About the Birdies Program

Thanks to our sponsor, John Deere, 100% of every Birdies for Charity dollar collected goes to charity

To download a Birdies pledge form, CLICK HERE.

1,914 birdies scored during 2009 tournament

A total of 1,914 birdies were scored during the 2009 John Deere Classic, and 53 people guessed the exact number of birdies. Those who guessed the exact number of birdies participate in a drawing to determine the grand prize winner.

Here are the prize winners in the 2009 Birdies for Charity

2009 Chevy Malibu Hybrid
To Be Awarded on August 18, 2009

John Deere riding lawn mower
Beverly Kerker - Rock Island, Illinois

John Deere walk-behind lawn mower
Linda Bissell - Agency, Iowa

Airtran Trip
Joe & Audry Keeny - Davenport, Iowa

Past winner Rev. Daniel Mirabelli accepts congratulations from Randy Allison and Doug Thompson, representing Buick, as well as from spectators at the Grand Prize Car giveaway. Father Mirabelli donated his grand prize car to Alleman High School to be awarded as a prize at a school fundraiser.

2009 John Deere Classic Birdies for Charity raised Approximately $3.9 million

The 2009 John Deere Classic Birdies for Charity Program raised approximately $3.9 million in pledges.

The Birdies for Charity program now has raised over $24 million for participating charities since 1993.

Some 23,000 pledges of at least one cent per birdie were made to one or more of the 500+ charities that participated in the program in 2009.

How Birdies works

The way Birdies for Charity works is for charitable organizations to obtain flat dollar donations OR pledges of 1 cent or more for every "birdie" made during the John Deere Classic.

Birdies for Charity will donate ALL money received to participating charities. All administrative or promotional costs of the program are paid by John Deere. All the money goes to participating charities!

Each person who makes a pledge to Birdies for Charity has an opportunity to guess the exact number of birdies that will be made at the John Deere Classic. The one person who guesses the exact number will win the grand prize. Over 500 other great prizes also are awarded.

Individuals and business leaders also have joined Birdies for Charity to raise money for their favorite charities.

Each "Bird" solicits pledges on behalf of their favorite charity. Birdies for Charity then collects the pledges and donates all money received to the charity written on the pledge card. The more a Bird collects, the more his or her charity receives.

Participating charities must be a publicly supported charitable group recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization.

If an individual would join Birdies for Charity and raise 100 pledges at 1 cent each, the individual's charity of choice would receive approximately $2,000. The individual would have no risk or expenses and the individual's donors would have a chance at a car or other great prizes.

Sign up to enroll your non-profit organization.

Birdies for Charities Fund BONUS

The Birdies for Charities Fund was established to support the continuing efforts of the John Deere Classic, a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit organization, to provide bonus dollars to participating charities.

As before, the goal of the tournament will be to provide a bonus match to every charity that participates. The Birdies for Charity Fund, the source of this bonus, is supported with dollars from tournament revenues, individual donors, and with the support of corporations though a “Charity Partner” program. These dollars will be distributed annually, and are designed not to compete with, but to enhance, the benefits for the 500+ charities that participate in the program. Any donor may designate a portion of their donation to the Birdies for Charity Fund to support all participating organizations. In 2009, all charities will be guaranteed a 5% bonus on amounts up to their prior year pledge total, or $100,000, whichever is greater. Additional bonus dollars will be based on tournament revenues.

Historically, the Birdies for Charity Fund bonus has been a full 10% paid to ALL participating charities, for ALL pledges collected. Since this bonus is based primarily on revenues from the John Deere Classic, charities raising over $100,000 in pledges will be guaranteed at least a 5% bonus on amounts up to their prior year pledge total, or $100,000, whichever is greater.

For more information, contact the John Deere Classic at 309.762.4653, or call toll-free 1.800.336.4655. Or click here to send an email.