26 Champions, But One Clear Winner

As the 3M Championship presented by Post-it Products is contested this year, the best players on the PGA TOUR Champions will battle for the trophy. At the end of the week there will be a champion, but the run-away winner will be charity.

Charity

This year the 3M Championship through the 3M Foundation will again donate $1.3 million in support of healthcare programs at Allina Health and will top the $26 million mark since the event was first played back in 1993. What makes that number more impressive is the event has been free for the public for the last several years. That means that individuals and corporations have provided all of the dollars for these charities.

From 1993-1998 proceeds benefited cancer care programs at Abbott and United Hospitals. In 2001, Mercy Hospital and Unity Hospital were added as additional beneficiaries. Proceeds from the last few years have benefited a wide range of Allina Health programs. Mercy Hospital has used its proceeds to build the Mother Baby Center and expand the Level II Special Care Nursery. Unity Hospital has used their funds to support their Birth Center. Abbott Northwestern proceeds have gone towards their Critical Care Campaign, which allowed them to renovate, enhance and expand the Burwell Emergency Department and Schulze Center for Excellence in Neurological Care. United Hospital proceeds have gone towards their Mother Baby Center.

Proceeds from the 3M Championship have impacted lives, benefited communities and raised the level of health care for Minnesotans. Allina Health’s facilities have become 4 out of the top 6 hospitals in Minneapolis/St Paul, while receiving over 190,000 emergency department visits and performing 60,000 surgical procedures per year. In addition, Abbott Northwestern Hospital garners national rankings in the top 1% for neurosurgery and heart surgery specialties.

Over the years the proceeds from the 3M Championship have supported many important health care programs at Allina Health. From building new operating rooms and rehabilitation centers to adding cutting edge surgical technology; the 3M Championship continues to help improve health care for Minnesotans and folks from around the region. Last year’s tournament drew more than 125,000 spectators and provided $1.3 million to continue to support the programs of Allina Health

According to Richard Meyer, President of the Abbott Northwestern Hospital Foundation, “Golf and charity go together. Golfers are generous… so patient care has been improved over the last 26 years.”

Generous And Consistent

Not only have golfers and companies been generous over the last quarter century, the dollars are so consistent, it allows the various charities to budget for projects. The $1.3 million annual donation is split between Abbott Northwestern Hospital ($567,000), United Hospitals ($567,000) and Mercy Hospital ($166,000). This “steady source of support” as Meyer termed it, allows dreams like the Mother Baby Center to become realities.

Annual funds in the bank, so to speak, “Helps us plan, but also encourage other donors,” said Meyer. Over the years, Meyer and others have had the opportunity to play in the Pro-Am, which are indeed fun, but that 5 to 6 hours on the course is the perfect opportunity to foster relationships with vendors and donors.

Another important relationship is between the charities and the volunteers.

At any PGA TOUR or PGA TOUR Champions tournament, it is the army of volunteers that really make things happen. Without volunteers, the many tasks needed to make a tournament successful would eat away at the proceeds that become the donations. Many of these people take time out of their week simply to be close to some of the game’s greats. There are others that donate their time to show support for their community, but a good number do it because of the charities. Keeping the relationship between the charities and the volunteers strong is another priority for Meyer.

The 3M Championship and its its30-member Tournament Management committee, annually host a party on Saturday evening after the competition specifically for the volunteers. Given that this will be the final year, they aim to make this party something special. According to Meyer, the idea of hosting an even more memorable night was the brainchild of CEO Penny Wheeler, MD. That night, not only do they plan for player appearances, but each volunteer will be presented a “secret” gift.

Going Forward

As the 3M Championship winds down and the new PGA TOUR 3M Open takes over, the future is unclear for the Allina Health Partners Club and the various charities. What is clear is they will not be THE beneficiary of funds generated, however, Meyer did say discussions are ongoing to “find potential ways” for Allina Health to be part of the 3M Open’s future giving.

Even though the event will be over, the need for funds never ends. “Philanthropy is needed, and those dollars are needed to elevate our game, to improve the quality of health care in our communities,” said Meyer. Work will continue to find new outlets to raise funds. Personal donations, as well as creative work with vendors will allow the dollars to continue to flow in but it is clear that help will need to come from new sources. Personal donations are always welcome. Grateful patients and their families are and will continue to be an essential part of health care philanthropy.

So as we say goodbye to the 3M Championship, here is a closer look at the charities that you can continue to support:

United Hospital

United Hospital is a community-based non-profit hospital located in St. Paul.

Proceeds from the 3M Championship will benefit a new surgical center at the hospital.

Abbott Northwestern Hospital

Abbott Northwestern is the Twin Cities largest non-profit hospital and rated the best hospital in the Twin Cities by US News and World Reports. Each year, the hospital provides comprehensive health care for more than 200,000 patients and their families from the Twin Cities area and throughout the Upper Midwest.

Proceeds from the 3M Championship will continue to benefit the Nursing Excellence Initiative. .

Mercy Hospital

Mercy Hospital, located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, is a 271-bed non-profit hospital that serves the northwestern Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Nationally recognized for clinical excellence and compassionate care, Mercy offers a wide range of specialty services.

Proceeds from this year’s tournament will help bring expanded cardiology and cardiovascular surgery capabilities to the hospital.