McIlroy launches "The Rory Foundation"
Rory McIlroy poses with a golf bag featuring the logo of the first charity to benefit from his 6 Bags ProjectRory McIlroy has launched a charitable foundation “to help children from around the world.”
“The Rory Foundation” (Twitter page) will begin its fund raising efforts with “The 6 Bags Project” - for each of the first six tournaments McIlroy plays in for the first four months of 2013, his golf bag will carry the name and logo of a children’s charity.
During the tournament the bag will be auctioned off via www.roryfoundation.com with all monies raised going to the featured charity. The aim where possible is that each charity will be active within the community where the tournament is being held.
McIlroy is following in the footsteps of the likes of Tiger Woods, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke, who all run foundations in their name.
McIlroy said: “When I was younger my parents sacrificed everything to allow me to play the game I love. Having that support from my family gave me the opportunity to chase my dreams.
“But I know that every child is not so fortunate. My aim is that The Rory Foundation will support children’s charities big and small, around the world, that try to give kids that helping hand.”
McIlroy added: “I had a childhood, a great childhood and if The Rory Foundation can help one child achieve a better quality of life then job done.”
The first charity whose logo will be carried on the golf bag in next week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship is The Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children (NICFC).
Gillian Cleery, CEO for the charity said today “We are so proud to be the first of the 6 nominated charities benefiting from The 6 Bags project.
“This association with Rory will not only have a significant impact on children and young people who look up to Rory and are inspired by him, but will also help to maintain Rory’s very important links to Northern Ireland as he moves increasingly into a global circuit.
“Our aim is to create a brand new therapeutic centre for children and their families any monies raised from being part of The 6 Bags Project will go towards fulfilling this dream”.
McIlroy’s father Gerry, who is one of four trustees of The Rory Foundation (the others are not named on the official website) said: “Myself and my wife Rosie are very proud of what Rory has achieved on and off the golf course. The creation of this Foundation is, for Rory, we feel a natural progression and is ultimately about giving back.”
The Foundation has named five of the six charities to benefit from his first five starts of the year. The exception is charity that will benefit from The Masters, which has been decided but will be not be announced until closer to the event.
- HSBC Abu Dhabi (17 – 20th January) – Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children
- WGC -Accenture Match Play Championship (20 – 24th February): Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson
- Honda Classic (28th February – 3rd March): Child Protection Team of the Palm Beaches
- WGC-Cadillac Championship (7th – 10th March): First Tee Miami-Dade Amateur Golf Association
- Shell Houston Open: (25th -31st March): Chinquapin School
- The Masters (11th-14th April): To Be Announced