June 10, 2008
Joyce Smart - Director Corporate Communications - 864-286-2867
BI-LO Charity Classic Exceeds GOAL with $5,659,000 raised
MAULDIN, S.C. – The 25th Annual BI-LO Charity Classic golf tournament powered through an ailing economy to raise a record-breaking $5,659,000 that will benefit an estimated 500 charities in the four-state region served by BI-LO.
The total, which was announced last night at the tournament awards banquet in Greenville, S.C., is the largest amount ever in the 25 years of the annual event and exceeded this year’s goal by $659,000. The BI-LO Charity Classic has now raised more than $45 million for charities since it was initiated in 1984.
“Achieving our highest total ever in this soft economy is a tribute to the people in our industry who stepped up like never before and to our many customers who donated one dollar at a time as they checked out with their groceries at BI-LO stores,” said BI-LO Executive Vice President Tye Anthony, who also serves as chairman of the board for BI-LO Charities, Inc.
BI-LO Charities Executive Director Carol Browning said the record-breaking total was also made possible by hundreds of volunteers and BI-LO teammates who donated over 5,000 hours of time, allowing BI-LO Charities to minimize costs associated with putting on the nation’s largest single day golf charity event.
Nearly 1,400 golfers played yesterday on 14 golf courses in South and North Carolina. Golf courses hosting the event were: Carolina Country Club, The Cliffs at Glassy, The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards, Chanticleer at Greenville Country Club, Riverside at Greenville Country Club, Cross Creek Plantation, Kenmure Golf Club, Green Valley Country Club, Musgrove Mill, Thornblade Club, Holly Tree Country Club, Cherokee Valley, The Reserve at Lake Keowee and Bright’s Creek.
The B I-LO Charity Classic was founded in 1984 as a fundraiser for Meals on Wheels of Greenville. That first event raised $30,000. By 1998, the tournament had become so large that a separate charitable organization, BI-LO Charities, Inc., was formed.
An estimated 500 charities in South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia will be awarded grants this year based on the three categories the tournament has chosen to support: elimination of hunger, children’s advocacy and education. For a complete list of charities supported in 2007, go to BI-LOCharityClassic.com and view funded organizations by state.
BI-LO operates 220 supermarkets in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. The company employs approximately 16,000 people.