Second Annual Nucor Alabama Children’s Charity Classic Raises Record-Setting Amount for Children’s Hospital of Alabama

BIRMINGHAM - A record-setting $329,000 was raised by more than 275 vendors, customers and employees of Nucor Alabama’s five operations in October as part of the Second-Annual Nucor Alabama Children’s Charity Classic presented by Parker Towing Company, Inc.

The tournament benefited Children’s Hospital of Alabama, the state’s only free-standing children’s hospital and the 10th busiest pediatric medical center in the United States. The nonprofit hospital relies heavily on donations from corporate and philanthropic donors through events, programs and individual gifts. 

Sponsors included Parker Towing Company, Inc. (Presenting Sponsor), Cache Valley Electric (Hospitality Sponsor), Taylor Machine Works, Inc. (Photography Sponsor), Ranger Steel, Avalotis, Chatham Steel Corporation and American Buildings (Course Sponsors) and B & D Machine Works, Inc. (Media Sponsor).

The two-day event featured a welcome dinner attended by more than 160 early-arriving golfers on Oct. 19 at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover. The evening was highlighted by The System’s Group $40,000 winning bid for a framed Nucor Alabama advertisement signed by members of Nucor’s Board of Directors. Kinder Morgan, represented by Joe Pontoli, donated another $30,000 on top of System’s winning bid to bring the single-item total to $70,000 in support of Children’s Hospital. Nucor Executive Vice President Ladd Hall flew from Charlotte, N.C. to lead the live auction.

Twelve-year-old Children’s patient Alex Jones of Birmingham (pictured with Nucor Steel Birmingham executive Victor Burns) greeted players Sunday evening. Jones suffers from Crohn’s Disease and is a frequent patient of Children’s Hospital.

“Children’s Hospital of Alabama continues to be so grateful for the support of Nucor Alabama and its vendors, customers and employees,” said Director of Community Development John Stone. “In two short years Nucor Alabama has become our largest corporate event donor, raising an astounding $504,000 in support of Alabama’s ill and injured children. Alabama’s five plants truly are part of our Children’s Hospital family.”

Nucor’s five locations include American Buildings Company located in Eufaula, Nucor Steel Birmingham, Inc., Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa, Inc., Fort Payne’s Vulcraft-Alabama plant and Nucor Steel-Decatur L.L.C.

Tournament steering committee members included James Huff (Nucor Steel Birmingham), April Pitts (Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa), Mike Miller (Nucor Steel-Decatur), Harold Fulk and Terry Green (American Buildings Company) and Karl Geesaman and Chris McLean (Vulcraft).

Plans for the 2009 tournament are already underway. It will once again be held at Oxmoor Valley Golf Course, part of the world-renowned Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Please contact John Stone at (205) 939-9009 for additional information.