By Ron Green Jr.

They are names from around the world.

Names such as La Rabida Children’s Hospital, Easter Seals of Texas, Goodwill Industries of South Central Wisconsin, the South African Golf Development Fund and the Gary Player Foundation.

They are organizations devoted to helping people – organizations that provide care, comfort or instruction. Organizations that strive in their own ways to make the world a better place.

While The Presidents Cup is about golf, it is also about using golf to help others. The 2005 Presidents Cup will add to a legacy of giving that has raised $10.05 million for charity in its first five events.

Two years ago, when the United States Team and the International Team played to a 17-17 tie that concluded with an agreement between the teams to share the Cup, the matches raised $2.8 million for charity.

“The 2003 Presidents Cup exemplified what this event is all about in terms of competition and sportsmanship. But, more importantly, it continued its most important mission, benefiting worldwide charities,” PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said.

The players and captains from both sides do not play for a paycheck in The Presidents Cup. Instead, they donate their share of the event’s proceeds to charities they personally designate. Each man can choose where he wants his share of the money to go, whether to organizations in his community, his alma mater, or to a group that holds a special place in his life.

Two years ago, the 28 players and captains distributed the proceeds to 75 different charities around the world. The organizations ranged from hospitals and libraries to churches, medical research and child welfare.

“It is especially rewarding because these are the charities that are most important to our players and captains and are personally designated by them,” Finchem said.

Some players pick one charity. Others pick a handful. What matters the most is the difference the giving makes.

“I don’t think I’m being overly dramatic when I say the money from The Presidents Cup has made the difference in us existing and not existing,” said Karen Bugler, executive director of Safe Harbor in Brunswick, Ga.

Safe Harbor is an emergency, short-term children’s shelter that aids runaways, neglected, abused and homeless children. It’s an organization that came to the attention of TOUR member Davis Love III several years ago and is among the beneficiaries from his Presidents Cup contribution. It is a place where kids up to age 17 can stay for a night, a week or a month if necessary. While they may not be aware of The Presidents Cup, the event touches them directly.

The Presidents Cup carries on the TOUR's legacy of charity.

“We received a check for $90,000 from The Presidents Cup one year and for an agency our size, you can’t imagine what that means,” Bugler said.

Safe Harbor uses the grant money it receives through state and federal programs to pay the salaries of employees. The money received from The Presidents Cup can therefore go directly to the children.

“It means food and clothing for the kids,” Bugler commented. “It’s used for books and school supplies. We’ve used it for eyeglasses and dental visits.”

The children who arrive at Safe Harbor are off to a rough start already. Some have a parent in prison and no one to care for them. Others have left home and found themselves with no place to turn.

Through the money provided by The Presidents Cup, Bugler and her organization are able to make life better for children who need the help.

“We don’t want the kids to just get by,” Bugler said. “I didn’t want my kids to just get by. You want to provide what you can for them. This enables us to do that. If, say, a child is involved in sports, we can buy that child a uniform. It allows us to buy for them things you’d buy for your own child. At Christmas, we can get them many of the things they’ve put on their list. It enables us to take them on field trips during the summer.

“What the money from The Presidents Cup does is help us make those children feel special.”