Extends designation as Official Marketing Partner of the PGA TOUR
ATLANTA, Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The PGA TOUR today announced that Southern Company has renewed its relationship as Proud Partner of the TOUR Championship in an agreement that extends through the 2027 tournament. Southern Company remains alongside The Coca-Cola Company and new addition Accenture as the three Proud Partners of the PGA TOUR's season finale, which returns to Atlanta and historic East Lake Golf Club, August 24-28, to crown the season's FedExCup champion.
Southern Company enters its seventh year as a Proud Partner of the TOUR Championship and has supported the event since its first playing at East Lake Golf Club in 1998. Fueled by its passion for the East Lake Foundation, Drew Charter School and First Tee – Metro Atlanta, Southern Company has played an integral role in the tournament's all-time charitable contribution of more than $42 million. As a company that calls Atlanta home, Southern Company's reinforced partnership with the TOUR Championship further solidifies the event's commitment to the city and East Lake Golf Club.
As part of the agreement, Southern Company also maintains its designation as Official Marketing Partner of the PGA TOUR.
"Southern Company has been integral to the success of the TOUR Championship and its ability to give back to the local Atlanta community, but their involvement goes far beyond the season finale from its sponsorship of the illustrious Payne Stewart Award to its longstanding support of First Tee and its annual impact on youth around the country," said Brian Oliver, PGA TOUR Executive Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Partnerships. "We are grateful for Southern Company's continued commitment to the PGA TOUR and look forward to building on what has been a successful partnership."
Each year, on Tuesday evening of the TOUR Championship, Southern Company presents the PGA TOUR's annual Payne Stewart Award, which is given to a player who best exemplifies character, charity and sportsmanship, the traits that best defined the late 11-time PGA TOUR winner. Through the Payne Stewart Award, Southern Company provides a $500,000 grant, with $200,000 going to charities connected to the Stewart family and $300,000 designated by the recipient. To date, the company has contributed $8.9 million to community charities in honor of Payne Stewart and those individuals receiving his namesake award.
Tomorrow evening, Southern Company and the PGA TOUR will honor 2022 recipient Billy Andrade, who stands as the 25th PGA TOUR player to receive the award since it was first awarded in 2000. The Payne Stewart Award Ceremony will be broadcast live on Golf Channel from 7-8 p.m. from the Southern Exchange in downtown Atlanta.
To further acknowledge those who have made indelible impacts on the game, Southern Company partnered with the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2021 to create the Charles Sifford Award presented by Southern Company, which honors an individual who personifies legendary African American golfer Charles Sifford's groundbreaking achievements through perseverance, confidence, respect and adaptability. Renee Powell was recognized as the inaugural recipient of the Charles Sifford Award as part of the World Golf Hall of Fame's 2022 induction ceremony on March 9. Powell – the second African American woman to ever compete on the LPGA Tour – demonstrated resilience amidst her own obstacles of racial adversity and segregation and dedicated her life to making golf a sport for all.
"Across Southern Company, we are committed to being bigger than our bottom line through a set of values and actions that create an environment where those we serve are better off because we are there," said Bryan Anderson, executive vice president and president of external affairs for Southern Company. "Our decades-long association with PGA TOUR and the Payne Stewart Award allows us to make lasting, positive impacts within our communities. We deeply value our partnership with the PGA TOUR and look forward to many more years of generating good energy into education, health and wellness, neighborhood revitalization, and other worthy causes that meet the needs of our communities."
In addition to its impact and involvement in the professional game, Southern Company has been the Education Patron of First Tee since 2012. Through their support, more than 1,400 schools have received the First Tee School Programs reaching more than 700,000 students on an annual basis. Additionally, more than 1,800 educators have received professional development training to deliver the programming.
Southern Company has also provided strong financial support to national chapters of First Tee and have supported efforts around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as well as significant technology enhancements.
For more information about the TOUR Championship, please visit TOURChampionship.com. Fans are encouraged to follow the TOUR Championship on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for tournament updates.
About the TOUR Championship
The top 30 players in FedExCup standings after the BMW Championship qualify for the 2022 TOUR Championship, the finale of the FedExCup Playoffs, and will be awarded starting strokes for round one based on their position. The player with the lowest stroke total including starting strokes in the TOUR Championship after 72 holes of competition will be named winner of the FedExCup and will be awarded an official PGA TOUR victory. The TOUR Championship is annually contested at Atlanta's renowned East Lake Golf Club, the formative home of the legendary Bobby Jones. The 2022 tournament will be played Aug. 24-28. The tournament has raised more than $42 million in charitable funds since 1998 and proudly supports the East Lake Foundation; Focused Community Strategies; the Grove Park Foundation; Purpose Built Schools Atlanta; and First Tee – Metro Atlanta. Accenture, The Coca-Cola Company and Southern Company are the exclusive Proud Partners of the TOUR Championship.
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy company serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America, a leading distributed energy infrastructure company, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices below the national average. For more than a century, we have been building the future of energy and developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, advanced carbon capture technologies, natural gas, renewables, energy efficiency and storage technology. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation and a net-zero future, Southern Company and its subsidiaries develop the customized energy solutions our customers and communities require to drive growth and prosperity. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and govern our business to the benefit of our world. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have been recognized nationally by the U.S. Department of Defense, G.I. Jobs magazine, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, Fortune's "World's Most Admired Companies" list, Forbes and the Women's Choice Award. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.
About Accenture
Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services — all powered by the world's largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 699,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at accenture.com.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands and nearly 3,900 beverage choices. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our company's portfolio features 21 billion-dollar brands, 19 of which are available in reduced-, low- or no-calorie options. These brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, we are the No. 1 provider of both sparkling and still beverages. More than 1.9 billion servings of our beverages are enjoyed by consumers in more than 200 countries each day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.
SOURCE Southern Company
