CONCORD, N.C., May 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- All is quiet on the back nine of the Ballantyne Golf Course. The Bermuda grass is neat, but the small, well-protected greens require a precise approach. A foursome playing in the 2011 Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte Celebrity Golf Tournament will need the right follow through.
ACN Global Reach Charities is hosting the annual golf tournament on May 23, 2011, at Ballantyne Country Club in Charlotte, NC. Golfers and celebrities from across the U.S. have registered to participate in the tournament. And although hitting a few with celebrity players that include NASCAR driver David Gilliland and former NFL linebacker Patrick Sapp can be fun, there is more at stake than a sliced ball.
The newly built Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte - a home away from home for families with sick children - opened in May. With the House now able to accept families, the funds help defray the operating costs of the facility. With 100% of the proceeds donated to the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte, the event is a staple in fundraising efforts for the House, and ACN Global Reach Charities has already raised $162,000 with the tournament. In addition to the golf game, there will be a live and silent auction to raise additional money on the day of the event.
The annual tournament has been made possible by donations to ACN Global Reach Charities by ACN, Inc. ACN, Inc. is the primary donor to ACN Global Reach Charities and has long been a supporter of the Ronald McDonald House Charities and the construction of the House in Charlotte. In 2008, the company chose the Ronald McDonald House as its global charity and began collecting donations for the local Ronald McDonald House chapter at each of its quarterly training events held throughout the world. This effort is now being led by ACN Global Reach Charities, which will fulfill a $2 million pledge to Ronald McDonald House Charities.
"Now that the House is open we have a responsibility to become a continued presence there," said ACN President and Co-Founder Greg Provenzano. "At ACN, helping children is very close to our hearts, so it's an honor to work with an organization whose purpose is to provide families with the care and support they need during their darkest hours. It's a humbling experience."
For the participants, sponsors and volunteers who have been involved in the event, the tournament is about more than a round with a celebrity captain - it is about making a difference on a local level.
About ACN Global Reach Charities, Inc.
Founded in 2011, ACN Global Reach Charities is a nonprofit organization with the mission of expanding the charitable efforts initiated by ACN, Inc. by providing focused management and increased fundraising efforts. The nonprofit continually seeks out new opportunities to work with charitable organizations and is devoted to making improvements on a local level. Its grass-roots efforts have raised awareness in the Charlotte area and surrounding communities. In addition to its many efforts, ACN Global Reach Charities organizes and hosts the RMHC Celebrity Golf Tournament, an event designed to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte. For more information on ACN Global Reach Charities, visit acncharity.com.
About the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte The RMH of Charlotte serves the families of children being treated at Levine Children's Hospital and Hemby Children's Hospital. Located at 1613 East Morehead Street on land donated by Carolinas Medical Center, the House features approximately 35,000 square feet of living space complete with 28 bedrooms (one family per bedroom/suite), providing more than 10,000 nights for the families. It also has a community kitchen, great room, library, playground and sitting porch. Construction began in early 2010 and the House accepted its first family in May 2011. The RMH of Charlotte is an independent 501(c)(3) charity managed by a local board of directors which oversee construction and operation of the home. The cost of building and operating the RMH of Charlotte is covered primarily from individual and corporate donations. The RMH of Charlotte is funded, constructed and operated by the Charlotte community. The mission of the RMH of Charlotte is to provide the families of children being treated in area medical facilities with a safe, affordable and caring "home away from home." For more information on RMH of Charlotte, please visit www.rmhofcharlotte.org.
About ACN, Inc.
Founded in 1993, ACN is the world's largest direct seller of telecommunications and essential services for residential and business customers. ACN provides the services people need and use every day including Home Phone service, High Speed Internet, Wireless, Mobile Applications, Satellite TV, Home Security, Computer Support and Energy. ACN operates in 23 countries with offices located throughout North America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information, visit myacn.com. For information on ACN's home-based business opportunity, visit acninc.com.
SOURCE ACN, Inc.
