2020 WM Phoenix Open raises record $14M for charities

The Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open Presented by The Ak-Chin Indian Community – are again breaking another record; as Tournament Chairman Tim Woods announced during Saturday’s third round they will eclipse the $14 million mark for money raised from the 2020 tournament.  This figure surpasses last year’s record of $13.2 million and marks the ninth-straight year breaking the record of charitable dollars raised in a single year.

 “We’re extremely proud each and every time we make this announcement, especially when we can announce, for the ninth-straight year, a record-breaking, single-year charitable contribution,” Woods said. “Of course, this can only be possible with the incredible public engagement around our event, the help and support of our corporate partners and especially our title sponsor Waste Management. It’s because of them and the Greatest Fans in Golf we can continue to impact hundreds of Arizona Charities each year.”

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The Thunderbirds and the Waste Management Phoenix Open are now expected to raise more than $95 million for local charities since 2010 when Waste Management (WM) became title sponsor.  To put this in perspective, in WM’s first year as title sponsor the tournament raised $4.4 million dollars, and in it’s 11^th year increased that by nearly $10 million.

“In this our 11^th year as title sponsor of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, we are extremely proud of what we continue to accomplish together with The Thunderbirds and the PGA TOUR for the benefit of the community and the environment,” said Waste Management President and CEO Jim Fish. “Congratulations to The Thunderbirds on breaking another charitable giving record. We applaud the amazing impact they have on this state.”

In its history, dating back to 1932, the Phoenix Open has raised more than $161 million ($147,718,790) for charities in Arizona.  The exact amount will be tabulated and released in the coming weeks based on early sales projectiions.  Woods and The Thunderbirds are confident the 2020 edition of “The People’s Open” will eclipse the $14 million mark for charitable giving.

The 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open Presented by The Ak-Chin Indian Community was held at TPC Scottsdale January 27 – February 2, 2020. “The People’s Open” was recently named the Tournament of the Year by the PGA TOUR for 2019, an honor that has been awarded four times in the last six years (2014, 2015, 2018, 2019) to help the tournament gain legendary status for being one the most unique events in golf. The 2020 edition will mark the 85^th playing of the event (one of the five oldest events on the PGA TOUR) and the 11^th as the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

The Thunderbirds were founded in 1937 with the mission of promoting the Valley of the Sun through sports. The Thunderbirds consist of 55 “active” members and more than 280 “life” members.  The Thunderbirds raised a record $13.2 million for charity from proceeds from the 2019 WM Phoenix Open and have eclipsed $147 million in charitable giving since its inception in 1932.  For more information on The Thunderbirds or the 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open, visit www.wmphoenixopen.com.