At 7pm this evening, Friday 29th February, the Golf Foundation is one of three sporting bodies invited to attend the first BingoLotto TV show to win prizes. Radio and TV presenter DJ Spoony, the ambassador for the Golf Foundation’s Golf Roots programme, will be on hand to try to win a top prize of £100,000 on the night for the Golf Roots cause.
The Golf Foundation is to be among the first beneficiaries of BingoLotto – a new TV game which will raise money for sport and the voluntary sector.
BingoLotto is a weekly game broadcast on digital TV channels Virgin1 and Challenge. At least 20% from each ticket sold in the UK will be distributed to sport and recreation projects up and down the country. Profits from the TV show will also be distributed to the governing and representative bodies of sport and recreation.
Golf Roots is an initiative that brings sustainable golf projects to inner cities to help the social and sporting development of youngsters from all backgrounds. Golf Roots is being rolled out to 16 cities for 2008. The Golf Foundation is a charity that relies on public support to run its national golf initiatives that reach an estimated 500,000 children each year.
Gamecards for BingoLotto will be on sale from 14,000 outlets around the country and will allow TV viewers to take part in the BingoLotto game, with a one in 9.5 chance of winning (BingoLotto is regulated by the Gambling Commission). The BingoLotto game has run in Sweden since 1991 where it has raised just under £1bn for charities and sports organisations.
The game will also provide promotional opportunities for a wide range of sports and activities by featuring them on the weekly show and on the BingoLotto website.
The Golf Foundation will support the game by publicising how any prize monies are spent to help young golfers and by using the TV show when possible to highlight stories about junior grass roots golf.
Mike Round, chief executive of the Golf Foundation, said, “A commercial TV show and lottery game that raises money for British sport can have a positive role to play in the development of our sportsmen and women.
“Golf can instil in youngsters attributes such as respect, perseverance, cooperation and honesty. We are seeing through Golf Roots that golf can make a difference to the lives of youngsters and the more money we can raise from the public purse the greater the impact that Golf Roots can make.”
BingoLotto www.bingolotto.tv
Golf Foundation www.golf-foundation.org