JDC Birdies for Charity Program Helps the Children's Therapy Center of the Quad Cities

EAST MOLINE, IL (July 4, 2007) - If you don't yet believe in miracles, go down and visit W.K. Juncker at the Children's Therapy Center of the Quad Cities.

Juncker is the chief fundraiser for the organization and he has stories to tell.

"The doctors told a young mother that her 5-year-old daughter probably would never walk," Juncker recalls. "The girl had undergone several surgeries and was in therapy here. One day, the little girl's father brought her home and said to his wife that their daughter had something to show her: And the little girl walked over to her. "

Those kinds of stories. Over and over again.

They're the kind of stories that have helped the Children's Therapy Center, 1504 13th Ave, in Moline, raise more than $150,000 since 1993 through the John Deere Classic Birdies for Charity program.

"Birdies has become very important for us," Juncker said. "Last year, it was $16,045, in 2005 it was $14,000, in the years before that it ranged from $10,000-$15,000. We have a budget of $670,000, so $15,000 is a lot of money. And it is such a reliable form of revenue that we put it in our budget now. We've budgeted $16,500 for this year. "

The Children's Therapy Center is an outpatient pediatric rehabilitation facility that serves children from birth to age 16, with a particular emphasis on children age three and younger, Juncker said. Formerly affiliated with the Easter Seals, the CTC broke away from the national organization a number of years ago for cost reasons. The CTC was determined to focus its resources on the needs of Quad Cities residents. It worked. Service levels are up 38% since the break.

The CTC services about 90 children a week. The Center provides speech, physical and occupational therapy. There is a fee structure but no one is turned away because of an inability to pay, officials said.

A long time fundraiser, Juncker said he appreciates the simplicity, effectiveness and lack of risk of the John Deere Classic Birdies for Charity program.

"It's easier than me going out and putting together an event," Juncker explained. "There are no man-hours, no administrative costs, and no risk that the event might not do well.

"And everybody in town knows about it. They're familiar with Birdies. You don't have to explain it. And because it's only a penny, it doesn't make people with our organization feel uncomfortable about asking people to participate. It's only a penny. "

The CTC does have some large sum corporate donors whose donations - like all others - are increased by 10% through the tournament's annual bonus program.

This year, the Children's Therapy Center will be soliciting contributions all day Wednesday at the JDC's Birdies Booth near the main entrance to TPC Deere Run, site of the tournament. Its website is ctcqc.org.

Under the Birdies for Charity program, individuals or corporations pledge a minimum of one cent per birdie made during the Wednesday pro-am and all four tournament rounds of the JDC, including playoffs, to the charity or charities of the donors choice. At the conclusion of the tournament, the total number of birdies is calculated and the Birdies office sends invoices to donors. Donors remit their checks to the Birdies office, which then distributes 100% of the donations directly to the designated charities.

John Deere underwrites the cost of administering the program so that 100% of all monies collected go to the charities.

Buick will give away a new Buick Enclave to the person who correctly guesses the exact number of birdies made during the tournament, Buick is the Official Vehicle of the John Deere Classic and is the Official Car of the PGA TOUR.

The tournament provides a 10% bonus to each of more than 400 participating charities through the Birdies for Charity Fund, which is made up of dollars from tournament revenue, individual donors, and the support of corporations through a new Charity Partner Program.

In 2006, the tournament's sixth year at the Tournament Players Club at Deere Run, 1,974 birdies were recorded, meaning that someone who pledged one cent per birdie to a charity would contribute $19.74 to that charity. Many contributors donate to more than one charity.

For more information, please contact Kristy Ketcham, director of the Birdies for Charity program at 309-762-4653 or W.K. Juncker at 309-762-9552.

The John Deere Classic is the week of July 9-15 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, IL. John Senden is defending champion.