Seventy-seven area nonprofit organizations -- including seven Barrington organizations -- got a welcome holiday boost last week as they received funds generated from the CVS Caremark Charity Classic in Barrington.

The tournament, Rhode Island’s largest charitable sporting event, raised $1.2 million this year for charities across Southern New England, bringing the total funds raised since its inception to more than $16 million.

The Barrington organizations receiving funds:

• Barrington Arts Alive
• Barrington Community School
• Barrington Education Foundation
• Barrington Land Conservation Trust
• Barrington Public Library
• Barrington Senior Center
• Bayside YMCA

Present to award the funds raised by this year’s tournament – which draws some of the world’s best PGA and LPGA golfers to Barrington each summer – were CVS Caremark President and CEO Larry Merlo and PGA tour professionals/CVS Caremark Charity Classic co-hosts Billy Andrade of Bristol and Brad Faxon of Barrington.

The trio distributed the funds amid a holiday atmosphere, and inspirational stories were shared by a student and the Head of School for Our Sisters’ School – one of the nonprofit recipients of the funds – located in New Bedford, Mass.

“The appeal of the CVS Caremark Charity Classic is two-fold,” said Merlo. “First, the tournament provides world-class entertainment for avid golf fans. In addition, the tournament has a deep commitment of providing much-needed financial support to a range of organizations that make a real difference in the lives of so many. In such a challenging economic climate, we are especially proud to give back to the communities we serve through the CVS Caremark Charity Classic.”

Funds raised by this year’s CVS Caremark Charity Classic will support the missions of a multitude of charities, in turn, touching the lives of people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. From helping Crossroads Rhode Island, which provides basic emergency needs, shelter and housing for homeless families and individuals; to assisting Bradley Children’s Hospital in providing a range of family-focused, high quality mental health care to infants, children and young adults with emotional disorders and/or developmental disabilities; to supporting Our Sisters’ School in New Bedford in offering a quality education to girls from challenging financial backgrounds – the Charity Classic provides significant funding to target critical needs within the community. 

“As a result of the generous gift we received through the CVS Caremark Charity Classic, middle school girls from New Bedford will be able to access educational opportunities at Our Sisters' School that would otherwise not have been financially possible for their families,” said Lisa Yates, Head of School for Our Sisters’ School. “Our goal of challenging each student to reach her full potential by developing academic competence, social confidence, cultural proficiency, intellectual curiosity, integrity and hope is bolstered by donations provided by the tournament. Our students are active volunteers in their community, inspiring role models of educational attainment for others in their families and leaders at the secondary schools our alumnae attend. The CVS Caremark Charity Classic Auction supports this important work.”

Merlo added, “When we hear stories about the challenges and success from our charity partners – like the one shared today by Our Sisters’ School – it drives us even more to continue to raise funds through the CVS Caremark Charity Classic. We are extremely proud to host an event that has become so meaningful in our community.” 

In addition to acknowledging the charities for their important work, Merlo accentuated the leadership provided by Andrade and Faxon through their roles as co-chairs during the history of the Charity Classic, presenting them with thank you plaques and special replications of the CVS Caremark Charity Classic logo. He also emphasized the dedication of the 20 working charities that provided nearly 1,000 volunteers to help bring the tournament to life. 

A total of 77 nonprofit organizations received funds raised by the CVS Caremark Charity Classic. Among the beneficiaries attending today’s check presentation were representatives from the ‘working charities’ of the tournament. They include: 

• American Heart Association
• American Red Cross
• Arthritis Foundation
• Autism Project of Rhode Island
• Boys & Girls Club of Providence
• Bradley Children’s Hospital
• Children’s Wishes of Rhode Island
• City Year Rhode Island
• Golf Foundation of RI Button Hole
• March of Dimes Rhode Island
• Meeting Street
• Rhode Island Family Shelter
• San Miguel School
• Save The Bay
• Serve Rhode Island
• Sojourner House
• Special Olympics Rhode Island
• Spurwink RI
• URI Golf Team
• Youth Pride, Inc.