About the Birdies Program
Thanks to our sponsor, John Deere, 100% of every Birdies for Charity dollar collected goes to charity. Please contact your charity for an official pledge form.
To download a Birdies pledge form, CLICK HERE.
2,113 birdies scored during 2012 tournament
A total of 2,113 birdies were scored during the 2012 John Deere Classic, and 100 people guessed the exact number of birdies. Those who guessed the exact number of birdies participate in a drawing to determine the grand prize winner.
2013 Grand prize - 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
| Bruce Foote Chevy | Lujack Chevy |
| Deery Brothers | Mills Chevy |
| Eriksen Chevy | Piehl Chevy |
| Green Chevy | Shottenkirk Chevy |
| Kunes Country Auto Group | Yemm Chevy |
 "One lucky donor of the John Deere Classic's Birdies for Charity program will win a Chevy Equinox. Equinox courtesy of Select Chevy Dealers." |
Other prizes include:
- A John Deere riding mower
- Allegiant Air Travel Voucher courtesy of the Quad Cities International Airport.
- A John Deere walk-behind mower
- Over 100 other prizes (T-shirts, golf shirts, hats, koozies, golf balls, etc.)
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Past winner Rev. Daniel Mirabelli accepts congratulations from spectators at the Grand Prize Car giveaway. Father Mirabelli donated his grand prize car to Alleman High School to be awarded as a prize at a school fundraiser.
2012 John Deere Classic Birdies for Charity raised approximately $6.79 million
The 2012 John Deere Classic Birdies for Charity Program raised $5.29 for 493 charities, a record $1.5 million increase from 2011.
The John Deere Classic and it's Birdies for Charity program now has raised over $49 million for participating charities.
Some 21,000 pledges of at least one cent per birdie were made to one or more of the 493 charities that participated in the program in 2012.
How Birdies works
The way Birdies for Charity works is for charitable organizations to obtain flat dollar donations OR pledges of 1 cent or more for every "birdie" made during the John Deere Classic.
Birdies for Charity will donate ALL money received to participating charities. All administrative or promotional costs of the program are paid by John Deere. All the money goes to participating charities!
Each person who makes a pledge to Birdies for Charity has an opportunity to guess the exact number of birdies that will be made at the John Deere Classic. The one person who guesses the exact number will win the grand prize. Over 500 other great prizes also are awarded.
Individuals and business leaders also have joined Birdies for Charity to raise money for their favorite charities.
Each "Bird" solicits pledges on behalf of their favorite charity. Birdies for Charity then collects the pledges and donates all money received to the charity written on the pledge card. The more a Bird collects, the more his or her charity receives.
Participating charities must be a publicly supported charitable group recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization.
If an individual would join Birdies for Charity and raise 100 pledges at 1 cent each, the individual's charity of choice would receive approximately $2,000. The individual would have no risk or expenses and the individual's donors would have a chance at a car or other great prizes.
Sign up to enroll your non-profit organization.
Birdies for Charities Fund BONUS
The Birdies for Charities Fund was established to support the continuing efforts of the John Deere Classic, a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit organization, to provide bonus dollars to participating charities.
As before, the goal of the tournament will be to provide a bonus match to every charity that participates. The Birdies for Charity Fund, the source of this bonus, is supported with dollars from tournament revenues, individual donors, and with the support of corporations though a "Charity Partner" program. These dollars will be distributed annually, and are designed not to compete with, but to enhance, the benefits for the 500+ charities that participate in the program. Any donor may designate a portion of their donation to the Birdies for Charity Fund to support all participating organizations. In 2012, all charities will be guaranteed a 5% bonus on amounts up to their prior year pledge total, or $100,000, whichever is greater. Additional bonus dollars will be based on tournament revenues.
Historically, the Birdies for Charity Fund bonus has been 5 - 10% paid to ALL participating charities, for ALL pledges collected. Since this bonus is based primarily on revenues from the John Deere Classic, charities raising over $100,000 in pledges will be guaranteed at least a 5% bonus on amounts up to their prior year pledge total, or $100,000, whichever is greater. In 2011 the bonus promise was 5%, but all participating organizations received a full 8% bonus thanks to support from the community.
Charity Qualifications
Charities must be publicly supported and recognized by the IRS as a 501(C)(3) organization. All charitable contributions must come from a designated donor and must not be part of a capital campaign. The Birdies for Charity program is intended to support charitable organizations, services, operations and programs. It is not intended to be used for endowment or brick and mortar charitable purposes.
For more information, contact the John Deere Classic at 309.762.4653, or call toll-free 1.800.336.4655. Or click here to send an email.
In 2012, all participating charities received a full 8% bonus on all pledges collected for them, well above the 5% bonus promised.
In 2012, all participating charities received a full 8% bonus on all pledges collected for them, well above the 5% bonus promised.
