Travelers Championship

 
 
Travelers Championship Announces Designated Charities
 
May 4, 2007
HARTFORD, Conn., March 14, 2007 - The Travelers Championship, Connecticut's PGA TOUR event, announced today that The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp of Ashford, Conn. and the Greater Hartford Jaycees have been named co-charities of the championship.

Founded by Paul Newman in 1988, The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp, enables children with cancer and other serious illnesses to enjoy a camping experience of the highest quality. All of the Camp's services are offered free of charge to the campers. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp serves more than 5,000 children each year.

"This collaboration with the Travelers Championship and the Greater Hartford Jaycees gives The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp another vehicle to get the word out and serve even more seriously ill children," said Jimmy Canton, Executive Director of the Camp.

"The tournament has donated more than $25 million to the community over the past 50 plus years. Highlighting The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and how they serve children is very important to us. The Travelers Championship is excited about contributing to this organization that truly makes a difference for those in need," said Nathan Grube, tournament director of the Travelers Championship.

Each summer more than 1,000 children between the ages of seven and fifteen from across the country and abroad attend the Camp free of charge. Camp attendance offers a critical experience in the life of a seriously ill child, encouraging the heart, enlarging the spirit and empowering the will all year long.

Paul Newman has said, "It's all about the kids. People are absolutely amazed. We have children who tell us that anticipating a week in the summer that they will be at Camp is what keeps them going all year."

All proceeds from the Travelers Championship will be split between the two organizations, marking the start of a new charitable partnership among The Travelers Championship, The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp, and the Greater Hartford Jaycees.

"One of the core values of the PGA TOUR is giving back to the community," said Grube. "The PGA TOUR, the players and the community hold a very special place in their hearts for the benefits that charities receive from each and every tournament."

"This partnership enhances our ability to fulfill the mission (leadership development through community service) of the Greater Hartford Jaycees. We couldn't be more excited," said Amy Anderson, president of the Greater Hartford Jaycees.

The Greater Hartford Jaycees will use proceeds to serve numerous, diverse charitable organizations, as they have in their long-term relationship with the tournament and the PGA TOUR. The corporate community also supports the announcement made by the tournament today.

"Supporting such an important cause and the associated benefits to the community are among the key reasons why Travelers decided to invest in this tournament," said Andy Bessette, executive vice president of Travelers, the title sponsor of the Travelers Championship. "The corporate community applauds the Jaycees for their resolve to improve the community around them and The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for their global vision to give hope to a group of children and their families who are enduring tough circumstances."

The Travelers Championship recently announced additional changes to the tournament, taking place June 18-24, 2007. It will offer a total purse of $6 million, the highest purse in the tournament's history, and an increase of $1.6 million from last year, making it a top destination for golf professionals and fans.

Other improvements to the tournament include innovative upgrades to the TPC River Highlands facility in Cromwell, Conn. The upgrade will include a state-of-the-art practice facility and driving range, a revamped corporate row and a renovation to the course skyboxes. The plan will be phased-in beginning in early 2007, with components of the project being completed throughout the next two years.

The four-year agreement, announced earlier in the year between Travelers and the PGA TOUR, ensures the tournament will be held through 2010 in Connecticut, which has hosted a PGA TOUR stop since 1952. The tournament is included on the list of tournaments in which players will receive points for the first annual FedExCup.

The Travelers Championship will be televised both domestically and internationally. The first and second rounds will be broadcast live on The Golf Channel and the third and fourth rounds will be broadcast live on CBS.

Connecticut's PGA TOUR event has had some of golf's greatest champions to call their own, including Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Billy Casper, Ken Venturi, Nick Price, Greg Norman and Phil Mickelson. Charlie Sifford became the first African-American to win a PGA TOUR event when he won the Connecticut-based tournament in 1967.

For more information on the Travelers Championship, visit www.travelerschampionship.com.

Each year, Hole in the Wall Gang campers share the joy of a camping experience that seamlessly incorporates round-the-clock medical care by doctors and nurses. At the Camp, these seriously ill youngsters enjoy horseback riding, boating, swimming, fishing, crafts, archery, sports and recreation, discovering in the process that they can do more than they ever thought possible. Through the rest of the year, the Camp hosts reunions, family weekends, parent programs and an outreach program to seriously ill children in hospitals around the northeast. The cost of sending one child to Camp is $2,500.For more information about The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, visit www.holeinthewallgang.org.

For more information about the Greater Hartford Jaycees, visit www.ghjc.org.

Travelers is a leading provider of property casualty insurance. For more information, visit www.travelers.com.