Since the inaugural TOUR Championship was held at East Lake Golf Club in 1998, the event has generated more than $63 million for local charities.
With the support of Proud Partners Accenture, Coca-Cola, and Southern Company, the tournament has contributed to several community organizations led by the East Lake Foundation.
“We could not do what we do without the TOUR Championship’s support. The resources and awareness provided to our organization have been pivotal to the holistic community redevelopment over the past 30 years, which includes mixed-income housing, a cradle-to-college and career continuum, economic vitality, and community well-being,” said Ilham Askia, President and CEO of the East Lake Foundation. “Because of this progress, East Lake became the blueprint for more than 25 neighborhoods across the country to illuminate pathways to equitable, healthy and vibrant communities nationwide through Purpose Built Communities.”
As we spend the week here covering the final leg of the three-event FedEx Cup Playoffs, our attention turns to the foundation’s impact. To highlight the breadth of its support, Golf One Media took a deeper dive into some key programs:
Charles R. Drew Charter School (est. 2000) – The City of Atlanta’s first public charter school. Drew’s innovative Project-Based Learning (PBL) approach, integrated with a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) framework and a strong foundation in literacy, helps students reach their full potential.
Sheltering Arms East Lake and the East Lake Early Learning Academy – These programs work to ensure that children and youth they serve are prepared for success in learning at each stage of their development through the cradle-to-college and career continuum within the East Lake community.
Trust at East Lake – The East Lake Foundation is partnering with the Atlanta Land Trust to build forty affordable, single-family, for-sale townhomes. Construction is underway and is scheduled for completion later this year.
The Villages at East Lake – As the largest preservation of affordable housing in Atlanta’s history, The Villages at East Lake provides 650 homes with a wide range of mixed-income options, including 1–4-bedroom apartments, townhomes, and duplexes. Families living there are at the core of the Foundation’s work and have access to schools, partner programs, and surrounding amenities.
Start: ME – In collaboration with Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, this program provides business training, mentorship, and grants to support local entrepreneurs in launching and growing their businesses.
Culinary Masterclass Program – This program offers a series of classes in which participants gain hands-on culinary skills, build confidence, and engage with a community passionate about the subject matter. The program was a collaboration among the East Lake Golf Club, Drew Charter School, and Byron Hospitality Consulting, designed to introduce students to both culinary arts and business.
Askia says the partnership with the PGA TOUR embodies East Lake Golf Club’s commitment to area communities and how golf serves as a catalyst for positive change.
The TOUR Championship also supports First Tee – Metro Atlanta, Focused Community Strategies, Grove Park Foundation, and Purpose Built Schools Atlanta, among others.
“The East Lake Foundation stands out from other organizations because it was built from the inside out through the people who were already part of the community and with the resources and connections they had. The TOUR Championship, with its home in the community, remains one of the key partnerships that has made this transformation possible,” Askia added.
