BMW Charity Pro-Am tees up to support nonprofits with the help of celebrities and golfers
A crowd turned out Thursday to watch their favorite celebrities play golf with amateurs during the annual BMW Charity Pro-Am at the Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg and Thornblade Club in Greer.
Since 2001, the BMW Charity Pro-Am has distributed nearly $16 million to Upstate nonprofits. This year, the charity has raised funds for eight organizations. The event runs through Sunday, June 9.
Jack McCarthy, 69, has volunteered for the BMW Charity Pro-Am since 2009. McCarthy said he does it because he enjoys it, and it helps multiple charities. He volunteered at the Carolina Country Club.
"It's hard, but I enjoy it ... and it helps the charities," McCarthy said. "Meals on Wheels was one of the [previous] charities BMW sponsored, and they said the more volunteer hours you put in, the more charity money you got."
The charity organization has also partnered with Friends of the Reedy River. A program that is 100% sustainable and organizers say no trash ends goes in landfills.
Charity brings golf and celebrity fans from across the state
Spectators were excited to watch a live golf tournament and meet their favorite celebrities. Dave Precht and his wife bought a ticket at the last minute and drove from Columbia to see their favorite television actor from The Office Brian Baumgartner.
"Brian Baumgartner is what brought us here," Precht said. "We knew it was a nice tournament, so I said why not? We also saw Phillip Phillips and got a picture with him. He was very nice."
Thursday evening, crowds flooded downtown Spartanburg to watch Phillip Phillips, perform live. He is the winner of American Idol's Season 11.
Daniel Lawrence Whitney, also known as Larry the Cable Guy, is a reoccurring celebrity guest for the BMW Charity Pro-Am. He said the event is something filled with fun people for a good cause.
"This is a fun event to be in. The courses are great, the people are sweet, and they give so much money to the community," Whitney said. "I'm not even that good of a golfer, but I enjoy coming out."
Joanna Johnson covers community news and education for the Herald-Journal. Reach her via email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: BMW Charity Pro-Am holds annual event to raise money for charities
