Elmsford, N.Y.—PGA Tour golfers Billy Andrade and Brad Faxon will receive the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association’s Bing Crosby Tournament Sponsor Award at their 53^rd National Awards Dinner on Monday, June 14, 2004 at the Hilton Rye Town in Rye Brook, NY.

In 1990 Andrade and Faxon, both Rhode Island natives, founded Andrade-Faxon Charities for Children, a 501 (c) 3 philanthropic organization.  Driven to give something back to the New England area people who supported their careers as professional golfers, they have teamed for 11 years to stage the Billy Andrade-Brad Faxon Charities for Children Celebrity Invitational at Rhode Island’s Wannamoisett Country Club.  Through their hard work and unselfish efforts, the tournament has raised over $4 million. Proceeds have benefited at-risk children in Rhode Island and communities in southeastern Massachusetts, and funded other special programs and projects.  Their valuable contributions have helped children who have witnessed violence, orphans, those with drug and alcohol addictions, young cancer patients and mentally handicapped children.

In 2002, Andrade and Faxon received the American Heart Association’s Gold Heart Award and the Ambassador of Golf Award.  In 1999, the Golf Writers Association of America honored them with their Charlie Bartlett Award given to players for their unselfish contributions to society.  Both golfers also serve as hosts for the CVS Charity Classic at Rhode Island Country Club, and they co-chair Button Hole, a short course that serves as a teaching and learning center for kids. 

Highlights of Faxon’s golf career include selection to two Ryder Cup squads (1997/1995) and seven PGA Tour victories.  Andrade has four PGA Tour wins and was a member of the 1987 Walker Cup team.

The MGWA’s National Awards Dinner is the largest (and longest running) golf dinner held annually in the U.S.  All of golf’s governing bodies actively support the dinner—the USGA, PGA of America, LPGA and PGA Tour—and some 800 industry leaders and areas golfers attend.  Proceeds from the dinner are distributed to the Metropolitan New York caddie scholarship programs and almost $700,000 has been raised over the years for charitable endeavors.  For advance table and ticket sales reservations or additional information, please contact Ann Rold at (914) 347-4653.