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Suzy Garcia / Ann Marie Price

Scatena Daniels

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Auction to raise funds for COVID-19 relief with unique golf experiences alongside top-tier tour players, instructors and other one-of-a-kind opportunities

SAN DIEGO (April 27, 2020) — United Way of San Diego County has been named one of only three nonprofit organizations throughout the nation to receive funds from the COVID-19 Relief Charity Golf Auction, presented by Acushnet, whose brands include Titlelist, Scotty Cameron, Vokey Wedges, and FootJoy. This auction will give passionate golfers an opportunity to tee it up with a top-ranked tour player, schedule their next golf lesson with a world-renowned instructor, get fit like a professional, or even experience Pebble Beach with a local resident, all while ‘Chipping In’ to make a difference.

Proceeds from the auction will directly benefit the United Way of San Diego County’s  Worker Assistance Initiative to assist low-wage individuals and families throughout the region who have been impacted by lay-offs and reduced working hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative was created to help individuals make their rent, mortgage, and utilities payments during these challenging, uncertain times, and to provide financial relief to those who are worried they won’t be able to afford the basic necessities to survive.

“Our team has been working around the clock to raise funds for our San Diego Worker Assistance Initiative to support those who need it most in our community,” says Nancy Sasaki, CEO, United Way of San Diego County. “The pandemic has quickly displaced nearly 300,000 hardworking individuals in our region, making it difficult for many to pay their rent and utility bills. With the generous support from the COVID-19 Relief Charity Auction, we’ll be steps closer to helping our community members in need.”

In the first three weeks after the initiative launched, United Way of San Diego County received over 8,400 applications and requests for support with rent, mortgage, and utilities bills totaling over $12.3 million. As the organization has for more than 100 years, United Way of San Diego County will face this challenge head on.

The week-long online auction launched on Thursday, April 23 and will close on Thursday, April 30 at 6 p.m. PST. In addition to United Way of San Diego County, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) COVID-19 Response Fund and United Way of Greater New Bedford have also been selected to benefit from the auction, and 100 percent of the proceeds from these one-of-a-kind experiences will directly benefit the relief efforts of these organizations. The funds will support the local communities where the majority of the Titleist and FootJoy U.S. associates work and live; and, following the lead of the PGA of America and other golf organizations, the Golf Emergency Relief Fund.

Among the 12 unique golf experiences, are rounds of golf with Justin and Mike Thomas, Webb Simpson and Ian Poulter; personal instruction and golf with Butch Harmon, Peter Kostis, James Sieckmann, Cameron McCormick, Michael Breed and Brad Faxon; wedge and putter fittings with Titleist designers Bob Vokey and Scotty Cameron; and a once-in-a-lifetime Pebble Beach experience provided by the longtime voice of Titleist and auction host Jim Nantz.

This auction is a continuation of multiple initiatives Acushnet Company has implemented since the outbreak, including:

• Donating more than 100,000 masks and other PPE supplies to hospitals and those in need in the communities in which we operate around the world.
• Retrofitting processes in their Massachusetts manufacturing facilities to produce PPE items and components.
• Donating 15% of all purchases made on Titleist.com, FootJoy.com, ScottyCameron.com, Vokey.com and Kjus.com, from April 8 to 30, to the CDP COVID-19 Response Fund.
• Participating in Rain Suits for Responders, a program to collect new or gently used golf rain suits and deliver them directly to healthcare workers on the frontlines.

“Like so many others, the Acushnet team is committed to being a positive force in support of front line health care workers, the local communities in which we operate, golf professionals, and others in the industry, who have been most affected by this pandemic,” said David Maher, President and CEO, Acushnet Company. “We are grateful to our many partners, brand ambassadors and associates for their contributions as we work together to endure these challenging times, and collectively look forward to the better days that lie ahead.”

For more information on United Way of San Diego County’s Worker Assistance Initiative, visit uwsd.org/covid19, or email .

ABOUT UNITED WAY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY

For 100 years, United Way of San Diego County has aligned with partners to address inequities in the region and help underserved communities. United Way’s specialty lies in identifying sustainable, long-term goals and achieving them through leveraging data and partners’ expertise to better understand root causes and putting impactful solutions into action.

United Way’s work, in partnership with others, uses shared goals, innovation and proven practices to transform the lives of children, young adults and families in the San Diego region. United Way focuses on educational milestones, such as kindergarten readiness, third-grade literacy, high school preparation, and college and career pathways. Learn more and get involved by visiting www.uwsd.org, Facebook, Twitter, or by calling (858) 492-2000.