Copperhead Charities, tournament organizer for the Valspar Championship, is reporting that it has generated more than $50 million, through PGA TOUR-sponsored golf events in the Tampa Bay area, since 1977, including the proceeds from the 2023 championship.
The 2023 Valspar Championship, held in March on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort, generated nearly $1.2 million, with Copperhead Charities making contributions to more than 60 area charities, according to a statement.
Tampa General Hospital, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties, Special Operations Warrior Foundation and area chapters of The First Tee are among the key benefiting charities.
In addition to the direct funds, a food drive conducted during tournament week, in cooperation with AmeriLife, benefited Feeding Tampa Bay with more than 5,000 pounds of food items being collected, the statement said.
“We are proud of our contributions to the Tampa Bay community in six decades,” says Tracy West, tournament director. “Our top individual player money winner, Sam Burns, has won $3.1 million on the Copperhead in his career but that is a small amount compared to our charitable impact. The $50 million contributed to charity is $10 million more than the combined total of the prize money won by the top 25 pro golfers in tournament history, so it’s true to say that charity is the big winner from PGA TOUR golf in Tampa Bay.”
