THE PLAYERS Championship announces community challenge grant for MWYF

Seventeen-time PGA TOUR winner Jim Furyk announced a $500,000 gift to the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation (MWYF) at the center on June 27. MWYF Founder and Wimbledon tennis finalist Mal Washington and Furyk, a long-time area resident, share a long-time friendship.

Committed to helping the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation reach the last of its $5 million capital campaign for a new Teen Center slated to open in late spring 2020, THE PLAYERS announced a community challenge grant, providing a dollar for dollar match, up to $500,000, for all funds raised. This gift will benefit MWYF participants and the Durkeeville community. While THE PLAYERS has long-supported programming and activities hosted by the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation, this is the largest single gift awarded to the MWYF.

Joined by Duval County Public Schools’ Superintendent Diana Greene, MWYF Founder Mal Washington and THE PLAYERS volunteers and executives, Jim Furyk led approximately 50 students in a Champions’ pledge, committing to practices that demonstrate they are “driven to succeed.”

The MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation is an after-school youth development program in Jacksonville’s Urban Core promoting academic achievement and positive life skills through the sport of tennis for students in kindergarten through high school. More than 20,000 students have been served since its inception.