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GOLF: PGA TOUR: George Lopez to host PGA TOUR special "Every Moment Counts" Dec. 24 on ABC

/noticias.info/ PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL – The PGA TOUR announced today that actor George Lopez will narrate and host “Every Moment Counts,” a one-hour special presented by the PGA TOUR and AstraZeneca that airs nationally on ABC, December 24th from 3-4 p.m. ET. Produced by PGA TOUR Productions, the show will feature two perspectives on PGA TOUR events – what’s happening inside the ropes and what simultaneously happens at five charities that each respective tournament benefits – demonstrating that every moment on the PGA TOUR makes a difference.

Lopez, the co-creator, writer, producer and star of ABC’s sitcom “George Lopez,” is a regular at the PGA TOUR’s AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, which earlier this year announced he would be the first-ever celebrity host of the tournament. Lopez also hosted the 2006 World Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony in October. In 2005 he was ranked 45th in the Golf Digest “Hollywood Top 100” celebrity golf list with a 14.2 handicap.

“Golf has been my passion for most of my adult life…anything I can do to give back to the game that has given me so much, I'm more than happy to do,” said Lopez. “‘Every Moment Counts’ is a unique look at some stories that need to be told. Don't miss it.”

The PGA TOUR is the only pro sports league designed to donate the net proceeds from its events to local charities, meaning nearly all of the TOUR’s 100+ tournaments around the country (PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour) are 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations. Because of its unique charitable set up, the TOUR relies on more than 80,000 volunteers a year to help run its tournaments.

In 2005, the PGA TOUR officially surpassed the $1 billion mark in charitable donations through its tournaments and is expected to raise its second billion dollars within the next decade. The TOUR’s first recorded donation of $10,000 was made in 1938; today, more than 2,000 charities and one million lives are helped annually.

“Every Moment Counts” will also profile the AstraZeneca Charity Challenge, a weekly competition that rewards the tournament leader entering the final round at 35 select PGA TOUR events. In recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, $400,000 was contributed via the AstraZeneca Charity Challenge to cancer charities across the country. The special will highlight one woman’s battle with breast cancer and her participation in a 5k walk & run in Greensboro, NC. Since the program’s inception in 2004, AstraZeneca has donated $9.7 million to health care and PGA TOUR charities.

The program will include special moments from the 2006 PGA TOUR season and highlight the following charities, which are supported by the accompanying event:

Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc. – Sony Open (Honolulu) PGA TOUR
Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc. was formed as a result of the collaboration of a group of Hawaii business and community leaders to generate needed funding for Hawaii’s not-for-profit organizations that benefit women, children and youth. This year’s grant was awarded to fund the Spirit of Aloha Culinary Academy at Farrington High School, a troubled-youth program designed to help students get their lives back on track through the skill of cooking. More than $6 million has been generated through the Sony Open and other charity partners.

Blue Ridge Literacy Council – BMW Charity Pro-Am (Greenville, SC) Nationwide Tour
The Blue Ridge Literacy Council (BRLC) provides more than 300 adult students each year with the English communication and literacy skills they need to reach their full potential as individuals, parents, workers and citizens.

Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce – Nissan Open (Los Angeles) PGA TOUR
Through the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce, young professionals cultivate leadership, governance, interpersonal and networking abilities that create a dynamic skill set for future community service and professional endeavors. LAJCC programs currently impact more than 10,000 children throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Since 1989, the Nissan Open has generated more than $20 million for local charities, including the LAJCC.

The Evans Scholarship Foundations – Cialis Western Open (Lemont, IL) PGA TOUR
The Evans Scholars Foundation administers the nation’s largest privately funded college scholarship program, providing full tuition and housing grants to deserving caddies. Over 8,400 young men and women have graduated from the program with 820 Evans Scholars enrolled at 19 universities across the country this year. Since 1930, the Cialis Western Open has helped raise an estimated $40 million for the Evans Scholars Foundation, the tournament's sole charity.

United Family Practice Health Center – 3M Championship (Blaine, MN) Champions Tour
The United Family Practice Health Center, a full-spectrum family medicine clinic, has provided community centered primary care for greater than 20 years. The clinic enjoys a rich tradition of work within the community and in areas of preventive health, homeless health care, sliding fee scale health services, home visits and nursing home care. The 3M Championship has donated more than $9 million to charity since 1993.

About the PGA TOUR
The PGA TOUR is a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers. Its primary purpose is to provide competitive earnings opportunities for past, current and future members of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour; to protect the integrity of the game; and to help grow the reach of the game in the U.S. and around the world.

In 2007, the three Tours will compete in approximately 110 events for approximately $340 million in prize money. Tournaments are being held in six countries outside the U.S. and in 36 states.

In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, TOUR events also generate significant funds for local charities. In fact, the three Tours have surpassed the $1 billion mark in overall charitable contributions. The PGA TOUR's web site address is www.pgatour.com and the company is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of $23.95 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection products. In the United States, AstraZeneca is a $10.77 billion healthcare business with more than 12,000 employees. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.

For more information about AstraZeneca, please visit: www.astrazeneca-us.com notas_de_prensa_archivo