thedrifter
06-02-08, 07:33 AM
MCCC ready to tee off for 5th year
June 2, 2008 - 12:40AM
MOLLY DEWITT
DAILY NEWS STAFF
In its first year, the Marine Corps Celebrity Classic Golf Tournament raised $20,000 for the benefiting charities.
Three years later, the event raised $108,000 - an amount that this year's tournament has already surpassed before the first ball has even hit a green.
Nearly 49 sports and entertainment personalities are traveling to the area this week to take part in the 5th annual tournament, which benefits various charities that, in turn, support the wounded warriors.
"We believe that the wounded warrior beneficiaries are the lynch pin in this and it is what has caused it to grow both on the celebrity and the sponsorship side of it," said Rosie Jones, project manager for the MCCC. "Because everyone seems inclined to want to help, particularly those out-of-state folks who don't live in a military community and really don't have any other outlet to give to these wounded warrior charities, so they are very excited about doing that."
Charitable proceeds from this year's event will benefit Hope for the Warriors, the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project and USO of North Carolina.
"We just saw a real need and a void in the level of support both financial support and the awareness of the situation that the wounded warriors and their families find themselves in," Jones said. "We thought the money would best be directed to that area - those charities that directly support those needs."
The tournament also, indirectly, supports the local economy.
"It has certainly grown and we have focused this year more than ever on selling sponsorships outside the market," Jones said. "So out of those golfers this year we have about 80 coming in from out of state. So that fills up hotel rooms and causes people to really take note of Jacksonville and Onslow County. So it has a good tourism and economic development component in that respect, and we will continue to focus on that in years to come."
Some of the participating celebrities are offering sports clinics Friday and Saturday that are free and open to the public.
"Several of our celebrities just like to donate their time out in the community to do some value-added work in their respective fields," Jones said.
In addition to an increase in proceeds, the tournament itself has grown to the point that just one golf course isn't enough. Golfing will take place at both the Paradise Point Gold Course aboard Camp Lejeune and the Jacksonville County Club Course.
"(The tournament) has kind of taken on a life of its own. It has grown to be the largest charity golf event in eastern Carolina," said. "We now have over 240 golfers ... Conceivably it will grow to the point where we would use three golf courses.
"It has all the growth potential in the world."
Contact Jacksonville/Onslow government reporter Molly DeWitt at 910-219-8457, or mdewitt@freedomenc.com. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment.
Ellie
June 2, 2008 - 12:40AM
MOLLY DEWITT
DAILY NEWS STAFF
In its first year, the Marine Corps Celebrity Classic Golf Tournament raised $20,000 for the benefiting charities.
Three years later, the event raised $108,000 - an amount that this year's tournament has already surpassed before the first ball has even hit a green.
Nearly 49 sports and entertainment personalities are traveling to the area this week to take part in the 5th annual tournament, which benefits various charities that, in turn, support the wounded warriors.
"We believe that the wounded warrior beneficiaries are the lynch pin in this and it is what has caused it to grow both on the celebrity and the sponsorship side of it," said Rosie Jones, project manager for the MCCC. "Because everyone seems inclined to want to help, particularly those out-of-state folks who don't live in a military community and really don't have any other outlet to give to these wounded warrior charities, so they are very excited about doing that."
Charitable proceeds from this year's event will benefit Hope for the Warriors, the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project and USO of North Carolina.
"We just saw a real need and a void in the level of support both financial support and the awareness of the situation that the wounded warriors and their families find themselves in," Jones said. "We thought the money would best be directed to that area - those charities that directly support those needs."
The tournament also, indirectly, supports the local economy.
"It has certainly grown and we have focused this year more than ever on selling sponsorships outside the market," Jones said. "So out of those golfers this year we have about 80 coming in from out of state. So that fills up hotel rooms and causes people to really take note of Jacksonville and Onslow County. So it has a good tourism and economic development component in that respect, and we will continue to focus on that in years to come."
Some of the participating celebrities are offering sports clinics Friday and Saturday that are free and open to the public.
"Several of our celebrities just like to donate their time out in the community to do some value-added work in their respective fields," Jones said.
In addition to an increase in proceeds, the tournament itself has grown to the point that just one golf course isn't enough. Golfing will take place at both the Paradise Point Gold Course aboard Camp Lejeune and the Jacksonville County Club Course.
"(The tournament) has kind of taken on a life of its own. It has grown to be the largest charity golf event in eastern Carolina," said. "We now have over 240 golfers ... Conceivably it will grow to the point where we would use three golf courses.
"It has all the growth potential in the world."
Contact Jacksonville/Onslow government reporter Molly DeWitt at 910-219-8457, or mdewitt@freedomenc.com. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment.
Ellie