Barnardos Named Official Charity

The Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland continues its commitment to charity in 2011 with Barnardos being named as the tournament’s Official Charity at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club next week with the goal of raising in excess of €30,000 for the children’s charity. 

Recognising the vital role that Barnardos plays in helping children and their families across Ireland, the Tour Player’s Foundation, the charitable foundation of the European Tour, and Genworth, the official sponsor of the European Tour statistics programme, have teamed up with the charity and some of golf’s top players to raise this significant amount at this year’s event.

David Park, The European Tour’s charity Executive, commented: “The Irish Open and the European Tour are delighted to be supporting Barnardos in this attempt to raise a record €30, 000 to help such a fantastic cause. Working with the players and Genworth we have put in some fantastic fund raising initiatives that we hope will both excite and drive donations from the visiting public.”

Initiatives planned across the tournament include:

The Putts4Charity One Putt Pledge - As an incentive to hole as many one putts as possible, Genworth, Ireland’s leading provider of Lifestyle Protection insurance, and the Tour Players Foundation will donate five Euros each for every one putt made by the Pros during the course of play. With the players expected to make around 2,500 one putts, this should raise in the region of €25,000 for Barnardos.

The spectating public can also join in the Putts4Charity One Putt Pledge by making a small donation or pledge and attempt to guess the total number of one putts that the Pro’s will make. The correct predictions will win two season passes, compliments of the European Tour, to next year’s Irish Open.

The Genworth Putts4Charity Champion’s Challenge in the Tented Village - By donating to Barnardos spectators get the opportunity to test their skills against the professionals by trying to hole four successive putts on specially designed greens modelled on some of golf’s iconic moments, including reigning champion Ross Fisher’s putt on the 17th which helped him secure the Championship in 2010. Those with the best putting record can win some great prizes including a signed Ross Fisher golf bag.

Family Fun Zone presented by Leibherr – As part of the extensive range of activities for adults and children in the tented village families are invited to make a minimum donation of €1 to Barnardos per child for entry to the Fun Zone. This wonderful synergy enables families attending to raise funds for less fortunate children and families across Ireland.

Every year Barnardos works with over 5,900 children and their families, providing direct services, advice and support through more than 40 centres based in some of the most disadvantaged communities in Ireland, responding to the needs of each child and family, and aiming to provide practical and professional support to bring hope to situations where hope is sometimes lost.

Barnardos Chief Executive, Fergus Finlay, said: “We are delighted that Barnardos has been chosen to be the Official Charity of the 2011 Irish Open at Killarney. The profile of this partnership and the generous support of The Tour Players Foundation and the Genworth Foundation will greatly help us in our work supporting vulnerable children and families who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. We thank you for your generosity and wish all of the professionals every success for the tournament.”