The 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open Tee-Off Luncheon held at Chase Field on Tuesday marked the start of the company’s 2020 golf tournament.
Condoleezza Rice, the 66th U.S. Secretary of State; James Fish, the CEO of Waste Management; and Tim Woods, the 2020 tournament chairman, all spoke at the event.
The Waste Management Phoenix Open benefits Thunderbirds Charities, one of Phoenix’s most prominent non-profit organizations. The event generates millions of dollars in donations, which the charity distributes to local organizations.
The tournament has been named the Tournament of the Year by the PGA TOUR four times in the last five years (2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019) and has gained legendary status for being one of the most unique events in golf. It is the best-attended PGA tournament in the world.
During the luncheon, organizers and attendees discussed new ideas for the latest tournament.
“The Tee Off Luncheon is an extremely popular event in which we get to tell the community all of the new and exciting things we have planned for the upcoming tournament,” Woods said in a prepared statement.
The speakers thanked charities and specific people for donating to the tournament and told stories about their golf experiences and how they got involved with the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
“This event is attended by sponsors and community business leaders and dignitaries and we thank them for being a part of this event,” said Cheryl Ruggiero, the Director of Charitable Giving for The Thunderbirds.
Attendees also viewed a highlight video from last year’s tournament, as well as a video showcasing the charities that are involved.
“After watching that charities video montage, there’s no mystery of what provides the Thunderbirds the motivation to do it bigger and better every year: $13.2 million raised last year alone, $147 million in total and 2020 will be no exception,” Woods said.
The Waste Management Phoenix Open can’t happen without charities and donations, and the money they raise impacts how the event unfolds.
“I had the chance to talk to a number of people about this Waste Management Open, and they love it and they especially love the energy and the chance to interact with charities and with Waste Management,” Rice said.
Waste Management provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery and disposal services.
The company is celebrating its 10th year as title sponsor of the open. It signed an early renewal to continue its commitment to the tournament for another decade.
The 2020 tournament will mark the 85th playing of the event.
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