Bernhard Langer, the immediate past captain of The European Ryder Cup Team, has made the first charitable donation of €40,000 on behalf of The Ryder Cup European Development Trust (RCEDT) to (DKD) prior to the start of the Linde German Masters in Cologne.
The Ryder Cup European Development Trust, set up in April 2004, is a registered charity under the control of the PGAs of Europe Ltd with the objective to develop golf across Europe. The PGAs of Europe comprises 29 member countries and is a partner in Ryder Cup Europe LLP.
Langer, co-promoter of the tournament at Gut Là¤rchenhof, took time off from his preparation to join Heinz Fehring, director of the PGAs of Europe, in presenting the Trust’s first award to DKD – the German Children’s Aid Foundation Direct – which cares for sick and underprivileged children throughout Germany and supports institutions in the Cologne area.
The Trust manages its share of profits from The Ryder Cup in a tax efficient method to give the Trust the opportunity to maximise funds to contribute to golf projects across Europe from grass roots to professional level.
The first project in Cologne was identified by Fehring and was endorsed by the other three trustees, Sandy Jones, the chief executive of the PGA, Donato di Ponziano and Mikael Sorling, both directors of the PGAs of Europe.
Each presentation will be made by a Ryder Cup player and on this occasion the honour falls on Langer, who said, “The Ryder Cup generates large profits and it is entirely fitting that some of those proceeds should be directed back into game in the form of charitable donations.
“The DKD has developed its own ‘Kidswing’ programme to establish a new form of therapy for physically challenged children. The involvement of these children in golf, with special trained golf professionals, and the appropriate equipment and facilities, can help to improve their condition and increase their self esteem.
“The Ryder Cup has been a huge part of my life so it gives me great pleasure in handing over this cheque on behalf of the Trust.”
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