Sanderson Farms Championship host organization donates $1M to benefit Children’s of Mississippi
Published on Tuesday, December 17, 2024
By: Annie Oeth, aoeth@umc.edu
Photos By: Joe Ellis/ UMMC Communications
Century Club Charities, host of the Sanderson Farms Championship, achieved a remarkable milestone by donating $1 million from tournament proceeds to support Children’s of Mississippi.
This marks the 11th consecutive year that the tournament has contributed $1 million or more to Friends of Children’s Hospital, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for the state’s only children’s hospital.
The announcement was made at a news conference this morning at the BankPlus Community Room of the Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower at Children’s of Mississippi.
The $1 million gift, coupled with over $750,000 to other Mississippi charities, brings Century Club Charities' total charitable impact statewide to over $1.75 million in 2024. Since Sanderson Farms, now Wayne-Sanderson Farms, became the Title Sponsor in 2013, the tournament and Century Club Charities have contributed over $18.95 million to Friends of Children's Hospital and other Mississippi charities. Since 1994, Century Club Charities has raised more than $26.25 million for Mississippi charities.
Dr. JR Woodall, president of Century Club Charities and a spine surgeon at Mississippi Sports Medicine, started his medical career as a resident at UMMC.
“I’m forever indebted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center and the children’s hospital for the role that they played in my education and training,” he said. “Being able to give something back to the institution that was so critical in my journey to becoming a physician and surgeon has been special. ... The campus has changed so much since I was a resident to this September when I had the opportunity to walk the halls with (2023 Sanderson Farms Championship winner) Luke List and see the world-class care that the kids are getting and how happy the staff are to work here and the culture of Children’s of Mississippi.”
Children’s of Mississippi, which includes the children’s hospital as well as clinics around the state, cares for nearly 200,000 children a year.
Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs at UMMC, thanked Century Club Charities, Friends of Children’s Hospital and Wayne-Sanderson Farms for their continuing support.
“It’s really an amazing partnership, these entities that come together and do the work to see great results like this,” she said. “The Sanderson Farms Championship brings to Mississippi a PGA TOUR golf tournament, which has so many positive impacts. Part of what makes it so special is that it’s a two-way partnership. It’s an all-year-long relationship where the players and their families come here and spend time with the children at the hospital. Also, so many of our folks at the Medical Center volunteer and feel very invested in making it such a success.”
Friends of Children’s Hospital Board Chair Kristin Allen thanked Century Club Charities members for their steadfast support.
“Century Club Charities, through the incredible success of the Sanderson Farms Championship, has provided unwavering support to Children’s of Mississippi,” Allen said. “Their generosity over the years has been instrumental in helping us deliver compassionate, life-changing care to the state’s sick and injured children. On behalf of Mississippi’s youngest patients and their families, thank you for your steadfast partnership and dedication to improving the health and future of our children—one life at a time.”
Dr. Mary Taylor, Suzan B. Thames Chair and professor of pediatrics, said advancements in pediatric care such as the opening of the Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower at Children’s of Mississippi in 2020 would not have been possible without the Sanderson Farms Championship.
"I am blessed every day to see the real impact of this gift,” she said. “It is just such a privilege to walk through these halls. Not a single day goes by that we don’t have a family member or child who experiences the benefits of your support. This facility gives them the opportunity to have state-of-the-art care right here in Mississippi, and that’s what Mississippi children deserve. You are making a huge difference in the lives of thousands and thousands of children.”
“We’re always really excited and usually surprised at the generosity of the gifts this tournament gives to the children’s hospital,” said Dr. Guy Giesecke, CEO of Children’s of Mississippi. “There’s been a tremendous amount of work and building to make the tournament better each year, and we’re very grateful for that.”
David Gadd, Wayne-Sanderson Farms senior vice president and general manager of the company’s retail business unit, said the announcement is the “culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of people.”
“Today we are honored to give back to the young patients, their families, all of the doctors, nurses and staff,” he said. “At the end of the day, that’s really what it’s all about.”
Steve Jent, executive director of the tournament, thanked Wayne-Sanderson Farms, “the best title sponsor on the PGA TOUR, no doubt,” as well as the many volunteers and fans who support the Sanderson Farms Championship each year.
"The ongoing support from Wayne-Sanderson Farms, our tournament sponsors, Century Club members, and dedicated fans – along with the tireless efforts of our volunteers and staff – have made it possible for us to create another unforgettable year of the Sanderson Farms Championship."
The 2025 Sanderson Farms Championship is set for Sept. 29-Oct. 5 at the Country Club of Jackson.