Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Pairs up with PGA TOUR Pro Morgan Hoffmann for Walking Challenge During The Barclays for Charity and to Promote Good Health
Paramus, NJ (PRWEB) August 19, 2014 -- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ) and PGA TOUR pro Morgan Hoffmann are once again teaming up during The Barclays at The Ridgewood County Club to support a charitable cause through a Walking Challenge, and Horizon BCBSNJ will be getting spectators into the walking fitness spirit as well through a course challenge of their own.
Horizon BCBSNJ, the official health care sponsor of The Barclays, announced that it is making a $5,000 donation to the New Jersey Golf Foundation, an organization that removes barriers to bring the game of golf to children of all ages and backgrounds. Hoffmann, a Wyckoff native, also accepted Horizon BCBSNJ’s Walking Challenge to raise additional funds for the foundation as he competes with the world’s best golfers this week at Ridgewood – a course on which he learned and refined his game as a teenager in North Jersey. For every 10,000 steps that Hoffmann records on his pedometer during The Barclays, Horizon BCBSNJ will donate an additional $1,000 to the New Jersey Golf Foundation.
“We are delighted that Morgan has accepted the Walking Challenge, and we commend his commitment to his New Jersey roots and to giving back to the game,” said Jonathan R. Pearson, Director of Corporate Philanthropy and Community Affairs for Horizon BCBSNJ. “As health care sponsor of The Barclays, we hope spectators will also become attuned to the physical fitness benefits of walking and accept their own challenge during the championship.”
Spectators who come to the Horizon BCBSNJ Health and Wellness Expo at The Barclays can pick up a walking passport. If the fans get their passport stamped at five walk stations on the course, covering about two miles, they become eligible for a daily drawing for one of five FitBits.
“Working with Horizon has been a pleasure, and I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to participate in the Walking Challenge,” said Hoffmann. “Having been a young golfer on this very course, I feel proud to be able to give back to what I hope will be some of our future PGA TOUR players.”
Through the PGA TOUR’s charitable efforts, millions of dollars each year go back to communities where tour events like The Barclays are played, benefitting nearly 3,000 charities and countless individuals worldwide. In fact, the PGA TOUR recently celebrated crossing the $2 billion mark in charitable giving since the organization was founded.
“Good health, good golf and getting children involved and active in the game are perfect ingredients for this world class tournament in New Jersey,” said Chris Hunt, Executive Director of the New Jersey Golf Foundation. “We’re very appreciative of the support from Horizon and Morgan, and we are pleased that the children we serve have such a positive role model to emulate.”
In a Pedometer Challenge at The Barclays last year, Hoffman recorded 42,610 steps, raising $4,000, and bringing Horizon BCBSNJ’s total donation to the New Jersey Golf Foundation to $9,000.
This is the fifth year of the spnsorship between Horizon BCBSNJ and The Barclays. This year, Horizon BCBSNJ will be on site encouraging spectators to participate in a variety of health-related games and activities at its Health and Wellness Expo. The first 250 spectators entering the expo each day of tournament play will receive a personal pedometer.
About Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state’s oldest and largest health insurer, is a tax-paying, not-for-profit health services corporation, providing a wide array of medical, dental, and prescription insurance products and services. Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, serving 3.7 million members with headquarters in Newark and offices in Wall, Mt. Laurel, and West Trenton. Learn more at http://www.HorizonBlue.com.
About The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey
The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey promotes health, well-being, and quality of life across our state by supporting charitable organizations. For more information about the Foundation, visit http://www.horizonblue.com/foundation.
About the NJ Golf Foundation
The NJ Golf Foundation, Inc. is the charitable arm of the New Jersey Section, PGA of America and is designed to positively impact lives and communities through the game of golf. The NJGF has 3 pillars; Youth, Special Needs & The Military and serve the citizens of the Garden State through programs such as: Golf in Schools, First Tee Chapters in NJ, YMCA & Boys and Girls Clubs of America Chapters, Special Olympics NJ, Challenged Youth Sports Inc., SNAP of Morristown, the Els for Autism Foundation & PGA H.O.P.E.. To learn more visit: http://www.njgolffoundation.com
About The Barclays
The Barclays has been a part of the PGA TOUR schedule since 1967 when Jack Nicklaus won the inaugural event at Westchester Country Club. Since that time, some of the greatest players in the game have earned the title including World Golf Hall of Famers Arnold Palmer, Johnny Miller, Raymond Floyd, Seve Ballesteros, Hale Irwin and Curtis Strange. Many of the world’s current top players have won the event as well, including two-time champions Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia; four-time champion Vijay Singh; Dustin Johnson; and 2013 champion Adam Scott. As the first of four playoff events, The Barclays plays a leading role in the FedExCup, the season-long competition that is the centerpiece of the PGA TOUR season.
Thomas Vincz, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, 973-466-6625, [email protected]
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