"Magic Happens Here."
That motto is measured by the millions as the 2015 John Deere Classic helps raise a record $8,734,679 for charity. The news was announced on Friday, October 30th, 2015.
"The number we announced today and the amount of increase over last year is something we never could have imagined," said Tournament Director, Clair Peterson. "We're on the shoulders of 20,000 people in the Quad Cities who made pledges and when that pledge number came in, we had an 'Oh Wow' moment."
"We kind of all questioned it when we first saw where the numbers were trending," added Birdies for Charity Director, Kristy Ketcham-Jackson. "I actually went back and reviewed and reviewed and kind of did my own little audit, because it was a substantial increase"
The $8.7 million is a 40% increase compared to 2014's $6.3 million. It's also more than double the $4.3 million in 2010. Here is a list of the most recent tournament totals:
- 2010: $4.3 million
- 2011: $5.3 million
- 2012: $6.8 million
- 2013: $6.3 million
- 2014: $6.3 million
- 2015: $8.7 million
Organizers say golf star Jordan Spieth and movie star Bill Murray helped make this year's event one-of-a-kind and record crowds resulted in record revenues.
"It's like Christmas in October," said Jay Pearce, CEO of WVIK Radio.
Spieth is not the only winner. 488 groups participated in the 2015 Birdies for Charity Program and picked up their checks after Friday's announcement.
"We've been one of the originals in the Birdies for Charity Program and we've received well over a million and a half dollars," said Van Stone with the Lions of Illinois Foundation and Lions of Illinois Endowment Fund. "Every year, we receive well over $100,000 and the real beneficiaries are the visually and hearing impaired children and adults who get served."
WVIK Radio received more than $7,000 this year.
"This money allows us to think a little bit outside the box," said Pearce. "This will allow us to think about a new program we can put on the air or something else the community needs us to respond to."
On top of the pledges from the Birdies for Charity Program, every organization receives a bonus.
According to a Press Release, "A combination of increased tournament revenues and a John Deere Foundation matching grant of $325,000 to the Birdies for Charity Bonus Fund enabled the tournament to provide the 10 percent match for the third consecutive year."
"That's the real reason the charities participate and the real reason the donors want to donate for Birdies for Charity," added Ketcham-Jackson. "Their charities are going to receive more than 100% of all donations. The John Deere Foundation gave us a big bump on that and just asked us to kind of do our part to really fill that pot so that charities could receive the large bonus they're all getting today."
Since 1971, the John Deere Classic has helped raise more than $70 million for charity. What's more, it's recognized by the PGA TOUR.
According to a Press Release, "the $8.73 million total works out to $23.29 per Quad City resident, making the John Deere Classic the PGA TOUR's top charity in per capita giving. The tournament also ranks among the top five in total charity giving on the regular TOUR."
Following Friday's announcement, five donors to the Birdies for Charity Program got a chance to win a two-year lease on a Lexus NX. All five guessed the exact number of birdies for the 2015 John Deere Classic: 1,990. Each finalist received a key fob and whichever started the car won.
The 2015 Winner is Roger Mohr, who is actually in Spain right now. His brother, Richard, subbed for him and had the magic touch. Roger donated to the Humane Society of Scott County during this year's John Deere Classic.