Magnanimous Memorial
Tournament’s charitable efforts old and new benefit Nationwide Children’s Hospital By Garth Bishop
EDITOR’S NOTE: At press time, the Memorial Tournament is scheduled to take place.
Those who have even a passing familiarity with the Memorial Tournament know that supporting Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of its organizers’ key priorities. They might not know, though, that one key aspect of that support is passing a milestone this year – while another key aspect is just getting started. The 2020 Memorial – the 45th annual, slated for June 1-7 – marks the 10th anniversary of the tournament’s partnership with Nationwide, both organizations motivated in part by their opportunity to contribute to Nationwide Children’s. And it’s the second year of the tournament’s participation in the Play Yellow program, 28 • April/May 2020
which raises money for children’s health care, the local beneficiary of which is Nationwide Children’s. The Memorial Tournament Presented by Nationwide As the 2000s drew to a close, so, too, did the tournament’s partnership with Morgan Stanley. The company had to refocus its priorities following the 2008 economic crash, and that left the Memorial without a partner heading into the 2011 tournament. Enter Nationwide. When an opportunity to work with the Memorial presented itself, it made perfect sense for the company to seize it, says Jim McCoy, vice president of sponsorships, meetings and events for Nationwide. In addition to fundraising, the company encourages its employees to get involved throughout the week. “We wanted to support our hometown market,” McCoy says.
Nationwide Children’s has been the primary beneficiary of the tournament’s fundraising efforts since its 1976 inception, and is kept front and center throughout the event. Nationwide’s longtime support of the hospital is perhaps best reflected in its 2007 renaming following a $50 million gift from the company’s foundation. The two organizations’ overwhelming support of the hospital made their partnership all the more logical, McCoy says. Nationwide has raised more than $13 million for the hospital through its Memorial alliance over the last decade, including $2 million in 2019 alone. That support includes integral roles in major charitable Memorial fundraisers, including the Legends Luncheon. The luncheon is a mid-April fundraiser featuring a conversation with tournament founder Jack Nicklaus and other athletes, as well as the presentation of the Nicklaus Youth Spirit Award. www.dublinlifemagazine.com
