Ticket program offers more options
This year, the 84 Lumber Classic’s Advance Charity Ticket program is making changes that allow charities to choose from a range of participation levels. The Advance Charity Ticket program allows charities to sell tournament tickets at a discount. Instead of $25 retail at the gate, charities are permitted to sell advance tickets for $15 each or four tickets for $50 until the end of July.
Zelma Kassimer, charity and volunteer coordinator, said, “People will save $10 as well as be able to support the charities.’
Charities receive 100 percent of these proceeds and the tickets are good Thursday through Sunday at the tournament. In addition to the tournament rounds, the charity tickets also provide admission to free concerts at the tournament on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Kassimer explained this year there are three levels of participation for the charities, based on ticket sales and volunteers.
“The two upper levels, we’re asking them to provide volunteers so it’s truly a community event,’ Kassimer said.
Hole-in-One Club involves sales of 1,500 tickets or more and the charity commits to providing 10 new tournament volunteers. The 84 Lumber Classic will have a Very Important Charity (VIC) tent on the 18th fairway, and for each 100 tickets a charity sells, one VIC pass will be issued. These charities also receive display space in the tent and their name and logo will be featured on the entrance sign. They also receive a mention in the official tournament souvenir program.
For selling 1,500 tickets or more, providing 10 volunteers and having 30 percent of their tickets redeemed, the charity receives an additional $5 per ticket redeemed after the tournament.
Kassimer said, “They definitely benefit by you purchasing the ticket and by you redeeming the ticket, they will benefit even more.’
Eagle Club involves charities that sell between 500 and 1,500 tickets and provide five new volunteers. For each 100 tickets sold, they receive a pass for the VIC Club. They will have their charity name or log featured on the entrance sign.
Kassimer said, “We ask 30 percent of the tickets they sell be redeemed and they will receive an additional $3 per ticket redeemed after the tournament.’
Birdie Club involved sales up to 500.
Kassimer said, “We ask them to sell a minimum of 100 tickets to get redemption money. There’s no volunteer requirement. For each 100 tickets, they receive one VIC pass. If they sell a minimum 100 tickets and have a 30 percent redemption rate, they receive $2 per ticket redeemed.’
This year, the tickets are bar-coded, so the tournament is able to track them more easily. And the tournament has made plans should a charity have difficulty meeting its participation requirements.
“Say a charity sells 1,600 tickets and 30 percent are redeemed but they only have six volunteers, then they’ll be dropped down to the next level – receiving $3 per ticket redeemed,’ said Kassimer. “They are not cut out.’
Tournament officials also changed the redemption rate needed for charities to receive extra funds after the tournament. This year, charities have to sell a minimum 100 tickets and have 30 percent redeemed at the gate to qualify for bonus redemption money. Previously, charities had to redeem a minimum 250 to receive redemption money.
“For some of the smaller charities, that was difficult,’ said Kassimer.
The tournament selected the 30 percent requirement for redemption money by looking at the tickets sold and then redeemed by the charities.
“All hovered around 30 percent,’ said Kassimer.
In addition, people attending the tournament who hold charity tickets will have a chance to win a truck valued at about $25,000. The charity that sells the winning ticket will receive an equal cash donation.
This year, the charities also are receiving an expanded selling period and there is no lead charity.
“We have a classic charity board that oversees the reporting of ticket sales and to facilitate communication with each charity partner,’ said Kassimer. “This is comprised of eight individuals who volunteer their time, representing a diverse group of nonprofit organizations and bringing years of experience to 84 Lumber Classic.’
The charities also will be kept informed with a charity newsletter this year.
The 84 Lumber Classic noted in a release that since 2003, it has raised more than $4.3 million for charity and was a significant contributor to the PGA TOUR’s Drive to One Billion campaign, which marked $1 billion in total charitable donations by the TOUR since 1938.
To qualify for redemption, charities must have a 501c (3) status with the Internal Revenue Service. For a list of charities that are selling advance tickets, visit the Web site at www.84lumberclassic.com
.