ORLANDO, FL (October 17, 2005) –Created 14 years ago to fund the highest priority needs of Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women, Champions for Children has raised $7 million.
Golf-legend Arnold Palmer and many of golf's best players will tee off at the 14th Annual Bert Martin's Champions for Children pro/am golf tournament at 8:30 a.m., Monday, October 24, at Palmer's Bay Hill Club and Lodge, 9000 Bay Hill Blvd. Proceeds will help fund the addition of the Bert Martin's Champions for Children Emergency Department & Trauma Center at Arnold Palmer Hospital. The tournament is presented by McKesson.
"The Champions for Children committee has been very dedicated and supportive of Arnold Palmer Hospital for a long time and we sincerely appreciate their efforts to help the children of Central Florida,"said John Bozard, president, Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation. "We wouldn't be able to care for so many children if it weren't for the continued support of individuals like those who serve on the Champions for Children committee."
To date, professional players who have committed to participate include Laura Baugh; Brad Brewer; Bart Bryant; Patrick Damron; Robert Damron; Robert Gamez; Paul Gow; Scott Gump; Donnie Hammond; Mike Hulbert; Tripp Isenhour; Al Kelley; Skip Kendall; Emilee Klein; Bob Lohr; Mark O'Meara; D.A. Points; Dicky Pride; Patrick Sheehan; Jan Stephenson; Slugger White and Larry Ziegler. All of the professional golfers are donating their time and do not receive any compensation for participating.
"We're proud to support Arnold Palmer Hospital and the addition of the new Bert Martin's Champions for Children Pediatric Emergency Department & Trauma Center with the Champions for Children's $5 million pledge," said Andy Warden, committee chairman/Champions for Children. "It is very gratifying knowing the money we have raised over the past 14 years has helped so many children not only from Central Florida but around the nation and world."
Programs that have been funded by Champions include the Congenital Heart Institute at Arnold Palmer Hospital and Miami Children's Hospital, Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Pulmonary Function & Sleep Disorders Laboratory and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit.
Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women, part of Orlando Regional Healthcare, is a 281-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of children and women. Located in Orlando, Arnold Palmer Hospital includes a regional center for neonatal care, a Congenital Heart Institute, maternal and pediatric intensive care as well as hematology/oncology services. Since 1989, more than 121,000 babies have been born at Arnold Palmer Hospital. To learn more, visit www.arnoldpalmerhospital.org.