Chip Howell hits a shot from the fairway during Friday's round of the Sunny King Charity Classic at Anniston Country Club. Photo: Bill Wilson/The Anniston Star
Organizers of the Sunny King Charity Classic expect to surpass the $2 million mark in charitable donations collected over the golf tournament's 31 years.
Last year, the tournament distributed $130,000 to charities, and despite a sputtering economy, this year saw only a mild reduction.
That means charities such as the American Red Cross, United Way and Second Chance will benefit once again.
"That's darn good in this type of economy," said Ken Howell, a member of the Greater Anniston Business and Professional Association, which started the tournament. "It tells me that the local community rallies around it, because they know it's going for a good cause."
GABPA has designated about 20 different charities as benefactors this year.
Organizers were worried that all of the 204 team slots would not be filled. But, like most years, the community stepped up to the tee and smoked a drive down right down the middle.
Hank Smith, event treasurer, said he thought the donations would be down a lot more this year.
"That's the great thing about this community," he said. "It's a very giving and charitable community and people stepped up … in a year when the charities needed it more than ever."
