Charley Hoffman Foundation celebrates 10th anniversary with record fundraiser

At the 2014 Charley Hoffman Foundation Pro-Am, Stacy Hoffman, wife of four-time PGA TOUR winner Charley Hoffman and co-founder of the Charley Hoffman Foundation, was beside herself thinking about how far the foundation had come in just five years.

“It has been a really great journey for us to watch it grow,” she said five years ago. “I can’t wait to see where it is in five years.”

On Monday, she found out. And, with good reason, she wasn’t just beside herself. She was off the majestic Torrey Pines cliffs and out on the Pacific Ocean. The annual fundraiser this year drew a record $500,000. 

While all charitable endeavors are backed by the sincerest intentions, for a variety of reasons, not all can stand the test of time. But, on Monday, the Charley Hoffman Foundation celebrated its 10-year anniversary with another of its annual pro-ams on the North Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course. In every regard, it was the strongest one yet.

“This tournament grows every year,” Charley said. “The event has become a full-blown production and it means the world to Stacy and I to see it having come such a long way.”

From where and how it began, “a long way” is a modest description of the Charley Hoffman Foundation’s journey. What began as a “side gig” in a friend’s backyard a little more than 10 years ago is now more like Woodstock. The foundation has the backing of Farmers Insurance, Torrey Pines as a permanent home, an annual auction, parties with live music and a narrative now able to focus on ends rather than sweat over means.

“When the foundation fundraiser first began, it was so small, and our charity get-togethers were in backyards. So, we were like, ‘Don’t fall in the pool’,” laughed Stacy. “Now, we’re holding them at these amazing venues with live music components and holding the pro-am at Torrey Pines."

Five years ago, the Charley Hoffman Foundation eclipsed the $1 million mark in in charitable impact. With the $500,000 raised this week, the foundation closed in on nearly $3 million.

“I grew up dreaming of being on the PGA TOUR and winning golf tournaments,” Charley said. “I never could have dreamed being on TOUR for 14 years now and having a foundation that has given back nearly $3 million. When I look back, I won’t look at how many trophies I’ve won. I’ll look at how we’ve positively impacted the communities we’ve been in and made a little better.”

“It started off as this great idea, yet we wondered if it would ever amount to anything,” Stacy said. “But now we have a Board of Directors and an Executive Director who totally believe in what we’re doing. That’s really important to us.”

Funds from the Charley Hoffman Foundation and annual pro-am primarily benefit the Pro Kids Golf Academy (The First Tee of San Diego), San Diego Junior Golf and the local chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. There are a number of other organizations who benefit as well, including the PGA TOUR Wives Association and D.J. Gregory’s “Walking for Kids” Foundation.

“It’s one thing to have a dollar amount, but entirely another to see the impact you can have,” Stacy said. “When we started, the life expectancy of a child with cystic fibrosis was, maybe, early 20s. Now, with advancements in medication, you can have a full, normal life. So, it’s more than just talking about the money we’re giving back, but also being able to see the difference we’re helping make.”

“The pros that show up and donate their time has been incredible,” Charley said. “Just to name a few, we had Rickie Fowler, Adam Scott and Xander Schauffele, who’s currently leading the FedExCup. I sent out a lot of texts and virtually everyone that got it is here today. Those who aren’t simply had a conflict they couldn’t work around. It’s a great feeling to be able to lean on your friends and have the support of your fellow TOUR players.”

“The PGA TOUR has given back nearly $3 billion now, so as PGA TOUR players, it’s just what we do. We give back to the communities we live in and play in.”

“The PGA TOUR ingrains the giving back mentality and it has really worked,” Stacy said. “Charley and I started the foundation pretty young in his career, so we didn’t really know what the future held for him in golf or with the foundation. So, we are so fortunate that he gets to play the game for a living that he loves so much and give back at the same time.”

Charley and Stacy Hoffman’s journey is one that gives genuine credibility to the notion that man is not defined alone by what he can make of himself, but instead by what he can help others become. They have indeed come a long way from a small backyard party with a few friends.