The PGA Tour Champions and the Principal Charity Classic announced today that the 2020 golf tournament and associated events scheduled the first week of September in Des Moines will be canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis. 

While the event will not take place as planned at Wakonda Club in Des Moines, organizers confirmed the tournament remains on track to raise millions of dollars for Iowa’s children charities. The tournament last year raised a record $5.7 million. Organizers in late March had postponed the tournament, originally scheduled for May 26-31, to Sept. 1-6 because of the pandemic. 

The event’s title sponsor, Principal Financial Group, along with presenting sponsor Wells Fargo and other sponsors, have pledged their continued philanthropic support for the tournament, which has raised $23 million for Iowa children’s charities since 2007 and benefits more than 130,000 kids each year.

“The Principal Charity Classic is about giving back to Iowa kids, and today that cause is more important than ever,” Dan Houston, chairman, president, and CEO of Principal, said in a press release. “I want to thank everyone who has shown support for this tournament for the past 12 years. Although world-class golf will have to wait until 2021, I hope you will join us in taking action now to support our charity partners in 2020. As title sponsor, we’ll be honoring our giving commitment to Iowa’s children’s charities and I hope you’ll join us in helping make this year’s Principal Charity Classic beneficial to our community.”

Every dollar raised by the tournament goes to Iowa children’s charities to support programming in the areas of education and culture, financial security and stability, and health and wellness. The tournament will make donations to four charity partners: Blank Children’s Hospital, MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, United Way of Central Iowa and Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa. 

The Principal Charity Classic will also continue to support its Birdies for Charity program, with pledges going to more than 100 local participating charities. Donation matching funds of up to 10% of each pledge are provided by Sammons Financial Group and Wells Fargo.  

The official announcement of the charitable giving total will be made in September.

All tickets purchased for the 2020 Principal Charity Classic will be honored at the 2021 tournament. Ticket holders can also choose to donate the value of their ticket to charity or request a refund on the Principal Charity Classic’s website. 

For more information about the Principal Charity Classic, including how to make a donation, visit PrincipalCharityClassic.com or connect with the tournament on social media through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. 

Next year’s Principal Charity Classic is scheduled for June 1-6, 2021, at the Wakonda Club.