Kroger to sponsor TICKETS Fore CHARITY

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ATLANTA -- Tournament officials at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola announced Thursday that the 2010 event will again give local charities the opportunity to participate in TICKETS Fore CHARITY -- a unique fundraising initiative designed to improve the quality of life in the communities where PGA TOUR tournaments are held -- with the assistance and sponsorship of Kroger supermarkets. THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, the season-ending finale to the FedExCup, is scheduled for Sept. 22-26, 2010, at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

TICKETS Fore CHARITY is a unique program initiated on the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour in which tournaments offer eligible charities the opportunity to promote the sale of tournament tickets, with 100 percent of the net proceeds donated to charity. At THE TOUR Championship, the charitable organization promoting the ticket sale retains 50 percent of the net proceeds of the applicable sale, with the remaining 50 percent donated to the East Lake Foundation.

Additionally, Kroger has pledged $50,000 in bonus funds to the organizations participating in the program. The TICKETS Fore CHARITY program has grown to include more non-profits in year two including Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Special Olympics Georgia, TAG Education Collaborative and Camp Twin Lakes.

"It is getting more and more difficult for charitable and non-profit organizations to find the funding they need to provide such a positive impact on the Atlanta community," said Todd Rhinehart, executive director. "THE TOUR Championship's commitment to helping these charities continues through our TICKETS Fore CHARITY program, and we are grateful for Kroger's support of the East Lake Foundation, and all of our Atlanta charity partners. Their pledge of an additional $50,000 to the bonus pool winners will make a huge impact on several local organizations. "It is active and caring companies like Kroger that make Atlanta a special place to call home."

As part of the partnership, Kroger will also have tickets to THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola on sale at many of their Atlanta area locations in advance of the tournament.

"Kroger is extremely dedicated to giving back to the community it serves," says Glynn Jenkins, director of communications and public relations for Kroger's Atlanta Division. "In these tough economic times, non-profits everywhere are struggling to secure funding, and the TICKETS Fore CHARITY program helps raise funding for many worthwhile causes."

The top-30 players in FedExCup points after the BMW Championship qualify for THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, the finale of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. FedExCup points are reset prior to THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, ensuring a real shootout as all 30 players in the field will have a mathematical chance of winning the FedExCup with a victory at the event.

THE TOUR Championship is annually contested at Atlanta's renowned East Lake Golf Club, the formative home of the legendary Bobby Jones. In 2009, THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola made contributions totaling more than $1 million to charities, which primarily benefit the East Lake Foundation and The First Tee. Since 1998, THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola has donated more than $10 million to charity, both locally and nationwide.