Birdies for Kids Supports First Tee of Greater Vancouver

From the Canadian Professional Tour

Birdies for Kids is an initiative started by Canadian Tour players in 2007 to raise money for children's charities through birdies and eagles made during the Canadian Tour season. The Tour has committed to a $5,000.00 donation to The First Tee of Greater Vancouver YMCA. In making this donation, the Canadian Tour recognizes the YMCA of Greater Vancouver's long track record in developing strong values as well as strong bodies among generations of youth".

Birdies for Kids is a program created by the players themselves who donate a dollar for every eagle and birdie they make during the Canadian Tour season. The birdie leader in 2009 was Canadian Ryan Yip with 207 birdies in 44 rounds on the Canadian Tour.

Canadian Tour alumnus Graham DeLaet has also committed to donate his birdie production on the PGA TOUR to Birdies for Kids. DeLaet currently has 155 birdies in 42 rounds on the PGA TOUR and averages 3.69 birdies per round.

Birdies for Kids was started by Canadian Tour player Adam Speirs, winner of the 2008 Greater Vancouver Charity Classic and a member of the Canadian Tour Board of Directors. Since its launch in 2007 "Birdies for Kids" has donated $45,000 to programs for at-risk children in the Jane Finch corridor of Toronto and Kidsport in Manitoba.

The YMCA of Greater Vancouver is launching The First Tee in that region to help kids grow and thrive. Founded by the World Golf Foundation, the program impacts the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.

The Canadian Tour is a member of the International Federation of PGA Tours with tournament operations in Canada, the United States, Mexico and Latin America. Over the past twenty-five years the Canadian Tour has graduated more than one hundred players to the PGA TOUR including alumni Mike Weir, Steve Stricker, Tim Clark, Canadian Open winner Nathan Green and most recently Canadian Graham DeLaet. Canadian Tour events have raised more than $1.8 million for charity across Canada since 2006.