Drive for the Green
Drive for the green
Golf tourney raises big bucks for charity
By uniting the timeshare industry’s developers, resorts and vendors across the world, the 2011 RCI® Christel House Open® international charity golf tournament has raised nearly $500,000 to support the organization, whose programs help improve the lives of children around the world.
This year’s open was hosted at 17 sites in six countries, including the United States, Mexico, Venezuela, South Africa and the United Kingdom. While most tournaments teed off on June 13, some—including the event in India—will be held later this year due to weather and other local considerations. When all the tournaments have been completed, event planners estimate nearly 1,800 golfers will have participated.
For the fifth consecutive year, RCI assumed the leadership by serving as the tournament’s title sponsor. Geoff Ballotti, CEO of RCI, joined Christel DeHaan, founder of Christel House and co-founder of RCI in 1974, on the links at the tournament in Indianapolis. “RCI is proud to continue to support the outstanding work of Christel House,” Ballotti says. “It is an important cause, and for those of us who get to enjoy a round of golf with co-workers, colleagues and industry associates, raising money on behalf of Christel House, it is the ideal way to spend a day.”
The fundraiser, now in its ninth year, supports Christel House International, a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1998. The charity’s mission is to help children around the world break the cycle of poverty, realize their hopes and dreams and become self-sufficient, contributing members of society. All proceeds raised by the open will be used to fund services and programs that benefit more than 3,300 children.