The Principal Charity Classic is a wonderful community event in the metro area and contributes greatly to the economic vitality and quality of life in central Iowa. The tournament will also serve specifically as a way to raise money for local non-profit organizations supporting children.

Using the FORE Our Kids theme to highlight this important effort the goal is to increase contributions to local arts, culture, health and human services organizations supporting youngsters in our area.

These five outstanding organizations are dedicated to supporting children in the community and will receive the proceeds from the 2008 event.

• Blank Children's Hospital
• Bravo Greater Des Moines
• Greater Des Moines Community Foundation
• United Way of Central Iowa
• Variety-The Children's Charity of IOWA

About Blank Children's Hospital
Blank Children's Hospital - the only hospital in Iowa dedicated to caring just for kids - is designed to meet the unique healthcare needs of children and their families. Today, Blank Children's Hospital is an 88-bed facility that continues to expand to provide the most complete medical care to children across Iowa. Currently, more than 60 pediatric specialists uniquely skilled in providing medical care to children are a part of the organization. The number of pediatric medical specialists, programs and services is constantly growing to improve care and meet the changing health needs of children. Blank Children's Hospital is part of the Iowa Health - Des Moines, which also includes Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Iowa Lutheran Hospital and their associated physicians and clinics.

About Bravo Greater Des Moines
Bravo Greater Des Moines is a nonprofit organization that assists the cultural community in providing Greater Des Moines with an enriched quality of life. Bravo fulfills its mission by increasing cultural awareness, advocacy, and funding as well as fostering collaboration among member organizations, business and community leaders in the metro area. As a public/private partnership, Bravo has put in place local government support in many of the metro communities. During Bravo's first grant making year, a significant portion of the $1.7 million granted to 37 area arts and culture organizations enhanced the programming and outreach to children across the metro area, including a large number of at risk and underserved youth.

About the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation
The Greater Des Moines Community Foundation is Central Iowa's premiere philanthropic foundation. The Community Foundation works to meet its mission of improving the area's quality of life through thoughtful investment in community activities, programs, and projects. Established by community stakeholders for the purpose of improving quality of life in Greater Des Moines, the foundation initiates programs, coordinates resources and supporting organizations that enhance education, community betterment, arts and culture, health and human services.

About United Way of Central Iowa
United Way of Central Iowa partners with hundreds of community organizations to improve lives by uniting the caring power of our community. United Way funds programs that target the issues our community cares most about. Central Iowan's generosity leads the nation in United Way campaign growth over the past five years, and ranks fifth in per capita giving. Investments in early childhood and youth-related programming represent 40% of United Way's total funding commitments. The focus of United Way's youth-related investments are to prepare young children to enter school, and, to alleviate risk factors associated with school failure - including transitions and mobility, economic deprivation, family conflict and anti-social behavior.

About Variety - The Children's Charity of IOWA
Variety - The Children's Charity of IOWA helps Iowa's children in need. Programs supported by Variety benefit children's hospitals, youth at risk, children with disabilities and more - everything from funding programs to the purchase of medical equipment. Variety is a unique organization that raises money and distributes it to children's programs. All money donated to, and raised by Variety of Iowa stays right here in Iowa helping Iowa's youth.