Cardboard faces on 16th at WM Phoenix Open raises $115K for charity

The 2021 Waste Management Phoenix Open raked in more than $100,000 for local charities via its Faces on 16 campaign.

The campaign, which allowed fans to donate money to get their faces on cardboard cutouts that were strategically placed along the par three 16th hole, was created by the Thunderbirds, who host the tournament each year.

In total, $115,250 was raised by the organization from sales of the cutouts, with the proceeds going to four local charities, according to a tournament release.

The Faces on 16 initiative @WMPhoenixOpen has helped raise over $100,000 for local charities.@WebbSimpson1 called up his family back home to show them how they're still with him on 16 this year. 💚 pic.twitter.com/K5Xu0Qt08t

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 5, 2021

Tournament chairman Scott Jenkins said in a release on Saturday that the fundraising drive was a smashing success because of the community’s embrace of the initiative.

“We’ve seen what other teams and leagues have been doing to showcase ‘virtual’ fans and we just wanted to put our own spin on it at the 16th hole,” Jenkins said in the release. “It was awesome to see the response from our fans and how many people quickly donated to offer significant support to our local charities. We continue to say we have the greatest fans in golf and this is a prime example.”

The four charities that will receive the donations are Arizona Helping Hands, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Valley, Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Teen Lifeline.

The tournament, which has been held annually for 86 years, is one of the longest-running events on the PGA Tour, generating $161 million in donations since its founding in 1932.

Follow @AZSports