Birdies for Charity, organized and put on by the John Deere Classic, kicked off its fundraiser on April 10, 2012, according to CBS 4 Quad Cities. Hundreds of local charities stopped by the John Deere Pavilion in Moline, Illinois, to pick up their pledge information prior to the tournament.
According to the news source, last year the organization raised more than $5.3 million for local organization. The Birdies for Charity program works through a number of donations being made at a minimum of one cent per birdie in the tournament.
The charities of the donor's choice get 100 percent of the money back, and then the organizations also receive a bonus check from the profits for the tournament.
"Anytime you can hand a check over to an organization that's helping people that need money, it's a great feeling. It's what we are all about, it's what the tournaments main focus is giving back to the community, it's awesome," John Deere Classic Chairman Todd Raufeisen told the news source.
Fans of golf, people who have used John Deere equipment and Illinois residents flock to the John Deere Classic to view the company's equipment and the best golfers in the world, and this large crowd accounts for the high number of donations.
A total of 2,160 birdies were made during the 2011 John Deere Classic, which meant that every penny pledged was worth $21.60, according to the Birdies for Charity website.
John Deere Classic fundraiser kicks off
The Birdies for Charity program works through a number of donations being made at a minimum of one cent per birdie in the tournament.