Proton Charity Invitational Golf Tournament Raises $150,000
Saturday, June 01, 1996
For the sixth year, the Loma Linda University Proton Charity Invitational was sold out—drawing 136 players to The Club at Morningside in Rancho Mirage, California. Invitational host Ken Venturi, golf analyst for CBS Sports, and PGA professional John Cook presented a golf clinic before the tournament.
Added to the $450 per player registration fee were corporate sponsorships of $154,000 and contributions from alumni, patients, and previous donors totaling some $10,000.
Following the sixth annual Invitational on May 20, the Loma Linda University/ Ken Venturi Proton Therapy Cancer Research Endowment topped $750,000.
This fund holds all proceeds from past Invitationals and from those yet to be held, as well as individual and corporate contributions. All proceeds will be used to support patient-centered research.
Ken Venturi’s work on behalf of proton radiation therapy has been unstinting. His fame, in addition to his work for the benefit of the event, made the first Invitational in 1991 a success. He continued that work the next year and does so today.
On Sunday, the major sponsors were once again invited to participate in a sponsor-recognition tournament which serves as a warm-up to the Proton Charity Invitational. Again, this year’s sponsorrecognition tournament was held at Marriott’s Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Country Club in Rancho Mirage.
The Invitational continues to be held at The Club at Morningside, the first Jack Nicklaus "signature" course in the desert known for its reputation as the finest in the area. The Club at Morningside is an exclusive, private country club which only hosts two charity tournaments every year. The Loma Linda University Proton Charity Invitational is fortunate to be one of the two. Every year Vern Frasier, the Club’s golf professional, and his staff ensure that the event runs smoothly.
"Vern and his group are first-class professionals who do me a personal favor by letting us have this tournament at Morningside," says Mr. Venturi in his remarks at the luncheon following the tournament.
"And it is my plan to continue hosting this Invitational and supporting Loma Linda as they conduct research enabling them to treat more patients and more disease sites with proton therapy," Mr. Venturi says.
