2012 Hyundai Tournament Raised $277,830 for Local Charities

2012 Hyundai Tournament of Champions. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

The 2012 edition of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions raised more than $277,000 for local charities on Maui.

The funds were raised during the January event held at the Plantation Course in Kapalua.

Representatives from the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, the PGA TOUR and Hyundai Motor America gathered at a reception today to celebrate the funding distribution, from the 2012 tournament proceeds.

Dancers from the Polynesian Cultural Center joined in the Aloha Kick Off event for the 2012 Hyundai Tournament of Champions. File photo by Wendy Osher.

“The entire Maui community, the volunteers, the fans, Kapalua Resort, the PGA TOUR all deserve a great deal of thanks as we announce our charitable funds for the 2012 Hyundai Tournament of Champions,” said Jim Felechner, National Manager and On-Site Event Director of Hyundai Sponsorships. “Today, we celebrate the dollars raised by this world-class event and the impact that those dollars make throughout the Island.”

Since the tournament’s inception in 1999, the tournament and its host organizations have donated more than $4 million to charities in Maui County.

Anthony Natividad of Ulalena plays the nose flute as Clifford Naeole, Cultural Advisor for the Ritz Carlton-Kapalua led an opening blessing with musical accompaniment by Hawaiian musican, Henry Kapono at the 2012 Hyundai Tournament of Champions. File photo by Wendy Osher.

The six primary tournament beneficiaries from the 2012 event are: the Boy Scouts of America – Maui County Council; Friends of the Children’s Justice Center; Hale Makua Health Services; J. Walter Cameron Center; Ka Lima O Maui; and the Lahainaluna High School Foundation.

The designated beneficiaries partnered with the tournament to assist in promoting the event, offsetting costs, and providing volunteers. The Hawaii State Junior Golf Association also received a significant donation for their work in promoting and providing opportunities to grow the game of golf for Hawaii’s youth.

Included in the 2012 donation is $23,080 which was raised from a new campaign called Golf for Maui Charities. Through the program 18 Maui-based charities were given the opportunity to promote ticket sales and receive 100% of the net proceeds.

The participating charities included: Habitat for Humanity; Hale Kau Kau; Hale Makua Health Services; Hope Chapel; Horizon’s Academy; Lahainaluna High School Foundation; Maria Lanakila Church; Maui Family YMCA; Maui Farm; Maui Humane Society; Maui Prep Academy; Mediation Services of Maui; Montessori Hale O Keiki; Pacific Pride; P.A.T.C.H.; Sacred Hearts; Saint Anthony High School; and Seabury Hall.

“The Hyundai Tournament of Champions is proud to support such deserving charities,” said Nancy Cross, Tournament Director. “Thank you to Hyundai, who continues to strive to make this event the best it can be, corporate supporters, the fans and tournament volunteers, all of which help make this charitable giving possible.”

As part of the tournament’s charitable activities in 2012, Hyundai’s nonprofit organization, Hyundai Hope On Wheels,  committed to supporting the fight against childhood cancer.

Under the program, Oahu-area Hyundai Dealers awarded the Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children of Honolulu a Hyundai Scholar Grant in the amount of $50,000 for pediatric cancer research.  Hope On Wheels also provided an infrastructure grant to renovate the hospital’s children’s playroom.