The Clubs of Kingwood at Kingwood and Golfers Against Cancer announced they have developed a support agreement that expands the club's role in the organization's mission to raise funds for cancer research.
Under the agreement, The Clubs of Kingwood - which serves as the site of the GAC's annual Houston fundraising golf tournament - will now assist in preparations for the tournament and gala, provide a headquarters for the group on the club premises, oversee distribution of the group's promotional materials, and process donations.
Golfers Against Cancer was founded in 1997 by members of the Clubs of Kingwood at Deerwood (then known as Deerwood Country Club) to show support to Dave Roberts, a Deerwood member, and Mike Longpré, the club's assistant golf pro, when both were diagnosed with cancer. The group's mission was to raise funds for cancer research to honor their friends battling the disease. The first fundraising golf tournament raised $80,000.
Last year, 555 golfers participated in the Golfers Against Cancer event, and 1,000 people attended the Dinner for Cancer Research gala. This year's gala is scheduled for Nov. 18 at the Continental Airlines hangar, and the tournament will be held Nov. 19 and 20. Since its founding, GAC has raised more than $10 million - after all expenses and including matching funds - to support specific cancer research.
"The Clubs of Kingwood has supported Golfers Against Cancer since we started 10 years ago. Without them, our first tournament never would have happened," says Bobby Jones, chairman of the GAC's board of directors. "Expanding our wonderful relationship with the Clubs of Kingwood and ClubCorp seems like a natural progression, and the result will be an increased ability to raise funds for cancer research."
"Golfers Against Cancer is a wonderful organization that really is a part of Kingwood's heritage," says Jeff Whitt, The Clubs of Kingwood's director of golf. "Our members and our employees take pride in our involvement. We are thrilled to now be taking on a larger role."
The Clubs of Kingwood is part of the ClubCorp family of clubs.