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The tremendous volunteer force behind THE PLAYERS Championship makes it possible for millions of dollars raised during the tournament to go back into the community.

The Boys & Girls Club has helped Dominque Whitfield (l) improve the lives of her friends and family members. (PGATOUR)

Dominique Whitfield is among the thousands of lives that have been changed for the better. "I go to the Club because it's a good place for me, and it is a positive place for kids, we do a lot at the Club."

At age 16, Dominique is a busy young lady. She takes on a huge chore list while pitching in to care for seven brothers and sisters, nieces, nephews and children in her neighborhood. Dominique plans to continue taking care of others. A freshman at St. Augustine High School, Dominique hopes to attend Bethune-Cookman College, in Daytona Beach to pursue a career in Elementary Education or Nursing. Dominique says she can do it because of what she's learned at the Boys & Girls Club.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida (BCGNF) serves more than 9,000 young people like Dominique every year on the First Coast. With 11 clubs throughout three counties (Duval, Nassau and St. Johns), BGCNF's mission is to "inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens."

In November 2005, PLAYERS Champion and former Boys & Girls Club member Fred Funk announced that $750,000 raised from THE PLAYERS Championship would go towards the construction of a new $3 million, 15,000 square-foot facility, which will be called THE PLAYERS Championship Boys & Girls Club. "We are excited about this new location for the kids and the community," said Brian Goin, Executive Director of THE PLAYERS Championship. "This will provide a positive environment for young people to help them be successful and we wanted to be a part of that."

THE PLAYERS Championship Boys & Girls Club will be located in St. Augustine's Chase Park to replace a temporary facility and more than double the amount of children currently served in St. Johns County. Included in THE PLAYERS Championship Boys & Girls Club will be a gym, game room, learning center, computer lab, arts & crafts room, kitchen and teen center. A ground breaking is expected by the end of 2007, construction would take approximately a year. Dominique is excited about the new facility and can't wait for it to open. "I like coming to the Boys & Girls Club because it makes me happy. I am never in a bad mood when I'm inside the club, and someone is always here to make me smile."

THE PLAYERS and the PGA TOUR raised $2.7 million for charity in 2006, money which helped more than 90 Northeast Florida charities. Since 1977, when THE PLAYERS Championship moved to Ponte Vedra, more than $24 million has been contributed to Northeast Florida charities. Those charities range from health care to opportunities for youth, education and human services

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