year,”
Peters said. “We’re thrilled to host an event that provides an exciting entertainment option for golf fans, and also generates a positive charitable impact on our community. We are just about ten weeks away from this year’s event and interest in the tournament and golf in general is at an all time high,” Peters continued. “Just this morning we finalized an agreement with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois to sponsor a Ladies Pro-Am – to be held on Monday of tournament week. We are thrilled to say we are hosting the only Pro-Am for ladies only on the Korn Ferry Tour.”
Ed Curtis, president and CEO of Memorial Health, said the tournament’s donation will have a significant positive impact for the local communities where Memorial’s five hospitals are located. The $50,000 donation will be divided equally among the five foundations that serve Springfield, Decatur, Jacksonville, Lincoln and Taylorville, Curtis said.
“At Memorial Health, our mission is to improve lives and build stronger communities through better health,” Curtis said. “Our five foundations’ initiatives assist patients in need, promote wellness and support scholarships and other education and training opportunities for frontline health care workers. This donation from the Championship will go directly to those efforts to improve community health and have a significant impact.”
Curtis and other tournament sponsors also praised the tournament’s positive community impact.
“We love sharing our hometown with these up-and-coming golfers and feel it is a privilege to watch them at this stage in their career,” said Greg Matthews, vice president, Levi, Ray & Shoup, Inc. “The impact the tournament has in our community and for local charities makes us so honored to be part of this event.”
Scott Dahl, director of Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, also noted the event’s
economic impact. “Visit Springfield recognizes the Memorial Health Championship presented by LRS as a summer destination event,” Dahl said. “The Korn Ferry Tour stop at Panther Creek Country Club drives countless hotel room nights and has generated millions of dollars for the Springfield economy since 2016.”
Ryan McCrady, president and CEO of Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance praised the
tournament as a signature event that contributes to an outstanding quality of life in our
community. “It gives our community an opportunity to show visitors all it has to offer as a
destination to live, work and play,” McCrady said.
Ticket sales for the 2022 event have opened. Official rounds run from July 14 to July 17.
Practice rounds, GAMEDAY presented by CEFCU, the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois
Ladies Pro-Am, and the LRS Pro-Am will occur from July 11-13.
For more information, including sponsorship, ticket sales or to register to volunteer, visit the Memorial Health Championship website or call (217)670-2910.