In 2020, the global pandemic caused innumerable events to be canceled, including the Regions Tradition, a major of the PGA Tour Champions. Golfers and fans stayed home and a community event that had been happening for more than 25 years took an understandable back seat to safety.

But an important aspect of the tournament never missed a beat. In a year when the tournament wasn’t held, the support for the many nonprofits that benefit from the tournament continued – including the primary beneficiary, Children’s of Alabama.

In all, the tournament raised more than $1.2 million for charity in 2020, a record amount, pushing the total raised to more than $19 million over 25-plus years.

Some of the monetary support from the tournament comes from attendees and individuals, but the vast majority comes from corporate donations and business supporters.

And as has happened in the past, this year as the tournament opened for play with the pros, another event just down the road was occurring to thank  businesses and supporters for continuing the tradition of community support in 2020, 2021 and beyond.

Coming together for common good

“This event is so important to our community,” said Tony Luebiter of CB Richard Ellis. “It supports so many organizations here, and until you’re a part of it you probably don’t realize the impact it makes.”

That sentiment was shared by many of the businesses and suppliers that support the Regions Tradition, many of which participated in an annual sponsor and vendor golf outing hosted by Regions.

“The Regions Tradition is not just about golf,” said Brett Couch, head of Regions Corporate Real Estate and Procurement. “It’s about community. It’s about helping Children’s Hospital. … Participation from our vendors is critical to the overall Regions Tradition success.”

Many of the participants in the event have been long-term supporters of the tournament.

“We’ve been supporting the tournament for more than 10 years,” said Jeff Elliot, sales representative from Dell Technologies. “Dell gives millions of dollars to charity. We support many global efforts, but we also focus on local efforts and the communities we serve. That commitment to communities and engaging with them is something that Dell and Regions share.”

And it’s that commitment to community, and Children’s of Alabama in particular, that attracts such passionate support: “Children’s is such a huge aspect of the tournament. Supporting them and the work they do makes a difference,” said Rich Slaby of KL Discovery.

Supporters of the Regions Tradition’s charities include Rich Slaby of KLDiscovery, left, and James Kemp of KMS. (Doing More Today)

More than charity, golf or business

When it came to 2021, getting out and enjoying the sunny skies and a beautiful day of golf was icing on the cake. And an opportunity to return to some semblance of business – as close as we can come to normal.

“For more than 15 months, we’ve not been face-to-face,” said Luebiter. “This type of event reminds me how important it is to be with your customers and supporters, to share ideas and ask questions. It’s been so long. I just appreciate the opportunity to be able to meet with my customers – and other people – in a safe and secure way, outdoors.”

“I just appreciate Regions,” said James Kemp of KMS (Kemp Management Solutions). “The way we do business is similar – that we do well when we are doing good in the community.”

These people and organizations share a similar passion for the community and are critical in making a difference in it. It’s a legacy of service that extends beyond business relationships – and beyond pandemics – to ensure that the community and vital services within it continue to receive the support they need.

This story originally appeared on Regions Bank’s Doing More Today website.