Charlotte NC, June 8, 2015 – Today the Urban League of Central Carolinas (ULCC) makes history by announcing the renaming of the 23 Annual ULCC annual golf tournament after Dr. Charles L. Sifford. This year’s tournament will be held on September 21, 2015 at the beautiful Piper Glen Country Club, in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a Shotgun Start at 7 a.m.
During a time when Charlotte struggles with economic mobility for impoverished people, the historical significance of the 2015 Dr. Charles L. Sifford Golf Tournament is a huge step for the Urban League and this community,” Said ULCC President and CEO Dr. Patrick Graham. “ Sifford’s legacy for breaking barriers in sports marries well with the League’s legacy of economic and social inclusion for all.”
After a decade of attempting to break through racial barriers, Sifford, a native Charlottean, was the first African American to join the PGA Tour in 1961. During his career he had 22 professional wins. In 2004, Sifford became the first African American inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama in 2014. Tiger Woods referred to Sifford as “the Grandpa I never had,” and without Sifford, “I probably wouldn’t be here. My dad would have never have picked up the game. Who knows if the clause would still exist or not? But he broke it down”.
Proceeds from the tournament go directly to support ULCC Youth and Adult Workforce Programs. Last year, ULCC provided over 600 students (grades 3-12) technology and workforce skills training. Adult workforce and entrepreneurial programs served over 2,600 Charlotte residents by providing free national certification courses in HVAC, Fiber Optics/Broadband, Premise Cabling, Customer Service, Microsoft and Entrepreneurship. ULCC program graduates earned $12.1 million in income.
