Deane Beman to receive ‘Rock of the Community Award’ from Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra Beach

Award to be presented May 4 at annual Mineral City Celebration

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Former PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane Beman will receive the 2019 “Rock of the Community Award” at the Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra Beach’s annual Mineral City Celebration, to be held Saturday, May 4, at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse.

Beman will be honored for his impact on Ponte Vedra Beach, including the millions of dollars in charitable contributions the PGA TOUR has made to Northeast Florida charities.

“Deane Beman literally changed the face of Ponte Vedra through the creation of TPC Sawgrass,” noted Vickie Cavey, president of the Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra Beach. “Since THE PLAYERS Championship began (in Ponte Vedra Beach) in 1977, local charities have received more than $100 million from the tournament, making an incalculable impact on the quality of life of countless Northeast Florida residents.”

In addition to charitable contributions, Cavey added, THE PLAYERS Championship has had an estimated economic impact on Northeast Florida of $3 billion over the past 40 years.

  “Deane’s vision has touched lives all over the world — and most especially here in Ponte Vedra,” she said. “It is our honor and privilege to present him with the Rock of the Community Award.” 

  A four-time PGA Tour champion, Beman is widely credited with transforming professional golf into a billion-dollar sport with an international following during his tenure as PGA TOUR commissioner. Central to Beman’s vision for the TPC tournament network was the mandate that each tournament would be a 501 c 3 nonprofit, with tournament proceeds donated to area charities in recognition of the vital role local volunteers played in making the tournaments happen. To date, total charitable donations made from the PGA TOUR, the PGA Champions Tour and the Web.com Tour total more than $2 billion.

The Mineral City Celebration is the signature annual fundraising event for the Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra Beach. Proceeds from the event benefit more than two dozen local nonprofit organizations and charities, including the Beman’s chosen charity, Vision is Priceless, as well as the Beaches Dial-a-Ride program, Mission House, BEAM, HEAL, the Council on Aging and more. For tickets or more information, visit www.mineralcitycelebration.com.