United Way of Central Georgia initiative, Pink Promise United, raised A RECORD $135,000 at yesterday’s ACE Classic powered by Butler Automotive at Idle Hour Country Club in Macon. The combination golf, tennis, and bridge tournament was originally scheduled to take place on May 15th, but had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing guidelines. To ensure the safety of participants, bridge was not included in the tournament this year, but many precautions were in place to allow the fundraising tennis and golf tournament to continue as scheduled. Despite the challenges and limitations of holding a fundraising tournament during a pandemic, sponsors, participants, and United Way came together to raise $7,000 more this year during the 2nd Annual ACE Classic than the $128,000 raised during the 1st annual event last year.
As a HUGE bonus at this year’s ACE Classic, Butler Automotive auctioned off the opportunity of a lifetime: a spot for two players in the 2020 Lexus Champions for Charity National Championship. The winner of the live auction earned the opportunity to play in the 54-hole golf tournament in December at Pebble Beach Resorts: Pebble Beach Golf Links, The Links at Spanish Bay, and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Proceeds from the auction also directly benefit Pink Promise United and were the difference-maker in ensuring the 2nd Annual ACE Classic raised more than the first year’s event.
“It's tough to host a fundraising gathering while keeping distancing in mind, but with some changes The ACE Classic annual golf and tennis tournaments went on as planned,” said George McCanless, President & CEO of United Way of Central Georgia. “Careful consideration went into the decision making of whether or not the event should go on this year, and with tennis and golf both outside we were comfortable we could social distance while still raising these critical funds to support area women. We also decided to provide for all players a mask in addition to their regular participant gifts to reemphasize the need to stay safe and secure during these unprecedented times."
United Way of Central Georgia started Pink Promise United to provide breast cancer awareness, education, and screening mammograms for women with the fewest resources who are uninsured, under-insured, low-income and unable to access care. Since the first ACE Classic and other PPU fundraisers, Pink Promise United has paid for over 330 mammograms for area women through United Way Program Partners: First Choice Primary Care, District Health Department, Houston County Volunteer Medical Clinic, and Macon Volunteer Clinic.