A Breakthrough Year for Henley's Annual Charity Golf Tournament

By Lynne Schur

To say Synovus brand ambassador Russell Henley is on his A-game is probably an understatement.

The five-time PGA TOUR winner, who played on last year's USA Presidents Cup squad and qualified for this year's U.S. Ryder Cup team, has been steadily achieving goal after goal. And Henley shows no signs of slowing down.

Henley's professional achievements have been a dream come true, helping him to move up to fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) this season. Another dream that has come true has been the ability to transfer that success to other areas that really matter to him.

Continuing to Drive Funds Where They Need to Go

The annual Five Star Kevin Brown Russell Henley Celebrity Classic charity tournament has been a top priority for Henley since his involvement a decade ago. Held September 15-16, the tournament had a breakthrough year, raising a record $1.3 million for Macon, Georgia charities. By comparison, last year’s event raised a little more than $1.2 million.

This year's tournament had more than 500 participants, 82 sponsors and 282 total donors (including advertisers, in-kind sponsors and other donations).

The three charities supported by the tournament — the Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia, the Macon Volunteer Clinic and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes — are able to keep vital programs alive for people in need because of the funds raised annually. To Henley, there's nothing more important than taking care of the community and those who need help. And these charities do that — and more.

Moving People to Act

The tournament's competition has always been a crowd-pleaser — with former Atlanta Braves and Falcons players, Olympic Gold medalists, actors and musicians battling it out in a four-man scramble across four Macon-area golf courses. Brown, a former Major League Baseball all-star pitcher, and Henley normally serve as hosts. (Henley did not attend this year due to his Ryder Cup commitments).

The heart of the event happens the night before; it's a "Call to Action" for the Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia, the main beneficiary of the funds.

According to Jaime Kaplan, a pro-tennis player who founded the event 37 years ago: "The call to action is a personal testimony of someone who went through the Rescue Mission program," she says. "This year a man spoke who had turned to drugs. He had several failed rehab stints and then relapsed again. He was asked by his wife to leave. And, at the time, she was pregnant with their first child. He made it to the Rescue Mission, got clean and now he and his wife are together with three wonderful children."

The powerful stories are a testament to the Call to Action, which raised a record $355,000 this year, just on its own. "Considering in 1989, the first year of the Classic, we raised $23,000 in total," says Kaplan, "that's certainly something."

The amount was then matched with $200,000 from Five Star Automotive, and $70,000 was also raised by silent and live auction.

Providing a Lifeline for Those Most in Need

The Macon Volunteer Clinic received $100,000 to cover critical health care for those in need, including health screenings; medical, dental and vision exams; and life-saving surgeries.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes received $35,000 to give children and coaches an opportunity to take part in the camp — which can be a life-changing program for kids.

Even though Henley missed this year's tournament for the first time, he was in contact with Kaplan during the live auction.

“Please let me know what y’all raise," he told her. "I hate that I’m missing it.”

She kept him up to date while he was practicing putts and drives in preparation for the Ryder Cup, to be played September 26-28 at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, New York.

When she sent him the total number, he finally was able to put the phone down to focus on his next success.

Lynne Schur is a freelance writer who has written extensively about finance and business.