DALLAS - Invited, The World Leader in Private Clubs, has announced that the 2012 Invited Charity Classic, the company’s major annual philanthropic open-house event, raised a record-breaking $2.07 million for a variety of charities throughout the U.S.

Nearly 14,000 individuals at more than 125 Invited properties attended a variety of fundraising events and activities that included 100 golf tournaments and events, dozens of tennis tournaments, and numerous formal dinners, concerts, swim-a-thons, chef competitions, cookouts and auctions at clubs throughout the country. 

During the annual Charity Classic events, private clubs within the Invited family of clubs open their doors to the general public and communities to support many important causes. The Charity Classic also includes an online auction that offers, among other things, international and national getaways, golf packages, dining experiences, and art. Supporters of this year’s event included Oneida, which sponsored a national promotion that raised $8,000, national sponsors Avendra, E-Z-GO, and Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr PC and hundreds of local sponsors.

Since its inception in 2007, Invited’s Charity Classic has raised more than $10 million benefitting charities including MDA’s Augie’s Quest, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Boys and Girls Clubs, Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Employee Partners Care Foundation.

“I am extremely proud that we raised a record-breaking $2.07 million during this year’s Charity Classic – an amazing 25 percent increase over last year – and would like to thank our clubs, members, employees and sponsors, who have come together with their communities to support so many great causes,” said Eric Affeldt, Invited president and CEO. “This initiative has always been close to my heart and is a strong reflection of Invited’s commitment to Building Relationships and Enriching Lives.”

“I’m extremely grateful for the continued support from the Invited family,” said Augie Nieto, chief inspiration officer, Augie's Quest, and co-chair of MDA's ALS division. “The long-term partnership has allowed us to meet exciting research milestones.  In 2012, we discovered and are set to launch a Phase 2A clinical trial of Gilenya in ALS Patients.  We also expanded the research institute at ALS TDI, tripling the size of our in vivo drug screening capabilities.  I see 2013 as a year of momentum and hope for ALS families thanks to the dedication of Invited and the members and employees.”

The official date for the Seventh Annual Invited Charity Classic event is Oct. 4, 2013, with events throughout the country to be held from April 2013 through November 2013. For more information on the Invited Charity Classic, visit www.Invitedcharityclassic.com.

About Invited
Dallas-based Invited is The World Leader in Private Clubs®. Since its founding in 1957, Invited has operated with the central purpose of Building Relationships and Enriching the Lives® of its members. Invited owns or operates a network of more than 150 golf and country clubs, business clubs, sports clubs, and alumni clubs in 23 states, the District of Columbia and two foreign countries that serve over 350,000 members, with approximately 14,000 peak-season employees. Invited properties include: Firestone Country Club (Akron, Ohio); Mission Hills Country Club (Rancho Mirage, California); Capital Club Beijing; and Metropolitan Club Chicago. You can find Invited on Facebook at facebook.com/Invited and on Twitter at @Invited.

About Augie’s Quest
Fitness pioneer Augie Nieto started Augie’s Quest (www.augiesquest.org) in conjunction with Muscular Dystrophy Association’s ALS Division after his ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) diagnosis in March 2005. Nieto is co-founder and former president of Life Fitness, and chairman of Octane Fitness. Augie’s Quest is an aggressive, cure-driven effort singularly focused on treatments and cures for ALS.

About Employee Partners Care Foundation
Employee Partners Care Foundation is a 501(c)3  fund established to help Employee Partners of Invited and the Invited family of clubs and their families in need of financial assistance in times of crisis. Funds for the Employee Partners Care Foundation come from Employee Partner donations as well as private donation