GREENSBORO, N.C., Aug. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Wyndham Worldwide
(NYSE: WYN), the global hospitality company that makes travel more
accessible for more people in more places than anyone else,
will once again welcome tens of thousands of spectators to
the 77th annual Wyndham Championship this week.
The Most Fan-Friendly tournament on the PGA TOUR invites fans to
"Escape with Wyndham" and enjoy not-to-be missed PGA TOUR golf in a
vacation-like setting and take part in family-fun activities, prize
giveaways and the opportunity to help raise funds for multiple
charitable causes.
"Birdies Fore Backpacks," the program launched in 2014 to fight
childhood food insecurity in the Piedmont Triad region of
North Carolina, is proud to return for
a third year as the tournament's official charity with a
$100,000 seed donation from the
Wyndham Worldwide Charitable Foundation, the tournament's official
charity partner.
"We take great pride in calling the Piedmont Triad home of the
Wyndham Championship and look forward to welcoming thousands of
fans for a week of great golf, games and giving-back," said
Stephen P. Holmes, chairman and
chief executive officer, Wyndham Worldwide. "We are committed to
providing great vacation experiences for millions of people around
the world and we do business in a way that can make our associates
and partners proud, including everyone here with us at the Wyndham
Championship. Our culture drives us to do good for the people
and the communities around us, which is why charitable giving plays
such an important role in this tournament."
Held annually at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., the Wyndham Championship is,
for many fans, their last relaxing escape of the summer, and for
the players, it's the last PGA TOUR stop before the FedExCup
Playoffs and seen as a must-play for those looking to earn points
to either qualify for or improve their standing entering the
Playoffs. This year, the tournament also plays a vital role in
determining what golfers will qualify for the 2016 United States
Ryder Cup team. The eight golfers that qualify for the team
on points will be announced Aug, 29 making the Wyndham Championship
the second-to-last opportunity to earn Ryder Cup points.
Giving Back Takes Center Stage at this Year's
Tournament
As the world's largest hospitality company,
Wyndham Worldwide is not only committed to providing great-vacation
experiences for its guests, but also to giving back and serving the
local communities where it operates. The Wyndham Worldwide
Charitable Foundation is committed to improving the lives of future
generations around the world through conservation, education and
wellness. Philanthropy has always been a central focus of the
Wyndham Championship and the goal is to create a minimum of
$1 million in charitable impact each
year to benefit the Piedmont Triad.
"Birdies Fore Backpacks" supports local charitable
organizations, including Backpack Beginnings, Forsyth Backpacks,
Out of the Garden Project and United Way of High Point, which fill backpacks with nutritionally
sound meals for children from low-income families to take home
every weekend. Last year, enough money was raised to provide more
than 350,000 nutritious meals for over 5,200 families in the
region. Fans and businesses can make a one-time donation or
pledges for every birdie made by PGA TOUR professionals during
official tournament play.
This year, the tournament introduced an online auction featuring
fun prizes and once-in-a-lifetime experiences with net proceeds
benefiting "Birdies Fore Backpacks." Auction items include
lunch and a private putting lesson from PGA TOUR golfer
Brandt Snedeker, the chance to
attend a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race with driver Kevin Harvick, an exclusive meet and greet
moment with the Wyndham Rewards Wyzard, Kristofer Hivju and the
opportunity to meet Jimmy Buffet at one of his upcoming concerts in
Las Vegas. The auction runs
through August 23rd with
some lots closing earlier. For more information please visit
www.Charitybuzz.com/Wyndham.
In another tournament first, this year Wyndham Worldwide is
partnering with Habitat for Humanity to donate its Key-to-Wyn house
to a deserving family. Key-to-Wyn is Wyndham Worldwide's
on-site expo designed as one of its vacation properties. Later this
year, the house will be rebuilt to become a home for a deserving
family in the Piedmont Triad region of North
Carolina.
Escape with Wyndham – "You've Earned This"
Since
becoming the title sponsor in 2007, Wyndham Worldwide has
introduced innovations that enhance the onsite-spectator
experience, resulting in numerous recognitions including being
named the PGA TOUR's "Most Fan-Friendly Event" in 2015. That
tradition continues this year with a celebratory vacation-inspired
atmosphere that invites fans to "Escape with Wyndham." Fans can try
and unlock one of hundreds of prizes at the beach-themed Key-
to-Wyn expo, enjoy face painting, bungee jumping, rock climbing and
more at the Kid's Adventure Zone, and visit Margaritaville at the
Wyndham, the tournament hospitality hub that evokes a vacation
spirit by the shore. Wyndham will also encourage fans to "walk the
course" and count their way to 10,000 steps by giving away
pedometers and walking maps at the Key- to-Wyn experience.
This year the Wyndham Rewards Wyzard returns to the tournament,
appearing magically throughout the course bringing the Wyndham
Rewards award-winning loyalty program to life while underscoring
the programs core tenant and tagline "You've earned
this.®"
As a past recipient of the PGA TOUR's "Best Social Media
Activation" award, the Wyndham Championship is once again
encouraging fans to get social at the #WyndhamChamp Social
Gallery. Located on the ninth green on the Sunbrella®
Sun Deck, the #WyndhamChamp Social
Gallery is a place for fans to recharge with nearby concessions and
enjoy features like free phone charging stations, .gif-making
stations, special guest appearances, a live social and interactive
photo mosaic and a video wall where fans can follow tournament
action through social media. Fans should also keep their eyes open
for the Wyndham Championship Tweet Patrol that will be randomly
awarding anyone tweeting Wyndham Championship moments.
About Wyndham Worldwide
Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN)
is one of the largest global hospitality companies, providing
travelers with access to a collection of trusted hospitality brands
in hotels, vacation ownership, and unique accommodations including
vacation exchange, holiday parks, and managed home rentals. With a
collective inventory of more than 120,000 places to stay across 100
countries on six continents, Wyndham Worldwide and its 38,000
associates welcomes people to experience travel the way they want.
This is enhanced by Wyndham Rewards®, the Company's re-imagined
guest loyalty program across its businesses, which is making it
simpler for members to earn more rewards and redeem their points
faster. For more information, please visit
www.wyndhamworldwide.com.
About the Wyndham Championship
Contested annually on
the Donald Ross-designed course at
Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro,
N.C., the Wyndham Championship was founded in 1938 and is
the sixth-oldest event on the PGA TOUR excluding the Majors.
Tickets are available at http://www.wyndhamchampionship.com or
through the tournament office at (336) 379-1570. The
tournament thanks title sponsor Wyndham Worldwide, presenting
sponsor BB&T and Premier Partners, Cadillac, Harris Teeter, Lincoln Financial, McConnell
Golf, Sunbrella®, Technology Concepts & Design, Inc. and VF
Corporation for their continued support. Additional
tournament information and sponsorship information are available at
www.wyndhamchampionship.com. For more information about
Wyndham Worldwide, please visit www.wyndhamworldwide.com.
Stay connected with the Wyndham Championship through its social
media channels, including the Wyndham Championship Facebook page,
Twitter, Instagram, Foursquare, Flickr and YouTube.
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SOURCE Wyndham Worldwide