Century Club Charities makes record donation to Friends

A week that began with record cold temperatures ended with a record gift by Century Club Charities to Friends of Children’s Hospital.

On Jan. 19, the host organization of the Sanderson Farms Championship announced a $1.2 million donation to Friends. The funds will go toward Friends’ pledge of $20 million to the Campaign for Children’s of Mississippi. The announcement had been originally scheduled for Jan. 16 until snow and cold temperatures led organizers to move the announcement date.

Joe Sanderson Jr., Sanderson Farms CEO and board chairman, was unable to attend the rescheduled event, but he urged Century Club Charities to go on with the announcement without him. Sanderson co-chairs the campaign with his wife, Kathy. 

“Truthfully, without his leadership and his company, none of this would have happened,” said Jeff Hubbard, Century Club Charities president. “I know the person who wants the least amount of credit is Joe Sanderson, but frankly, he deserves the most credit.”

The Sandersons started the campaign in 2016 with a personal $10 million pledge toward construction of the new seven-story children’s tower.

Since Century Club Charities announced Sanderson Farms as the tournament’s title sponsor in 2013, more than $5.5 million has been donated to support Mississippi’s only children’s hospital. This is the fourth consecutive year Century Club Charities has donated more than $1 million to Friends.

Century Club Charities, Sanderson Farms, the Sanderson Farms Championship and Friends of Children’s Hospital “have been key partners with us in helping us see a dream come true,” said Dr. LouAnn Woodward, UMMC vice chancellor for health affairs.

Century Club Charities’ efforts to highlight golfing excellence and the state’s hospitality while raising funds for philanthropy are expanding. The organization will host the North Mississippi Classic, a tournament on the Web.com tour, April 16-22 at the Country Club of Oxford.

The 2018 Sanderson Farms Championship is scheduled for Oct. 25-28 at the Country Club of Jackson.