Arnold Palmer Medical Center: Charity of the Year

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The PGA TOUR announced Wednesday that the Arnold Palmer Medical Center, the primary charity of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, has been named the 2009 PGA TOUR Charity of the Year.

"Congratulations to the Arnold Palmer Medical Center for being named the PGA TOUR Charity of the Year," said Tim Finchem, PGA TOUR commissioner. "The Medical Center provides essential medical care for thousands each year and is a worthy recipient of this award. The name Arnold Palmer has always been synonymous with the right things about golf and life, and the fact that a world-class medical facility has his name on it is a fitting tribute."

The Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children was founded on September 10, 1989 -- Palmer's 60th birthday. This year, as the golf world celebrates Palmer's 80th birthday, the hospital celebrates two decades of service. During the last 20 years, the Arnold Palmer Medical Center has delivered more than 186,000 babies, cared for more than 26,000 of those babies in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and treated more than 1.5 million patients.

In 2006, care for newborns and women moved across the street to a new state-of-the-art Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies. The space freed up in the original building allowed for the expansion of specialized pediatric services in the renamed Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Together, these interconnected hospitals make up the Arnold Palmer Medical Center, the largest facility dedicated to the needs of babies, children and women in the nation.

"The Arnold Palmer Medical Center's dedication and commitment to the care and treatment of children is inspirational, making it a worthy recipient of this distinguished honor," said Chris McWilton, President, U.S. Markets, MasterCard Worldwide. "The compassion and expertise of the Center's staff is backed up by world-class medical technology that together provides crucial medical care for thousands of young patients."

As recipient of the 2009 PGA TOUR Charity of the Year, the Arnold Palmer Medical Center will receive $30,000 towards a future Kids' Kidney Center, the first dedicated pediatric facility in Central Florida for children who need dialysis due to kidney disease.

"The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard is proud to honor the Arnold Palmer Medical Center as the PGA TOUR Charity of the Year," said tournament director Scott Wellington. "Arnold Palmer and his family have had a very close relationship with the Medical Center and staff since its opening more than 20 years ago. Today, the Palmers remain dedicated to helping those in need, as well as the continued growth and advancement of the medical center's facilities."