The Furyk Foundation: In the News
Constellation, a national energy and energy solutions provider, is leading the way with a direct donation of $500,000 through the Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation as part of the inaugural Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS tournament presented by Circle K. Constellation’s funding will support five deserving North Florida charities: the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation, First Tee – North Florida, Blessings in a Backpack, Habitat for Humanity and St. Johns River Keeper.
The Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation didn’t let the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic stop its efforts to give back to those in need this holiday season. The ninth annual Hope for the Holidays event looked a little different with masks and social distancing, but, the end result was the same. The foundation was able to secure, pack and deliver more than 5,000 bags of nonperishable food and holiday treats to families in need around the greater Jacksonville area, setting a new record for the annual event.
A new PGA Champions tournament will be played in October 2021 in Jacksonville, set to be an annual event to bring awareness and funding to charities throughout Northeast Florida, PGA golfer and Ponte Vedra Beach resident Jim Furyk announced.
The Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation, Constellation and PGA TOUR Champions announced a new event set to debut in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2021. Through a multiyear agreement, the Constellation Furyk & Friends tournament will be contested at Timuquana Country Club the week of October 4-10.
The 17-time PGA Tour winner and longtime First Coast resident announced on Sunday at the 10th annual Furyk and Friends Concert that he will host a PGA Tour Champions event, the Constellation Furyk and Friends, with the Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation as the beneficiary.
Wednesday night, the holiday spirit was in full view as almost 400 people came to TPC Sawgrass to help The Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation pack over 4000 bags of food for kids in need in the greater Jacksonville community.
Thousands of excited children, filled with the holiday spirit, were ready to go. At 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 11, they began—grabbing bags and filling them with goodies as fast as they could. They weren’t grabbing gifts for themselves, however.
A host of celebrities were in Ponte Vedra Beach on Sunday and Monday to attend the Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation’s annual concert and golf tournament benefiting local charities.
The ninth annual fundraiser known as Furyk & Friends kicked off with a concert Sunday night featuring Lee Brice, Jordan Davis, Javier Colon, Patrick Davis, Colt Ford, Jack Ingram and Drew Copeland. Additional celebrities in attendance included Merril Hoge, Lynn Swann, Ozzie Smith, Johnny Damon and Doug Marrone, among others.
The concert was held at THE PLAYERS Welcome Experience, the new entryway experience for fans as they arrive through the Nicklaus Entry. Located behind the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, the space is home to the PGA TOUR Fan Shop, Stadium Village, 17th Hole Challenge, The Grove, Kids Zone, Bier Garden, Family Care Suite and Palm Valley Village.
The busy Furyks, were ready to rock and roll a few hours later at the ninth annual Furyk & Friends concert followed the next day by a celebrity golf classic. The evening event at “The Grove” on The Players grounds featured samples of signature dishes and beverages supplied by Bearded Pig, Moxie & Town Hall, Ruth’s Chris, Roy’s, Rue Saint-Marc, 3 Palms, Jazzy, Florida Yacht Club, Protect the Revenue, Well Oiled Events and Crème de Cocoa. Guests bid for autographed celebrity golf items at a silent auction. Later in the evening top PGA Tour players competed to hit a ball closest to the pin on the 17th hole. The winner, Len Mattiace, earned “a $5,000 prize to be donated to a charity of his choice and $5,000 in his name to the Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation,” Tabitha said.
“I think it’s very difficult for these families to travel with these kids because their conditions are life-limiting or life-threatening, so to be able to come out is really special for them,” Tabitha Furyk said. “It kind of shows the character of the PGA TOUR, the fact that those players are so sensitive to children with disabilities and make an effort to make them feel special.”
On Sunday, March 10, THE PLAYERS and Birdies for the Brave partnered with Operation Shower to host the ninth annual group baby shower for 35 expectant moms-to-be at TPC Sawgrass.
THE PLAYERS Championship has always been very special to me and Jim because it is the one tournament that is in our backyard. It’s great to share it with friends and family and great to see and to participate in some of the wonderful charity events that they do to support our community.
Sometime on Sunday afternoon, between hosting a baby shower for military moms-to-be and a charity concert, Jim Furyk received pleasantly surprising, yet unfamiliar news: He had qualified for THE PLAYERS, but as one of the last in the field.
Jim Furyk spent much of the weekend in the lead at the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Florida. After Sunday’s Round 4, Furyk finished in second place, losing to Rory McIlory by one stroke. After finishing up on the 18th hole, Furyk left the green and was greeted by his wife, Tabitha, who was standing in the gallery.
Tabitha Furyk has been a huge supporter of her husband and has been spotted at various tournaments and events for nearly two decades.
Tuesday, May 8, 2018 has been dedicated as charity of the day for The Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation.
The foundation was created in 2010 to help children and families in need. This Jacksonville-based, non-profit organization partners with childrens' charities across North Florida, including Wolfson’s Children Hospital, Blessings in a Backpack and Community PedsCare to provide project-specific funding and programs.
The PGA Tour Wives Association and the Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation hosted children and families from Community PedsCare and Wolfson Children’s Hospital at THE PLAYERS Championship on Tuesday, May 8, for a fun-filled event featuring various artistic activities and vendors.
On March 11, Flamingo sponsored and attended Furyk & Friends Concert & Celebrity Chef Experience hosted by the Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation. Each year the event raises more than $500,000 in donations for children and families in need in Jacksonville. The Sunday night fête featured specialty cocktails, live music from band members of Lady Antebellum and Sister Hazel, as well as southern-inspired food prepared by the area’s best chefs.
Speaking of parties, top golfer Jim Furyk and his wife Tabitha hosted a bash on March 11 at the Outpost in Ponte Vedra. This wasn’t a party for April Fools, but a fun evening with a serious purpose. Professional sports figures, celebrity actors, nationally recognized musicians, top local chefs and a golden Ryder Cup trophy headlined at the Furyk & Friends concert.
THE PLAYERS Championship will once again feature a different charity each day of the tournament, to help raise the profile of each organization. Members of the charities will be at the main entry gates to speak with fans and distribute giveaways.
On Tuesday, the Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation will be featured. This is a Jacksonville-based non-profit that partners with children’s charities across the region to provide project-specific funding and programs.
The Furyk & Friends Concert & Celebrity Golf Classic continued on Monday, March 12 with registration, a breakfast session and the start of the golf tournament at Sawgrass Country Club.
The festivities began at 8:30 a.m. with celebrity participants and their friends congregating for an opening meal.In the afternoon, the Celebrity Golf Classic participants enjoyed a cocktail awards reception. Entertainers Anthony Anderson and Jackie Flynn attended, along with MLB legends Johnny Damon and Ozzie Smith. In addition, music stars Colt Ford, Drew and Ellie Holcomb, Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum, Drew Copeland, Jordan Davis and Patrick Davis participated.
Jim Furyk held his cap in one hand and his putter in the other, pumping both to salute the rather large crowd gathered around the 18th green. The second group off on the final day of a regular tournament usually maneuvers around the course with little fanfare, especially when you are 16 shots behind the leader at the Travelers Championship.