RCI cards 10 years as title sponsor of Christel House Open

RCI is celebrating its tenth consecutive year as title sponsor of the annual RCI Christel House Open International Charity Golf Tournament.

The tournament, held in over a dozen locations around the world, aims to raise awareness and funds for Christel House International, a charity committed to improving the lives of impoverished children around the world.

“By providing care, education and character development, Christel House has bettered the lives of thousands of disadvantaged children,” said Gordon Gurnik, president of RCI.

“I’m grateful to those who have lent a hand over the years to help make the event a success and extremely proud that over the past 10 years, we’ve helped Christel House raise $5.5 million in support of its mission to drive out poverty and improve the lives of future generations.”

Teeing off

This year’s event kicked off on Friday 8 April in Scottsdale, Arizona, and continues in additional sites across North America and Europe through the spring. Now in its 14th year, the tournament is attended by thousands of golfers, sponsors and volunteers from around the world who come together to raise awareness and funds for Christel House International. The non-profit donates 100 per cent of the proceeds from the event directly to benefit those that need it.

Christel DeHaan, founder and CEO of Christel House International, established the charity in 1998. The organization aims to help its more than 4,000 children around the world break the cycle of poverty to realize their hopes and dreams and become self-sufficient, contributing members of society. It operates learning centers in the U.S., India, Mexico and South Africa, and funds an outreach program in Venezuela. DeHaan also co-founded RCI in 1974.

Christel House and the RCI Christel House Open are strongly supported by developers, resorts and vendors in the timeshare industry. Last year’s event raised more than $670,000 to support Christel House initiatives, and the Christel House Open has totaled $7.9 million in net proceeds worldwide since the tournament’s inception. Christel House is one of the three signature charities of Wishes by Wyndham, Wyndham Worldwide’s philanthropic program.

• This year’s RCI Christel House Open – Europe event takes place on Monday 6 June at Badgemore Park Golf Club, Badgemore in Henley-on-Thames.

Click here for more details about the event.

For information about entry and sponsorships, contact:
Amanda White, RCI Europe – Amanda.White@rci.com
Diana Aitchison, Trustee, Christel House Europe – Diana.Aitchison@silverpoint.com
Elizabeth Taylor, Christel House Europe – etaylor@uk.christelhouse.org
Vivienne Noyes-Thomas, Christel House Europe – vnoyes-thomas@christelhouse.org