Honda Classic Cares Week wrapped up last week as a celebration of 11 consecutive years of record charitable giving to South Florida children’s charities.

The Honda Classic awarded a record $3.63 million to 133 local organizations which benefit children, $420,000 or 13.1% more than the $3.21 million that was distributed in 2016. The lives of more than 32,000 kids and their families in the local community will be positively impacted this year by the charitable rewards of the PGA TOUR event.

Children’s Healthcare Charity, Inc., the host organization of The Honda Classic, made the distributions during a week-long series of Honda Classic Cares site visits that ran last week through the tournament’s annual Celebration of Philanthropy on June 15.

The $3.63 million awarded to charity this year includes a second-consecutive individual grant of $1 million to the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. It is also more than $1 million higher than The Honda Classic awarded just two years ago.

“We see our partnership with the Honda Classic as a way to address children’s and community healthcare,” said Steve Morikawa, vice president, Corporate Relations & Social Responsibility for American Honda Motor Co. “The proceeds raised from the Classic will benefit thousands of people in the south Florida area year-round.”

The Honda Classic has given more than $35 million to South Florida children’s charities since its inception 36 years ago including more than $20 million in the 11 years since Children’s Healthcare Charity, Inc. took over the event.

“We couldn’t be more ecstatic that we once again are able to touch more lives in the community with our philanthropic efforts,” Honda Classic Executive Director Kenneth R. Kennerly said. “Honda Classic Cares Week gives us an opportunity to take a step back and visit our grant recipients and touch the powerful impact that we are making in tandem with our great partners, sponsors and the golf fans of South Florida who support The Honda Classic each year.”

Some of the initiatives evolving from The Honda Classic’s charity disbursements this year range from summer camp opportunities for low-income children in Jupiter, Fla. through El Sol Neighborhood Resource Center to support of the Kids’ Club at Florida Outreach Center for the Blind. The Honda Classic contributes toward the purchase of baby formula for the emergency pantry at Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach County and helps fund vision tests for kids at Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches.

The growth of the event is a testament to American Honda’s 36 years as the longest-standing title sponsor on the PGA TOUR as well as partnerships with more than 200 other community-minded local sponsors. The Honda Classic has also benefitted the past two years from marquee champions Adam Scott and Rickie Fowler.

The 2018 Honda Classic will be played February 19-25, 2018 with Fowler defending his title.