HONOLULU — Michelle Wie has assumed the title sponsorship of the Michelle Wie Hawai‘i State Junior Golf Association Tournament of Champions, which will play at the Wailea Golf Club in December. The HSJGA launched an online crowdfunding campaign to raise
HONOLULU — Michelle Wie has assumed the title sponsorship of the Michelle Wie Hawai‘i State Junior Golf Association Tournament of Champions, which will play at the Wailea Golf Club in December.
The HSJGA launched an online crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the tournament, states an HSJGA release, and Wie has joined in on the effort by offering “perks” to motivate donations and is lending her social media influence to promote the campaign.
“We’ve already gotten a lot of the Kaua‘i Junior Golf Association members donating in exchange for autographed photographs of Michelle Wie,” said Mary Bea Porter-King of the HSJGA Sunday during the final round of the 2012 Mixed Team Championship, which took place at the Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course. “Michelle played on Kaua‘i’s courses during her days as a Junior Golfer and people remember her and follow her progress as a professional.”
When the campaign launched on Oct. 2, Wie tweeted the announcement and within the first two hours, more than $2,300 poured into the coffers.
“I can’t believe we’re over the $2,000-mark already,” Wie tweeted. “You guys are the best! Let’s keep it going!”
The Michelle Wie HSJGA Tournament of Champions will be a key fundraiser for the HSJGA with the proceeds going directly to operation costs, which includes 24 tournaments scheduled in 2012, new tournament development and Hawai‘i youth golf development, the release states.
With the funds raised through this campaign, Wie and the HSJGA are also aiming to start awarding travel scholarships to help Junior travel inter-island and to the Mainland for golf tournaments.
“These scholarships would allow some extremely talented juniors who may not have the resources to cover the high cost of travel the opportunity to compete in the national junior or amateur circuit,” Porter-King said.
To kick off the campaign, Wie will match every dollar of the first $10,000 raised.
Each of the donors included in the first $10,000 will receive a “shout out” on Twitter by Wie (her handle is @themichellewie).
Wie’s sponsors, Nike Golf and Kia, have already joined her in support of the campaign.
Porter-King said some of the perks for contributing include: for $10, a Twitter shout out and matching donation up to the first $10,000; for a $25 donation, a personalized thank you note signed by Wie and a Twitter shout out and matching donation; and for a $45 donation, an autographed 8-inch by 10-inch Michelle Wie photo.
A $1,500 sponsorship package includes joining Wie and a small group of sponsors in Maui for the exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime golf experience, including 18-hole round at the Wailea Golf Club, 3-hole walking clinic by Wie, private sponsors’ luncheon at the Wailea Golf Club, player banquet with keynote speaker Wie and a tee gift from Nike. Dates for this event is Dec. 14 to 15. Airfare and accommodations are not included in the package.
A $5,000 sponsorship package includes a special edition custom Kia Tour golf bag. This is Wie’s custom-designed and autographed golf bag she has used in 2012. The design includes Wie’s art work and there are two of these bags in existence.
Visit www.hsjga.org to be redirected to the official Michelle Wie HSJGA TOC fundraising campaign for more information or to contribute.
