Waste Management Phoenix Open hosts, The Thunderbirds, announced that proceeds raised through the 2015 WM Phoenix Open will help them surpass the $100 million mark in charitable giving. The exact charity dollars from the 2015 tournament are still being calculated and will be announced in a few months, but Tournament Chairman Danny Calihan verified that this year’s tournament has raised at least $7 million for local charities.
“We take pride in how much we are able to donate to charity each and every year but reaching the $100 million mark and doing so in our 80th year is really special,” Calihan said. “We have tremendous support from Waste Management, our corporate sponsors, and the community, and thanks to them we are able to help thousands of children and families in need.”
Since 2003 when the tournament first brought on a title sponsor, The Thunderbirds and the Open have raised more than $75 million for charities in Arizona and now more than $100 million in its history since 1932. To date, the highest charitable donation was set in 2008 ($8.8 million), followed by the $7.8 million that was raised in 2007. The 2014 WM Phoenix Open raised $7,061,282.
The Waste Management Phoenix Open wrapped up today with Brooks Koepka taking the 2015 title in front of 83,552 spectators. For the week, a tournament record 564,368 fans flocked to the TPC Scottsdale, breaking the previous weekly tournament attendance record of 563,008 by 1,360 fans. Two single-day attendance records were broken throughout the week, with 75,380 fans on Wednesday, breaking the 2014 record (62,234) and 118,461 spectators on Thursday, shattering the 2014 record (88,113).
The Waste Management Phoenix Open is the best-attended golf tournament in the world and has gained legendary status for being the most unique stop on the PGA TOUR. The 2015 edition marked the 80th playing of the event (one of the five oldest events on the PGA TOUR) and the sixth 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 250 “life” members. For more information on The Thunderbirds or the 2015 Waste Management Phoenix Open visit www.wmphoenixopen.com.
