The Regions Tradition is known for bringing Hall of Fame golfers to the Birmingham area, competing in one of the PGA TOUR Champions majors each year. Since the tournament began some 26 years ago, one of the other primary focuses has been the charitable impact of the tournament. Over the years, the tournament has generated more than $15 million for local charities.
Since 2011, Children’s of Alabama has been the primary beneficiary of the tournament. And the benefits of the tournament for Children’s go far beyond much needed monetary support; it provides an invaluable forum for Children’s to tell the story of their award-winning hospital.
Over the past eight years, Children’s has received some $1.5 million in direct donations from the Regions Tradition, which have been used in the hospital’s Impact Fund. That fund allows for the purchase of unique equipment or technology that continues the organization’s history of first-class service and innovation.
Representative from Children’s are on site all week, and patients were there at the start of the tournament to escort pro and celebrities to the first tee at the Wednesday Pro-Am.
This year former Alabama quarterback and current ESPN and SEC Network analyst Greg McElroy was on hand to visit patients at Childrens. Visiting the children and their families is something McElroy said he greatly enjoys.
“I’m grateful to be associated with a tournament like this one that does so much for these families,” McElroy said. “It’s a special treat to get to meet these kids.”