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By T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.com Interactive Producer

ATLANTA -- PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem made a milestone charitable announcement at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola on Wednesday.

In 2007, the EDS Byron Nelson Championship played in Irving, Texas, has generated a charitable contribution of $6.4 million, Finchem said. That amount put the tournament over the $100 million mark in terms of all-time charitable giving, significantly more than any other TOUR event.

Proceeds from the EDS Byron Nelson Championship benefit Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers (SCYFC), which is a nonprofit organization that helps transform children's futures by providing education and mental health services for children and families in the Dallas area.

"I think the important thing about that is that not only is it a special number, but the EDS Byron Nelson (Championship) - Byron's tournament - has for years now led the way in terms of what can happen in the community to use the partnership of PGA TOUR golf and local charitable interests to do some pretty special things," Finchem said. "It certainly is a milestone, and congratulations to the tournament and everybody involved."

Brooks Cullum, the EDS Byron Nelson Championship tournament chairman, was on hand for the announcement on Wednesday and was particularly pleased that the mark was achieved so soon after the passing of Nelson on Sept. 26, 2006 at the age of 94.

"We're thrilled that we were able to accomplish this goal and generate this kind of profit for charity -- especially in the year that marked the passing of our namesake, Byron Nelson," Cullum said. "It makes it particularly gratifying to accomplish this and pass this milestone this year."

Making it all the more special, Cullum said, was the tournament's 2007 champion, Scott Verplank.

"We were thrilled that Scott Verplank was our champion," he said. "He had a very close relationship with Byron and he's a great champion."