SAVE THE DATES FOR THIS YEAR'S 2010 TOURNAMENTS:
PIPER APPRECIATION NIGHT: FEB 12
TENNIS TOURNAMENT: FEB 6 & 7
WALK-A-THON: FEB 7
GOLF TOURNAMENT: FEB 14-15
HISTORY:
The Bobby Nichols Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation is a 501c3 tax exempt nonprofit organization. Founded in 2002, it is comprised of a group of Fiddlesticks members, known as Pipers, who volunteer to organize and run an annual celebrity pro-am invitational golf tournament for the following purposes:
MISSION STATEMENT
1. Generate funds to return to the community via charitable contributions. These contributions have been earmarked for abused and underprivileged children.
2. Recognize the contributions and accomplishments of Bobby Nichols, winner of 14 PGA Tour tournaments including the 1964 PGA Championship and 1974 Canadian Open. (Bobby has been a resident of Fiddlesticks since its inception.)
TOURNAMENT DETAILS:
A “by invitation only” event, open only to Pipers and their guests. Sunday includes pro pairings, shotgun practice round, gala dinner with live and silent auctions. Monday tournament is a scramble with five-person teams (ladies, men or mixed, and one PGA pro per team). The day includes on-course beverages, lunch, awards dinner, and raffle. All players receive a lavish gift package and tournament program.
YEAR SEVEN RESULTS:
In just seven years, the Foundation has raised $2.5 million for children’s charities. The 2009 Nichols Cup Celebrity Pro-Am Tournament, Tennis Tournament, and Kid's Walk-a-thon generated an impressive $572,000 of which $258,000 was presented to The Children's Advocacy Center of SW FL, $245,000 to Abuse Counceling Inc., and $50,000 to SWFL Addiction Services and $10,000 to the Johnny Bench Scholarship Fund.
The Foundation is thankful for this year’s presenting sponsor, Prasco Laboratories, and for the many other corporate sponsors, including: Dawson Companies, Merrill Lynch, Val Ward Cadillac, 21st Century Healthcare, Ellsworth Heating and Cooling, Suzanne and Howard Moss, FineMark Bank, Dr. Ralph Garramone, Sunday Funday Group, Colonial Bank, and Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice and Purtz.
BECOMING A FOUNDATION PIPER:
You must be a Fiddlesticks member. To become an individual Piper, there is a first-time fee of $250. A family membership is available for $350. Thereafter, annual dues are $150 for an individual or $250 for a family membership. This money goes to the Bobby Nichols Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation, a non-profit 501c3 organization.
GOVERNANCE:
The Board consists of 12 Fiddlesticks members. Board members serve without pay and each pays his/her own Piper dues and tournament fees. One Fiddlesticks staff member acts as tournament coordinator and an outside bookkeeper is employed.
