CVS Health hosts 2014 Charity Classic check presentation
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health recently awarded 80 area nonprofits from its Charity Classic tournament, which each year attracts world-class golfers and is the largest charitable sporting event in Rhode Island.
The 2014 tournament donated a landmark $1.4 million to organizations across Southern New England, bringing the total support since its 1999 inception to more than $18 million.
On hand to award the donations from this year’s tournament were CVS Health president and CEO Larry Merlo, tournament chairperson Eileen Howard Boone, and golf professionals and longtime co-hosts of the Charity Classic Billy Andrade and Brad Faxon. Funds were distributed amid a holiday atmosphere and after hearing an inspirational story from Charity Classic nonprofit partner Ronald McDonald House of Providence. Also on hand for the mid-December celebration were tournament sponsors, including representatives from presenting sponsors Pepsi and Osteo-Biflex.
The 2015 Charity Classic dates also were announced — June 28 to 30, taking place again at the Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington.
“Every year, we’re inspired by the dedication and hard work of our charitable partners across Southern New England,” Merlo said. “The Charity Classic is an event that allows us to support this wonderful community and it seems only fitting that during the holiday season, we give back to those organizations that have provided support and resources to local schools, children and families in need throughout the year.”
Howard Boone, Charity Classic Tournament Chairperson, said, “By drawing top PGA and LPGA golfers to the Charity Classic year after year and leveraging the support of nearly 1,000 volunteers from the more than 20 working charities who work to recruit and train them, we are able to continue supporting the important work that our partners are doing. This charitable sporting event is special to CVS Health — allowing us to give back to the community and our home state in a big way.”
A total of 77 nonprofit organizations received donations from the 2014 Charity Classic. Representatives from the organizations, including from the tournament’s “working charities” — nonprofit groups that provide volunteers for the charitable sporting event — were in attendance at the check presentation.
In addition to awarding grants to nonprofit organizations at the Charity Classic check presentation, CVS Health announced a new initiative: a commitment of $125,000 to support the addition of automated external defibrillators in local Rhode Island high schools. With nearly 383,000 individuals in the United States experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest each year, CVS Health was spurred to get AEDs into schools as they significantly improve the chance of survival. By having AEDs in Rhode Island high schools, students, athletes and staff will be better equipped to act in a medical emergency.