Flood of donations boosts Arnie’s Army
Sam Saunders doesn’t care whether the glass is half full or half empty.
He just cares that it is mostly iced tea, with splashes of lemonade.
That’s the way his grandfather used to make it, and today, much of what 30-year-old Saunders does is to honor Arnold Palmer through a growing charity foundation.
Palmer died Sept. 25, 2016, at 87. He left behind the massive legacy of an illustrious golf career and an unwavering commitment to philanthropy away from the course.
His non-profit, Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation (AACF), continues that work today and has seen an uptick in growth since his death.
According to AACF, in the five weeks after Palmer died, the organization raised more than $110,000, with an increase of 17,000% in the total dollar amount received from the period of Sept. 1-24 to the five weeks after Palmer’s death.
For all of 2016, the foundation reported $3,407,173 in total revenue, surpassing the total from the previous year by more than $215,000. Before his death, Palmer had pledged $15 million from his estate to the cause, with $2.5 million being paid to the foundation each year from 2015 to 2020.
Tax records show that the foundation reported total revenue of $334,300 for 2014 and total expenses of $23,525.
“The outpouring we received was overwhelming,” said Kevin Bingham, CEO of AACF. “It gives you a feeling of solace and of determination, because we can’t let all the things this great man did to influence people be lost or go away.”
As the organization looks to in- crease its influence, Saunders is taking on a more public role.
“I think I have a unique opportunity as not only a board member (of AACF) and the grandson of Arnold Palmer, but as a guy who plays on the PGA Tour,” Saunders said last month. “Not a lot of people have an opportunity to be on a stage like I am each and every week.”
Growing up the grandson of The King, Saunders is used to that stage. He caddied for his grandfather before turning pro, notching 12 top-10 finishes to date. Playing on the PGA Tour, he has learned that his grandfather’s achievements increased Palmer’s drive to give back.
“It’s recognizing when you’ve been put in a position — whether it’s to achieve great wealth or great fame — when you have an opportunity to enjoy your own life and be successful, there’s an obligation to give back and help other people,” Saunders said. “It’s being successful on your own, but being selfless enough to help others.”
The selflessness that Palmer dedicated his life to continues.
AACF has ties to PGA Tour stops, most notably the Arnold Palmer Invitational held every March in Orlando. The 2017 Arnold Palmer Invitational saw three times as many one-time transactions compared to 2016, according to the foundation.
The challenge now is deciding where to direct those donations. Palmer spent more than 60 years working in the philanthropic sector, and as AACF moves forward, the foundation’s leadership must decide where to focus.
“It’s tough, because there’s so much you want to do and so many people you want to help, and it’s tough to consolidate that to a single mission,” Saunders said.
While the foundation is attempting to streamline all the ways it gives back, three causes stand out. The Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies and the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve are cornerstones of the AACF. The hospitals are both a part of the Orlando Health network, while the Nature Reserve is outside Arnold’s hometown of Latrobe, Penn.
The Army continues to expand its footprint as the Arnie’s March Ohio was held Wednesday. The event raised funds for pediatric cancer research as part of the World Golf ChampionshipsBridge stone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.
“The reality that Arnie’s March Against Children’s Cancer has expanded beyond Orlando would please my dad greatly,” said Amy Palmer Saunders, who chairs the AACF board, in a news release. She is also the mother of Sam Saunders.
“He was committed to so many philanthropic initiatives throughout his life, but supporting children in their fight against cancer and other debilitating diseases was always a priority. I know we are making him proud.”
The event is part of AACF’s drive to have a more nationwide presence.
“We feel like we owe it to him to have that kind of reach,” Bingham said.
At the Quicken Loans National last month, players walked past a statue of Palmer every time they finished the 18th hole at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. Palmer made history at the course when he became the first professional in the history of golf to make a hole-in-one on the same tournament hole two days in a row, a statistically mesmerizing feat.
“First and last one to ever do that,” Saunders noted. “It’s never been done, and I don’t know what the statistics are on that, but I doubt that will ever happen again.”
And while few of Palmer’s accomplishments, whether in golf or philanthropy, can be truly replicated, Arnie’s Army will continue forward.