Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship showcases golf’s rising stars while advancing pediatric healthcare
The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship stands out as one of the premier stops on the Korn Ferry Tour—not just for the high-level competition, but also for its mission to help children. While aspiring PGA TOUR professionals battle for their future, the event serves a greater purpose: supporting pediatric cancer research and treatment.
Since its launch in 2007, with Nationwide as a founding partner, the tournament has raised nearly $30 million for Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. That commitment was front and center at the 19th annual championship held at The Ohio State University Golf Club’s Scarlet Course where John VanDerLaan claimed his first Korn Ferry Tour title.
“While this tournament serves as a career springboard for many professional golfers, it’s also an important platform to highlight our philanthropic efforts,” said Jim McCoy, vice president of sports marketing for Nationwide and president of Champions of the Community, the tournament’s host organization. “Being part of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals and playing on one of the nation’s top collegiate courses gives us the visibility to support Nationwide Children’s Hospital in a meaningful way.”
One of the many ways the tournament personalizes its mission is through Pros Fore Patients, an event that provides a unique opportunity for Nationwide Children’s Hospital Patient Champions and their families to interact with Korn Ferry Tour professionals. That afternoon, Patient Champions joined players for some golf instruction on the putting green and driving range. The groups also paid it forward by assembling care packages to be delivered to current patients at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
In addition to participating in Pros Fore Patients and closing the tournament with the Last Putt to Cure Cancer, Patient Champion Natalie Gray was presented with a $10,000 donation to the nonprofit organization that bears her name. Founded in 2022, The Natalie Gray Foundation supports the CONNECT Consortium, an organization focused on developing and testing treatments for children with brain tumors.
The donation on behalf of the tournament was the second surprise of the week for Natalie, who also received a $10,000 college scholarship from Nationwide after taking the ceremonial First Shot to Fight Cancer to kick off tournament competition.
Though based in Columbus, the impact of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship reaches far beyond. The hospital sees more than 1.8 million patient visits annually, serving children and families who travel from across the nation and around the world to access life-saving treatments. To learn more about one of the nation’s largest pediatric healthcare systems, visit NationwideChildrens.org.