American Century Championship celebrity golf tourney to give $85,000 for Lake Tahoe charities

Funding opportunities for South Lake Tahoe area charities will once again be made possible after the American Century Championship, Lake Tahoe's celebrity golf tournament, agreed to donate $85,000, according to a Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority news release.

The LTVA, in partnership with NBC Sports and American Century Investments, will provide funds to area non-profits for programs that make a difference in the community. An additional $60,000 was previously provided through on-site volunteer efforts to area high schools, Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe, and others. The application deadline for this current round of funding is Oct. 11.

“Events like American Century Championship are the fabric of our community,” said Carol Chaplin, executive director of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. “The fact that this event continues to grow and give back through this donation is cause to celebrate even more.”

In addition to the $85,000 from tournament proceeds to local efforts, American Century Investments distributed $30,000 among its three national cancer organizations: LIVESTRONG, Expect Miracles Foundation, and American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, according to the news release.

For funding consideration local groups must meet 501(c)3 certified non-profit guidelines, provide an outline of their mission, describe how the donation will be used, and indicate impact in the community.

The application can be downloaded at: www.ltva.org. Recipients will be announced Nov. 1 with checks presented at the LTVA Board of Directors meeting, Nov. 14 at 3 p.m.

South Lake Tahoe area non-profit organizations may submit a request for donations in writing. The completed application must be received no later than Oct. 11, 2013. Applications can be mailed to:

American Century Championship Contribution Committee
PO Box 5878
Stateline, NV 89449

Since 2009, donations totaling $485,000 have been distributed to more than 40 local non-profits to assist 10,000+ individuals. In 2012, local cancer support programs through the Barton Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Cancer League received $11,000. In all, 23 Lake Tahoe area non-profits received donations from ACC last year.

Since its inception in 1990, the tournament has donated over $4 million to local and national non-profits. The 24 years of memories with sports and entertainment superstars have made the American Century Championship network television’s longest running celebrity golf tournament. Charles Barkley, Olympic Gold Medal great Michael Phelps, Ray Romano, Larry the Cable Guy, John Elway and Jerry Rice were among more than 80 sports and entertainment stars and Hall of Famers who competed in the 54-hole, $600,000 tournament televised on NBC Sports in July. Major plans for the silver anniversary are underway.

The 25th annual American Century Championship is July 15-20, 2014. For more information, visit: www.TahoeCelebrityGolf.com or www.TahoeSouth.com.