Rory Starts His Foundation...

From an unbylined AP story.

And For Immediate Release:

‘The Rory Foundation’ launches with The 6 Bags Project

Today, Thursday 10th January at 1pm (GMT) in Holywood, Co Down, the birthplace of World Number 1 Golfer and 2012 US PGA Tour Player of the Year Rory McIlroy, details of the first fundraising initiative of The Rory Foundation were released.
 
The Rory Foundation – a registered charity (1137174) has been set up by Rory to help children from around the world. Rory said from Dubai today “When I was younger my parents sacrificed everything to allow me to play the game I love. Having that support from my family gave me the opportunity to chase my dreams. But I know that every child is not so fortunate. My aim is that The Rory Foundation will support children’s charities big and small, around the world, that try to give kids that helping hand”.
 
The 6 Bags Project is the first fundraiser that The Rory Foundation is undertaking. For each of the first 6 tournaments Rory plays in for the first four months of 2013 Rory’s golf bag will carry the name and logo of a children’s charity.  During the tournament the bag will be auctioned through www.roryfoundation.com with all monies raised going to the featured charity.  The aim where possible is that each charity will be active within the community where the tournament is being held.
 
The first charity whose logo will be carried on the golf bag in Abu Dhabi is a charity from Rory’s home – The Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children (NICFC).  Gillian Cleery, CEO for the charity said today “We are so proud to be the first of the 6 nominated charities benefiting from The 6 Bags project. This association with Rory will not only have a significant impact on children and young people who look up to Rory and are inspired by him, but will also help to maintain Rory’s very important links to Northern Ireland as he moves increasingly into a global circuit. Our aim is to create a brand new therapeutic centre for children and their families any monies raised from being part of The 6 Bags Project will go towards fulfilling this dream”.
 
Gerry McIlroy, Rory’s father who is one of four trustees of The Rory Foundation said “Myself and my wife Rosie are very proud of what Rory has achieved on and off the golf course. The creation of this Foundation is, for Rory, we feel a natural progression and is ultimately about giving back. “
 
The 6 tournaments are listed below with the respective charity that will benefit. The exception is The Masters where the charity has been decided upon but will be  announced at a later date.
 
(1)HSBC Abu Dhabi (17 – 20th January) – Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children

(2) WGC -Accenture Match Play Championship (20 – 24th February): Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson

(3) Honda Classic (28th February – 3rd March):  Child Protection Team of the Palm Beaches

(4) WGC-Cadillac Championship (7th – 10th March): First Tee Miami-Dade Amateur Golf Association

(5) Shell Houston Open: (25th -31st March):  Chinquapin School

(6) The Masters (11th-14th April):  To Be Announced
 
The 6 Bags Project is the first in a number of innovative fundraisers that The Rory Foundation is going to be involved with during 2013. As Rory himself said from Abu Dhabi  “I had a childhood, a great childhood and if The Rory Foundation can help one child achieve a better quality of life then job done”.