Turning Stone Resort Championship

The Central New York charities selling tickets and taking pledges to benefit their causes and missions in association with the Turning Stone Resort Championship PGA TOUR event now have nearly five more weeks to do so.

Ray Halbritter, chair of the Upstate New York Empowerment Fund, the charitable arm of the PGA TOUR Turning Stone Resort Championship event, announced that the Fund is extending the ticket sales and pledge-taking period through September 3 (Labor Day).  The previous deadline was August 1.

"We want these dedicated, deserving community groups to have every possible chance to do the utmost for their important and worthy causes," Halbritter said. "Extending the deadline into early September will provide additional opportunity for them to maximize this tremendous fund-raising opportunity."

Charities that have started turning in ticket sales have generated almost $88,000 since the program began mid-May.

Amounts raised by charities through ticket sales and pledges will be returned to them after the tournament ends. The tickets program returns to charities 100% of the full face value for every ticket they sell. Charities also can earn back 100% of all collected pledges in the birdies program.

The tickets-for-charity program is a unique concept, offered by the Oneida Nation in concert with the formation of the Upstate New York Empowerment Fund, as a special initiative for the inaugural year of the tournament, Halbritter said

A total of 122 charitable 501(c)(3) organizations from Onondaga, Oneida, and Madison county areas enrolled to do fundraising. Groups can sell tickets to the Turning Stone PGA TOUR event. They also can collect pledges from supporters, donations based on the number of "birdies" (one-under-par shots) made during the professional segment of the tournament. 

The Turning Stone Resort Championship is scheduled September 17-23 at the Oneida Indian Nation's Atunyote Golf Club.