Even though the annual Regions Tradition golf tournament was canceled this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, unprecedented charitable support surrounding the event was still made possible by Alabama-based Regions Financial Corporation.
In fact, this year set a record for charitable funds raised from the Tradition, the company announced this week.
Regions and its partners managed to raise funds for Alabama nonprofits and the Tradition’s primary beneficiary, Children’s of Alabama, to the tune of $1.2 million total. This represents the largest annual amount raised in the 30+ year history of the tournament.
“The Regions Tradition has always been about more than golf; it is also about the community and the many organizations that benefit from it,” stated Scott Peters, head of Consumer Banking for Regions Bank.
“I’m proud that despite the cancellation of this year’s golf event, the Regions Tradition not only continued to raise money for charity, but also collected the largest amount ever raised in a single year, making the nonprofits that benefit from the Tradition this year’s big winners,” he continued.
The Regions Tradition has a storied history of supporting many charities in addition to Children’s of Alabama. The tournament has now raised more than $19 million since its inception, with $6 million of that total having been raised since the tournament was renamed in 2011.
“Over the years, the tournament has produced many Hall of Fame winners and fantastic finishes, but nothing more significant than the continued benefit to local charities,” Peters concluded. “This year proves that the Regions Tradition is more than just a major on the PGA TOUR Champions, it’s something meaningful and impactful in the community. We’re so pleased that we’ve been able to keep some of what makes it special, despite the circumstances.”
Andrew Loehr, chief nursing officer of Children’s of Alabama, in a video emphasized the importance of the funds from the tournament, explaining that the Birmingham hospital is able to execute impactful programming it otherwise would not be able to afford due to the charitable support.
Other representatives of Regions Tradition beneficiaries commented, including the Parkinson Association of Alabama, On River Time, and Magic Moments.
Birmingham-based Bruno Event Team manages the golf tournament, formerly known as the Bruno’s Memorial Classic and Regions Charity Classic.
Bruno Event Team CEO Gene Hallman stressed that it is “truly remarkable for a tournament that never took place to give so much back to local charities at a time when they need it most.”
He added this is “a reflection on Regions Bank and our other major tournament sponsors.”
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The 2021 Regions Tradition is scheduled for May 5-9 at Birmingham’s Greystone Golf & Country Club.
For more information about the Regions Tradition, including how to make a donation, click here.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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