LPWire: U.S. Open Champ Tiger Woods Hosts Golf Clinic for Kids at Walt Disney World Resort
Tiger Woods shakes hands with junior golfer
Charles Pantango, 17, of Ft. Worth, Texas, after giving him a few tips on his game June 18
at Disney's Palm course.
Copyright © 2002, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY.
U.S. Open Champ Tiger Woods Hosts Golf
Clinic for Kids at Walt Disney World Resort
Inner-City Junior Golf Programs from Five Cities Participate in Three-Day Clinic
Experience in Orlando, June 17-19
Inner-city junior golf programs representing five cities -- Buffalo, NY, Fort Worth, TX, Newark, NJ, Orlando, FL, and Philadelphia, PA -- have been selected to participate in the 2002 Coca-Cola/Tiger Woods Foundation Junior Golf Clinic June 17-19 at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, it was announced today by the Tiger Woods Foundation. This will be the 25th clinic held by the Tiger Woods Foundation since its inception in 1996.
The 2002 Coca-Cola/Tiger Woods Foundation Junior Golf Clinic marks a return of the event to Disney World. The organization’s first-ever clinic was conducted on Mar. 16, 1997 at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.
“We are thrilled to be holding our 25th junior golf clinic this year,” stated Tiger Woods. “They are always a lot of fun to put on, and are one of the best ways for our Foundation to reach out to kids and give back to the community.”
“The Tiger Woods Foundation is pleased to be holding the Coca-Cola/Tiger Woods Foundation Junior Golf Clinic at the Walt Disney World Resort this year,” stated Earl Woods, President of the Foundation. “We are sure that Coca-Cola and Disney World will help make this a truly memorable experience for all of the children and cities involved.”
Tiger Woods provides instruction to junior golfer
Sharah Davis, 17, of Orlando, Fla., on June 18 at Disney's Palm course during the
Coca-Cola/Tiger Woods Foundation Junior Golf Clinic in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
“Coca-Cola recently launched the Coca-Cola Youth Partnership platform that emphasizes positive youth development through achievement, athletics and the arts,” said Suzanne Glynn Robbins, senior brand manager, Coca-Cola classic, North American Division of The Coca-Cola Company. “Clearly, the Coca-Cola/Tiger Woods Foundation Junior Golf Clinic is a highlight of that platform, as its goals fit perfectly with ours -- offering young people access to inspirational, empowering programs that help them realize their potential and pursue their dreams.”
“Walt Disney World Resort provides the ultimate setting for this year’s Coca-Cola/Tiger Woods Foundation Junior Golf Clinic,” added Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney World. “Interacting with the world’s most exciting golfer at our championship courses, and having the chance to enjoy the Disney World theme parks, will create the experience of a lifetime for these kids.”
The youth golf programs from Buffalo, Fort Worth, Newark, Orlando, and Philadelphia were selected to participate in the clinic at Walt Disney World through a formal bid process. The Foundation’s Junior Golf Committee viewed all bids and ultimately selected the participating groups through detailed criteria that measures inner-city youth golf initiatives, community support and participation in local junior golf programs.
Since 1997, the Coca-Cola/Tiger Woods Foundation Junior Golf Clinic Series has hosted events in four or five cities across the country per year. This year’s format combines the clinic experience into one three-day event that gives young players from five different cities the opportunity to take part in the clinic and experience the rides and attractions at Walt Disney World Resort.
Each participating city may bring 15 junior golfers to the three-day clinic experience, which includes tickets to the Disney World theme parks, the junior golf clinic at Disney’s Magnolia course, and an exhibition by Tiger Woods at Disney’s Palm course. The trip culminates with a special parade with Tiger and a farewell party at the Disney-MGM Studios. The participating kids and their parents/chaperones will also receive free airfare, accommodations at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort and transportation throughout their visit.
Tiger Woods and junior golfer Robbie Biggers, 15, of
Orlando, Fla., celebrate Tuesday after reaching one million points in the 'Who Wants to be
a Millionaire - Play It!' attraction at the Disney-MGM Studios theme park at Walt Disney
World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. For the win, Walt Disney World donated $10,000 to
the Tiger Woods Foundation and Biggers received a special gift basket. The special edition
of Millionaire was part of the 2002 Coca-Cola/Tiger Woods Foundation Junior Golf Clinic at
Walt Disney World.
Copyright © 2002, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY.
The junior clinic will include instruction from local PGA Tour golf professionals, while a pair of junior players from each city will receive personalized one-on-one instruction from Tiger. Following the clinic, Tiger will put on a hitting exhibition for the entire group of juniors from all five cities, as well as more than a thousand members of local youth organizations. During this exhibition, Tiger will discuss his experiences growing up and as a golfer, answer questions from the audience and demonstrate how to hit various golf shots.
The Coca-Cola Company is the official community sponsor and beverage sponsor of the Tiger Woods Foundation, and the title sponsor of a major annual fundraising activity – the Tiger Jam benefit concert – and the Coca-Cola/Tiger Woods Foundation Junior Golf Clinic.
Walt Disney World Resort is a 47-square-mile, world-class entertainment center featuring four theme parks, two water adventure parks, 28 resort hotels, a wedding pavilion, and entertainment, shopping and dining complexes. The resort’s wide array of sports and recreation offerings include a 200-acre sports complex, boating, fishing, water sports and 99 holes of golf on six championship courses.
The Tiger Woods Foundation seeks to empower young people to reach their highest potential by initiating and supporting community-based programs that promote the health, education and welfare of all of America's children. Information on the Foundation can be found at www.twfound.org.
--Posted June 24, 2002
Source: Walt Disney World