Principal Charity Classic's professional competition launches today at the Wakonda Club.
Why it matters: The annual PGA Tour Champions golf tournament is expected to raise roughly $8 million for Iowa children's charities this year, Principal Financial Group CEO Dan Houston tells Axios.
Driving the news: Wakonda reopened just last week after a nearly year-long renovation to restore the century-old course to its original design.
Flashback: Principal, one of Des Moines' largest employers, became the event's title sponsor in 2007.
- The event has raised almost $54 million since.
State of play: Money goes primarily to the event's charity partners — Blank Children's Hospital, MercyOne Children's Hospital, United Way of Central Iowa and Variety - the Children's Charity of Iowa.
- More than 130,000 kids benefit each year from the event's fundraising, per Principal .
Zoom in: This year's classic includes new spectator attractions like Sunday's " Pedal to the PCC " with participants getting free tournament admission and MidAmerican Energy Sustainability Grove , where food trucks and phone charging is available.
The intrigue: Wednesday's pro-am players were the first to use Wakonda's new course.
- That's because members were unable to golf last week due to inclement weather, Principal spokesperson Megan Grandgeorge tells Axios.
Fun fact: This year's purse is $2 million, including $300K to the champion.
The big picture: The event will provide significant resources at a time when charities are under additional strain as they help families recover from pandemic-related setbacks, per Houston.
- "This is a game changer," he says.
If you go : Gates open at 8:30am Friday through Sunday. Tickets start at $25.
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2cHHMr_0tbZqrRr00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=2cHHMr_0tbZqrRr00)
Attendance at last year's Principal Charity Classic topped 80,000. Spectators will find new amenities and viewing areas this year. Photo: Courtesy of Principal Charity Classic
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