BMW Charity Pro-Am

GREENVILLE, S.C. (January 4, 2005) - South Carolina Charities, Inc., has selected 28 Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina charities to receive proceeds from the 2005 BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs golf tournament. The charities are:
A Child's Haven, Inc.; Blue Ridge Literacy Council; Bon Secours St. Francis Health System Foundation, Inc.; Boy Scouts of America; Camperdown Academy; CARY Center; Compass of Carolina; Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Habitat for Humanity; Hospice House; Mobile Meals of Spartanburg County, Inc.; Mountain Area Child and Family Center; National Christian College Athletic Association; North Greenville College; Partners for a Healthy Community, Inc.; Peace Center Foundation; Phillis Wheatley Association; Pickens County Sheriff's Scholarship Foundation; Ronald McDonald House of Greenville; South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation - Upstate Programs; St. Joseph's Catholic School; The Charles Lea Center; The Eblen Charities; The Walker Foundation; United Ministries; YMCA, Young Life; Zest Quest.

"The board of South Carolina Charities, Inc. (SCCI) received hundreds of applications from worthy charities," said Doug McGrath, co-chairman of the BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs golf tournament and vice president of SCCI. "All of us involved in the tournament are pleased that the selected organizations are partnering with SCCI to receive funds that will benefit so many people throughout our community. In addition to the money received from the net proceeds of the event, the tournament allows charities to increase the amount of money they receive by selling patron tickets, placing teams in the Charity Challenge Pro-Am, and providing volunteers to work at the tournament."

Each of the 28 charities will receive $17.50 back from every $25 general admission ticket that it sells. In order for the charities to receive proceeds, tickets much be purchased directly from them. Each of the 28 charities are also encouraged to field golf teams for the Monday, April 25, Charity Challenge Pro-Am golf tournament. The winning Pro-Am team has the potential to earn up to $20,000 that will be distributed to the charity of their choice. Each charity is also encouraged to provide as many volunteers as possible. At the end of the tournament, two names will be drawn from the volunteer corps and a $2,500 donation will be made in their name to the charity of their choice.

"Involving these charities is a wonderful way to utilize their resources, plus it encourages the charities to get more involved in this ‘happening' in a visible and dynamic manner," said McGrath.

 The 2005 tournament will be played April 28-May 1, 2005 at Cliffs Valley, The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards and The Cliffs at Walnut Cove. All four rounds will be televised live by The Golf Channel.

The BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs is the only tournament on the Nationwide PGA Tour where amateurs and celebrities are grouped with Nationwide PGA Tour professionals in a three-day better-ball competition. Amateurs, celebrities and pros will rotate between each of the three courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with the 14 lowest scoring pro-amateur/pro-celebrity teams advancing to play Sunday's final round at Cliffs Valley. Celebrities will play once at each course on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Cliffs Valley will serve as the host course. The professional winner of the overall 72-hole event will take home $112,500 from the total purse of $625,000, which is one of the largest purses on the Nationwide Tour. Amateurs and celebrities will compete for individual prizes and cash donations to the charity of their choice out of the beneficiaries selected by South Carolina Charities, Inc.

Last spring's fourth-annual event raised a record $763,646 for 31 upstate and western North Carolina charities. The first four tournaments have raised more than $2.4 million for area charities.

General Admission tickets for the 2005 BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs can be purchased for $25 through one of the 28 selected charities or by calling (864) 297-1660. Children 14 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Corporate sponsorships and ticket packages that include VIP and Clubhouse tickets can also be purchased by calling (864) 297-1660.

For more information on the BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs golf tournament or sponsorship opportunities call (864) 297-1660 or visit the tournament's website at www.bmwcharitygolf.com.