CBS to air TOUR charity special pres'd by Barclays

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JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- The CBS special, "PGA TOUR: Playing With a Purpose presented by Barclays," which is scheduled to air Sunday, June 7, at 1:30 p.m. ET prior to final-round coverage of the Memorial Tournament, will highlight the PGA TOUR's numerous charity efforts and the several charities supported by some of the top PGA TOUR players. The special, hosted by Jim Nantz, comes on the heels of the TOUR's new, elevated charity platform, "Together, anything's possible."

Presenting sponsor, Barclays, hosts the first event in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, The Barclays, which will feature 125 of the top players on TOUR, Aug. 24-30 at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J.

Video preview: Playing with Purpose

Since 1938, PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour events have donated $1.4 billion to charity, including a record $124 million in 2008, to help more than 2,000 charities and countless individuals around the world. Millions are given each year to communities, to those less fortunate, to children, to families, to medical facilities, to our wounded military heroes, to schools, to the future of the game of golf. "PGA TOUR: Playing with a Purpose presented by Barclays" will bring to light the PGA TOUR and its players' unwavering commitment to leaving the community with a brighter future.

In 2009, The Barclays will impact multiple charities in New York and New Jersey, including The First Tee of Metropolitan New York. In an effort to give back to the local community, the 2009 event will participate in TICKETS Fore CHARITY"!. This is a unique fundraising initiative designed to improve the quality of life in the communities where PGA TOUR tournaments are held.

Through TICKETS Fore CHARITY, The Barclays is providing 501(c)(3) organizations with the opportunity to promote tournament tickets to benefit their organization, and 100 percent of the net proceeds from the ticket sales (net proceeds exclude tax, shipping or processing fees) go to charity -- 75 percent to the charity promoting the tickets and 25 percent to The First Tee of Metropolitan New York.

In 2008, The Barclays donated $1 million to local charities, bringing the total amount raised since 1967 to more than $35 million.

"PGA TOUR: Playing with a Purpose presented by Barclays" will showcase a variety of charities and foundations impacted by PGA TOUR players. The one-hour show produced by PGA TOUR Productions will feature more than a dozen players, including Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Adam Scott, Zach Johnson and David Toms.

Mickelson, who is sponsored by Barclays, and his wife Amy created Birdies for the Brave to support troops injured during combat. Homes For Our Troops builds new homes or adapts existing homes for veterans who have returned from combat with serious injuries and disabilities. The Special Operations Warrior Foundation grants college scholarships to children who have lost a parent in combat or training.

"Phil and Amy Mickelson, through their support of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, will help make dreams come true for some very special children who have had to suffer through what no child should have to face -- the loss of a parent," said John Carney, President/CEO of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. "On behalf of the more than 700 children in our program, we are grateful for their support."

"Family is everything to Amy and me," said Mickelson, "and this is our way of helping families in need stay together and grow strong even after the loss of a parent. Birdies for the Brave is an opportunity to salute the men and women who have given their lives on our behalf around the world and to let their families know their sacrifices won't be forgotten."

In 1996, Tiger and his father Earl started the Tiger Woods Foundation, which has now helped empower more than 10 million kids through the Tiger Woods Learning Center, Start Something, Tiger's Action Plan and events like Tiger Jam, the AT&T National and Chevron World Challenge.

After Ernie Els' son was diagnosed with autism, he became a vigorous spokesperson for Autism Speaks, a charity that provides funding for research and treatments in the effort to find a cure. This March, Els hosted a benefit golf tournament to raise money for autism research.

Tune in to "PGA TOUR: Playing With a Purpose presented by Barclays" on CBS at 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday, June 7.