With the foundation of a $500,000 direct donation from Constellation, the tournament title sponsor, the 2023 Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS presented by Circle K generated more than $1 million for North Florida charities. The tournament has now eclipsed the $1 million mark in all three years of its existence with more than $3.5 million in total since its inception.
Constellation’s funding supports several deserving North Florida charities, including the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation, First Tee – North Florida, Blessings in a Backpack, St. Johns Riverkeeper and Beaches Habitat for Humanity.
The tournament also benefits a number of other local organizations during the year, including Wolfson Children’s Hospital Family Links Program, Operation Shower, Jacksonville Humane Society, Hope for the Holidays, K9s United, Guardian ad Litem Foundation, KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools, Walk Off Charities and many more.
“We are so thankful for the support from Constellation, Circle K, all of our sponsors, partners, volunteers and the fans here in Jacksonville for helping our tournament grow its charitable number in 2023,” said tournament co-host and 17-time PGA TOUR winner Jim Furyk. “While the amount is fantastic, it’s the stories of those impacted that drive home how important these incredible organizations are to our community.”
“This significant philanthropic impact is an example of what happens when two organizations join forces with a shared and genuine commitment to preserving the environment and improving the lives of individuals and families in the community,” said Jim McHugh, chief commercial officer, Constellation. “We are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with the Furyks and continue our charitable commitments in 2024.”
“This is another amazing charitable giving milestone for the Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS and creating this level of impact year after year would not be possible without the commitment of our tournament volunteers,” said 2023 volunteer chairman Damon Olinto. “Thank you to the over 600 individuals who generously volunteered their time and energy to the tournament this past year.”
Noteworthy examples of impact include:
Beaches Habitat for Humanity — The foundation provided the funding for a home for a single mom and her two kids. This is the second home that has been built for a local family because of support from Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS.
The Constellation team joined the construction crew onsite to work on the build. The homeowner, August, is a single parent raising two young boys. Since being approved for the program, August has completed 190 hours of sweat equity, including building on the construction site and attending workshops to help her prepare for homeownership.
August has made the best of her current overcrowded living situation but is grateful for the opportunity to become a homeowner.
Jacksonville Humane Society — The Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation has partnered with the Jacksonville Humane Society to expand their education programs for children in the community. Through this partnership, the tournament provided field trips to Title 1 schools and camp scholarships for the charitable partners. The program offered children an experience to learn about dogs, cats and helping pets in our community.
More than 1,063 children have received field trips or scholarships to date due to our impact and commitment to Jacksonville youth.
Blessings in a Backpack — The foundation and Nemours Children’s Health partnered to make a donaton that clears a year’s-long waiting list at existing Blessings in a Backpack schools. The expanded support provides healthy weekend food for 880 children in Northeast Florida during the 2023-24 school year, resulting in more than 31,000 hunger-free weekends.
K9s United — With support from Circle K and the tournament, the foundation will provide the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office with a new K9 officer and bulletproof vests to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to help keep the K9s safe while they are out on the street protecting communities. K9s United is committed to supporting and honoring K9 law enforcement officers who defend, protect and serve communities by giving them the best equipment, amenities and quality of life during and after their service and memorializing those who give the ultimate sacrifice.
First Coast Relief Fund — The First Coast Relief Fund is a collaborative partnership of Northeast Florida’s largest funders that responds to natural disasters and man-made crises. The foundation donated to the First Coast Relief Fund to respond to the racially motivated attack in New Town that took the lives of three victims on Aug. 26, 2023. The donation will go to support nonprofits that are working to address the long-term needs of the community.
St. Johns Riverkeeper — The foundation provided 15 Title 1 field trips for more than 600 students in 2023, with many of these students experiencing the St. Johns River for the first time. The vision of St. Johns Riverkeeper is to ensure a clean and healthy river for current and future generations.
This local organization has an environmental sustainability mission with a direct impact on the river that will surround the tournament, which closely aligns with Constellation’s commitment to environmental education, sustainability and conservation of natural resources.
Tournament events with a focus on community impact included:
Champions Breakfast – The 2023 Champions Breakfast featured two-time major champion (2007 Masters and 2015 Open Championship) and 2023 U.S. Team Ryder Cup Captain Zach Johnson. The Georgia resident provided attendees with an inside look at their perspective on the Ryder Cup matches as well as their experiences with the Claret Jug and much more. Proceeds from this event will benefit local charities.
Honorary Tee Shot – Alongside the tournament’s friends at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, the Jim &Tabitha Furyk Foundation has witnessed first-hand the incredible work they accomplish and the impact they have in the Jacksonville community.
To celebrate the partnership, for the third consecutive year, the tournament brought a former patient, Ali Colterhayn, to the first tee for an honorary tee shot just before the start of competition.
On the afternoon of Feb. 1, 2023, Ali attended a meeting at school about an upcoming class trip to Washington, D.C., before hopping on her family’s golf cart and driving to a nearby grocery store for a snack. Ali was just a few minutes from home when a car crashed into the golf cart. The golf cart was destroyed, and Ali was lying unconscious in the street about 12 feet from the cart. Soon after, first responders were on the scene and Ali was airlifted to the Porter Family Children’s Trauma Center at Wolfson Children's Hospital.
The Level I Pediatric Trauma Center team was awaiting her arrival and rushed her to a CT scan. Ali remained unresponsive and was placed on a ventilator. Her skull was fractured, and she had a subdural hematoma, or bleeding on the brain. Patients admitted to Wolfson Children’s for injuries from golf cart crashes have increased more than 50% since 2020. Injuries can range from traumatic brain injuries and fractures to concussions and broken bones, among others.
Ali left Wolfson Children’s after eight days that included a stay in the Neuro-Intensive Care Unit and inpatient physical and occupational therapy by Wolfson Children’s Rehabilitation. After discharge, she spent 17 days in an inpatient rehab program before transitioning to a month-long day program. In March 2023, Ali was able to return to school part-time. Life for her has been tougher since the crash but is improving. Ali also urged others her age to take golf cart safety seriously.
Military Appreciation – The team at Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS presented by Circle K, tournament sponsors, event volunteers and the players all have a profound respect for the men and women of the military and their families. Throughout the week, the event hosted several different events and initiatives to show that appreciation and respect for those who serve, including:
Click HERE to read about the award to be given to Jim and Tabitha Furyk.
