We Must Be The Change - Magazine - Page 14
ACTION: Building stronger communities
TOUR Championship puts spotlight
on racial injustice and equality
Company implores others to join us in taking a stand
and being the change
Southern Company has been a Proud Partner of the TOUR Championship
since 2015, which celebrated its 20th year at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta
in 2020. The TOUR Championship has become the “Super Bowl” of golf,
where the top 30 players in the world compete for the ultimate prize.
“Southern Company’s
focus on racial
equality is longterm, and our efforts
during the TOUR
Championship
aimed at advancing
the conversation
and inspiring other
companies and
partners to join us in
our endeavor to be
the change.”
- Chris Womack
14
WE MUST BE THE CHANGE
Through our PGA Tour partnership, more than $32 million has been donated in our
communities to fund education, health and wellness programs and neighborhood
revitalization. However, the company used this year’s spotlight to also focus on
racial justice and equality.
Those efforts included:
• The “Be the Change” ad calling for the end of racism and imploring others to join us
in taking a stand against racial injustice. The national spot was created specifically for
the TOUR Championship and aired during and immediately after the tournament.
• CEO Tom Fanning’s welcome video spoke of the importance of diversity,
inclusion and acceptance and was delivered from Atlanta’s National Center for
Civil and Human Rights.
• Then Executive Vice President and President, External Affairs, Chris Womack,
who is now Georgia Power's president, highlighted Southern Company’s efforts
in fighting racism and helping the communities it serves in an interview with
NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico.
• The Golf with a Purpose Charity Match raised $1 million for the East Lake
Foundation and other charities.
• The PGA Tour also made a commitment to raising more than $100 million
toward racial and social injustice causes over the next 10 years, recognizing the
significance of Atlanta in the civil rights movement and the impact of the TOUR
Championship in the East Lake Community.