On the surface, the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship is a premier stop on the Korn Ferry Tour and a showcase for golf’s rising stars. But at its heart, the tournament is a way to give back and help kids.

Since the tournament’s inception in 2007, more than $16 million has been raised to support pediatric cancer research and treatment at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. That philanthropic mission was on display last week as the 15^th annual event was contested August 25-29 at The Ohio State University Golf Club, Scarlet Course where 27-year-old Canadian Adam Svensson earned his second victory of the season and third of his Korn Ferry Tour career.

The week began with an announcement that the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship and the PGA TOUR reached a five-year extension to ensure that the tournament will continue as a Korn Ferry Tour Finals event at The Ohio State University Golf Club through 2026.

“Extending this event means we will continue to see the future stars of the PGA TOUR play in central Ohio while enabling us to continue raising awareness and much-needed funds for one of the premier pediatric hospitals in the country,” said John Carter, president of Nationwide Financial and chairman of the tournament’s host organization, Champions of the Community.

Beyond the fundraising, the tournament also offers an opportunity to provide unique experiences for young patients who have overcome serious health challenges thanks to treatment they received at Nationwide Children’s. During the annual Pros Fore Patients event, several Patient Champions and their families gathered at the golf course for some fun and crafts, along with two Korn Ferry Tour pros who helped assemble care packages that will be delivered to inpatients at the hospital.

To kick off the first morning of competition on Thursday, Kinley Strohl from Ashley, Ohio took the ceremonial First Shot to Fight Cancer. After battling a life-threatening form of leukemia as a six-year-old, she is now a thriving 16-year-old who is celebrating ten years cancer free. To honor Kinley’s journey and help her achieve her career goal of becoming a nurse, Nationwide surprised her with a $10,000 college scholarship.

Stories like Kinley’s personalize the purpose of the tournament while the event proceeds fund the hope. The millions of dollars raised each year support innovative research and treatment that is being pioneered by physician scientists and researchers at Nationwide Children’s.

Last year, Nationwide Children’s saw 1.3 million patient visits representing kids and families from nearly every U.S. state and 43 foreign countries. Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship may be a local tournament on a national tour, but its giving is felt globally.

To learn more about one of the country’s largest not-for-profit pediatric health care systems, visit NationwideChildrens.org.