(DALLAS) Invited – The World Leader in Private Clubs^® – today announced that through its Charity Classic events the company raised $3,071,926 in 2017, breaking its previous all-time fundraising record set in 2016. The Charity Classic, Invited’s major philanthropic effort benefiting over 100 national and local charitable organizations, Augie’s Quest/ALS Therapy Development Institute and Invited’s E.P.C.F., has now raised more than $23 million since its inception in 2007.

Across the U.S. throughout much of 2017, nearly 15,000 people participated in more than 160 Invited clubs open-to-the-public Charity Classic events. The events, consisting of golf and tennis tournaments, concerts, galas, auctions, 5K runs and unique dining experiences.

In 2017, the top fundraising club was Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club (Coto de Caza, CA) which raised over $280,000 through their event. Other top clubs that raised in excess of $100,000 were Aliso Viejo Country Club (Aliso Viejo, CA), Firestone Country Club (Akron, OH), Rolling Green Country Club (Arlington Heights, IL), and Brookhaven Country Club (Farmers Branch, TX).

All of the events benefited the following deserving non-profits:

• Augie’s Quest, an aggressive fundraising effort focused on finding treatments and cures for ALS by supporting the work of the ALS Therapy Development Institute
• Invited Employee Partners Care Foundation (E.P.C.F.), a 501(c)3 fund established to help Employee Partners of Invited's family of clubs in need of financial assistance in times of crisis
• More than 100 national and local organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club, Wounded Warrior Project and The First Tee

"I am so proud of the Invited Charity Classic and its contributions to so many great causes, including Augie’s Quest," said Eric Affeldt, former Invited CEO and continued supporter of the Invited Charity Classic. "I am honored to know Augie. His resolute fight against ALS has been an inspiration to me and to so many Invited members and employee partners. That inspiration has gone a long way in motivating clubs to make their events successful, allowing them to give back to so many important causes."

Augie Nieto, co-founder of Augie’s Quest who has been living with ALS since 2005, said, “Invited continues to be such a key Augie’s Quest partner in our bold quest to end ALS. Each dedicated club works on a variety of fundraising events to engage their members and help bring about a cure and effective treatments for ALS. I am forever grateful to Invited’s employee partners and members for their unwavering commitment to giving back and supporting Augie’s Quest.”

The official date for the upcoming 12th annual Invited Charity Classic event is Sept. 28, 2018, with events throughout the country to be held from February through November. For more information on the Invited Charity Classic, visit www.Invitedcharityclassic.com.

 About Invited

Since its founding in 1957, Dallas-based Invited has operated with the central purpose of Building Relationships and Enriching Lives®. Invited is a leading owner-operator of private golf and country clubs and private business clubs in North America. Invited owns or operates a portfolio of over 200 golf and country clubs, business clubs, sports clubs, and alumni clubs in 27 states, the District of Columbia and two foreign countries that serve over 430,000 members, with approximately 20,000 peak-season employees. Invited properties include: Firestone Country Club (Akron, Ohio); Mission Hills Country Club (Rancho Mirage, California); The Woodlands Country Club (The Woodlands, Texas); Capital Club Beijing; and The Metropolitan in Chicago. You can find Invited on Facebook at facebook.com/Invited and on Twitter at @Invited.