It was another record-breaking performance by the John Deere Classic in 2024, generating nearly $16 Million for 476 local and regional charities.
Three months after Davis Thompson shot a tournament record 28-under par to win by four strokes and become the 24th first-time winner there, tournament organizers announced the count and the amount at the John Deere Pavilion in downtown Moline, where tournament and charity officials gathered to celebrate.
Davis Thompson
“The John Deere Classic is proud of and grateful for the record charity numbers the tournament helped generate this year,” said John Deere Classic tournament director Andrew Lehman. “It couldn’t have happened without the steadfast support of John Deere, our sponsors and volunteers and, of course, our fans. The tremendous spirit that drives our tournament to new heights every year is based in the knowledge that everyone’s working for the charities that benefit our community.”
The total works out to $42.60 for each of the Quad Cities’ 375,000 residents, again making the John Deere Classic the No. 1 in per capita contributions on the regular PGA TOUR, a distinction it has held for over a decade.
“From health and wellness to cultural enrichment and essential services, our nonprofits are there for the community,” said Micaela Booth, Director of Birdies for Charity. “The program gives them a turnkey fundraising campaign and additional revenue to help them continue their vital work.”
The 2024 John Deere Classic and its Birdies for Charity program generated $15,976,574.68. Officials announced today that each participating charity will receive an 8% bonus to add to their individual charity totals. The ‘24 total broke last year’s record by $1,873,741; this year’s bonus is up from last year’s 7.5%. Since the tournament was founded as the Quad Cities Open in 1971, it has helped raise $189,652,123.66, with more than 99 percent of that coming since John Deere assumed title sponsorship in 1998.
The total amount donated to the charities is the result of a three-pronged fundraising effort:
- The tournament’s Birdies for Charity program enables individuals, companies, and foundations to pledge a lump sum donation to a charity or charities of their choice.
- John Deere underwrites the administrative costs of the Birdies program, meaning that 100 percent of each Birdies pledge collected goes directly to the designated charities to be used at their organization. Charities pay no administrative costs to Birdies for Charity.
- The Bonus Fund consists of tournament revenues, direct donations, a John Deere matching grant, and proceeds from special events.
The John Deere Classic, which includes Birdies for Charity, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Since 1971, the tournament has helped raise nearly $190 million for charity.
