Home | Charity

Overview
Birdies for Charity
Timeline
How to Get Started
Tips for Success
Guidelines & Rules

Results
Chip In for Schools
VTO Benefit for Children
Valero Texas Open Grants

Benefiting Charities

Birdies for Charity®

Birdies for Charity® is a fundraising program designed by Golf San Antonio to give participating organizations the opportunity to generate contributions through the Valero Texas Open. Funds are generated by soliciting pledges from individuals and corporations.

Participating Organizations

If you are interested in participating, you can download and print out a copy of the 2009 program outline and registration form . Here is a list of the 2009 participating organizations.

Congratulations to our Top 54 Bonus Bucks organizations for raising the most for 2009. Look to see what the Top 54 organizations earned through the Oak Farms Dairy Charity Pro-Am.

If you are interested in making a contribution, you can make your donation or pledge online to your favorite participating charity or school. You can also print out a copy of the 2009 pledge form.

A “Birdie” Pledge

In golf, “par” is the normal expected score on any given hole. A “birdie” is one stroke under par for a hole, possibly derived from the term “It flew like a bird” to indicate a good shot. Your goal is to have donors and/or companies to pledge a penny or more for each birdie that will be made during the tournament week at the Valero Texas Open (birdies count Wednesday-Sunday).

The pledge period:

January 16 - May 12, 2009

Recommended Pledge Requests:

Individuals: $0.01+ (per birdie made)
Corporations: $0.50+ (per birdie made)

Example: In 2008 2,344 birdies were made.
1 cent = $23.44
2 cents = $46.88
3 cents = $70.32

Recommended Donation Requests:

Individuals: $20+
Corporations: $1,000+

By allowing the individual to choose what works best for them, there is no reason for the individual not to give – you are giving them options and lots of opportunities.

Contributors can donate using the pledge form or online at: golfsanantonio.org. They have the option to pay by cash, check or credit card.

“Guess the Birdies” Contest

To add excitement and encourage participation, donors can participate in the “Guess the Birdies” contest. Participants simply guess how many birdies will be made Wednesday – Sunday of tournament week. The individual with the correct guess wins the grand prize, a Buick vehicle. Ties are determined through an annual tiebreaker event. There are also more than 100 other random prizes awarded.

Sponsors

Oak Farms Dairy and Pepsi are our sponsors, contributing to program costs and underwriting the Bonus Bucks Program. Buick provides our Guess the Birdies Grand Prize.

Birdies History

Birdies made in past tournaments:

Reasons to Get Involved

100% Return

Every dollar collected on your behalf goes back to your organization.

Zero Risk

Only your time is required…why not get involved?!

Free Participation

It costs you nothing to join the program!

Earn Extra Money

There are several opportunities to earn extra money through our incentive programs.

Incentive Programs

1. $500 Weekly Giveaway – Each week during the fundraising period, $500 will be awarded to a participating organization. Raise the most money for the week (with the minimum of 5 pledge forms) and win the weekly giveaway. Submit the pledge forms to GSA by mail, in person, or online.
2. Bonus Bucks – If an organization is one of the top 54 in fundraising, you will be represented by an amateur team playing in the Oak Farms Charity Dairy Pro-Am which will compete for a share of the bonus pool on your behalf. All top 54 organizations automatically receive $250.
3. End of Year Incentive Pool – A designated incentive pool will be distributed at the end of the year based on performance and reaching and/or exceeding the minimum fund raising threshold of $1,000.
4. Grant Opportunities – Organizations that reach a minimum fundraising threshold of $1,000 and have been in the program at least one year are invited to submit a grant application. GSA grant amounts may vary each year.
5. 100% Collection Incentive – If your organization has a 100% collection rate concluding the first billing cycle, you will receive your check in December. All other organizations will receive their check for the entire amount collected in January after the second billing cycle is complete. All incentive money will be distributed in March 2009.