Totaling up the advantages of Champions for Change event

A lot of people are counting on the Harbor Shores development to bring big change to Benton Harbor.

So a lot of people were counting lots of people during last month’s Champions for Change Golf Challenge to mark the official opening of the residential development complete with a Jack Nicklaus designed 18-hole golf course.

Ethel Golliday was conducting a soft opening of her new retail store Murfee’s Boutique at 82 W. Main Street and she saw more than 50 customers on Aug. 10, the day Nicklaus and three big-name golf buddies took to the greens to raise money for local youth programs. And The Livery located in the heart of the Benton Harbor Arts District sold significantly more beer than on an average Tuesday. In fact, they sold over 230 percent more than an average Tuesday.

Some numbers on participation in various events:

• Champions for Change Golf Challenge: 4,000

• An Evening with the Champions: 1,500

• Number of States Represented as a part of gallery: 17

• Number of Media Outlets in Attendance: 75

• Number of Media Hits: Still being counted (in the thousands)

• Number of volunteers that Supported the Event: More than 300 local volunteers

The event sponsored by the Whirlpool Corporation and 12 other sponsors sold out in six weeks.
 
There were 17 free community events over five days surrounding the golf match and they drew 2,000 community members.

Whirlpool Corporation and Foundation for provided $1 million to go to the Boys & Girl Club and The First Tee of Benton Harbor. And $500 was raised in addition to the purse for the capital campaign from spectators.

Local officials also report the positive publicity surrounding the event already has resulted in increased interest from prospective companies interested in locating in the community.

Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Jamie Nilson-Balkin, Cornerstone Alliance