Greenville, S.C. South Carolina Charities, Inc. (SCCI) has announced a new sustainability program, in partnership with Univar Solutions, for the 2021 BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation, becoming the first tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour to send zero waste to landfill. Efforts also include the launch of a three-year plan for the BMW Charity Pro-Am to achieve Golf Environmental Organization (GEO) certification, an initiative led by the GEO Foundation, the international non-profit dedicated to helping advance sustainability in and through golf.
2021 tournament patrons will see significant changes onsite, including an increased number of waste receptacles, recyclable and biodegradable food and beverage packaging, and reusable mesh signage. In addition, Thornblade Club and The Cliffs Valley are dedicated to cutting emissions by working with local food distribution companies to source as many local food options as possible. The tournament will also work with Signatures, a corporate apparel supplier and certified women-owned business local to the Upstate, to create golf shoe bags made from repurposed garment and tournament signage material.
“BMW Manufacturing is proud to support the BMW Charity Pro-Am and the new sustainability measures they will be implementing this year, as they align with our ongoing commitment to sustainability across the Upstate,” said Max Metcalf, manager of government and community relations at BMW Manufacturing and secretary/treasurer of South Carolina Charities Inc. “We are pleased to have the support of the City of Greenville, Keep Greenville County Beautiful, and PalmettoPride as we work to make an impact while helping set the precedent for sustainable sporting activities in the Upstate.”
The City of Greenville and Keep Greenville County Beautiful will support the tournament’s efforts, which align with the mission of the City of Greenville’s Green Ribbon Advisory committee and Greenville County’s Litter Ends Here and Keep Greenville County Beautiful initiatives. The BMW Charity Pro-Am has also been awarded the Litter Prevention Grant from PalmettoPride, which will provide funds for the implementation of litter prevention programs at tournament courses.
BMW Manufacturing was one of the first plants of its kind to receive ISO 14001 certification, which ensures green manufacturing processes. BMW Charity Pro-Am tournament officials will work with one of BMW Manufacturing’s sustainability partners, Univar Solutions, a leading chemical and fine ingredient distribution company regionally located in Greer, for all trash collection and hauling from tournament sources. Blue Strike Environmental, a national firm designed to develop and implement sustainable programs, will source a team to weigh and sort trash, recyclables, and compostable materials prior to being hauled from the tournament.
Additional community partners include MOA Architecture and The Sudler Companies, both of which are dedicated to the tournament’s e-waste and sustainability efforts through financial and volunteer support. “The Sudler Companies salutes the sustainability efforts of the BMW Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation and are proud 2021 sponsors,” explains Brian Sudler, principal at The Sudler Companies. “As the developers and long-term owners of Fox Hill Business Park in Greenville County, we continually seek the most effective and environmentally conscious development methods. Our buildings are constructed utilizing CarbonCure technology which permanently sequesters C02 into concrete. Concrete accounts for 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions. We are committed to keeping Greenville County a beautiful place to live and work.” To help support the tournament’s sustainability efforts, contact Judson Conwell at jconwell@sccharities.org for sponsorship opportunities.
The Greenville community is invited to get involved by participating in two local events. In partnership with Keep Greenville County Beautiful and Litter Ends Here, tournament officials will participate in the Great American Cleanup through PalmettoPride. This community litter cleanup day will take place on May 1st near Thornblade Club, and those interested in volunteering are asked to contact Kari Snyder with South Carolina Charities, Inc. at ksnyder@sccharities.org.
In addition, the public is invited to support the reduction of e-waste by joining tournament partner, MOA Architecture, and featured tournament beneficiary, Roper Mountain Science Center, on June 5th from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. for the inaugural E-Waste Recycling Event at Roper Mountain Science Center’s new Environmental Science and Sustainability Building. This new addition to Roper Mountain Science Center is a transformational facility that combines cutting-edge interactive technology with immersive educational experiences that foster exploration and stewardship of natural resources, set to open to the public on June 1st. For more information on this exciting new addition to the Upstate, visit RoperMountain.org.
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ABOUT THE BMW CHARITY PRO-AM PRESENTED BY SYNNEX CORPORATION
South Carolina Charities, Inc. (SCCI), the non-profit foundation of the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation, was created in order to showcase the beauty of Upstate South Carolina and the hospitality of its citizens to the world; to create an event that brings the Upstate a fun and entertaining week centered around professional athletes and world renowned celebrities; and raise money and awareness for South Carolina charities. Since 2001, the tournament has distributed $13.7 million to numerous Upstate SC non-profit organizations, part of the PGA TOUR’s $3 billion raised for charity.
Please Note:
To the extent that historical press releases reference BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC as the manufacturer of certain X model vehicles, the referenced vehicles are manufactured in South Carolina with a combination of U.S. origin and imported parts and components.