CHI CHI RODRIGUEZ ACADEMY |
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3030 N. McMullen Booth Rd.
Clearwater, FL 33761
(727) 726-8829
CHI CHI ACADEMY STUDENTS WIN FROM DONATIONS
Renee Burrell
The Clearwater Gazette
November 13, 2008
Golf great Chi Chi Rodriguez, a 2008 recipient of a Congress Charitable Lifetime Achievement Award, has been making a difference in the lives of low-income Pinellas County youths at risk of dropping out of school since partnering with Raymond James founder Bob James and former pro-golfer and educator Bill Hayes in 1979. Since then, over 15,000 children have been reached by the Chi Chi Rodriguez Academy. Aside from being recognized by donors as a worthy recipient for funding, the Academy has received the Jackie Robinson Humanitarianism Award, the NEA Leadership Award, and was named the Best Program in America for Kids by the National Golf Foundation and Best Program in the United States by Golf Digest.
CLEARWATER - Outback Steakhouse representatives, including co-founder Bob Basham, presented The Chi Chi Rodriguez Academy with a check for eighty thousand dollars Wednesday, October 29. The Academy was one of five beneficiaries sharing in the proceeds from Outback's 2008 Pro-Am Golf Champions Tour event. All totaled, The Pro-Am has contributed over $3 million to area charities since Outback became the title sponsor five years ago.
The funds from Outback Steakhouse will allow the Chi Chi Rodriguez Academy to enroll more students and expand their programming. The cornerstone of the program is to help Pinellas County School District elementary students grades 4-8 by improving their academics in tandem with improving their self-esteem and character through lessons learned on the golf course and associated with the game's challenges.
Upcoming fundraising events are on the horizon to further help the Academy help the children of Pinellas. Frank Ingo, the Academy's Special Projects Manager, explains, "The vision for the Academy is to reach struggling children early and teach positive values connected with the game of golf, such as patience, discipline, determination and respect for others."
The Academy is a Pinellas County District partnership school and serves over 1,000 children each year also through The First Tee of Clearwater, an After School Program partnering with Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Pinellas.
