Eight-year-old cancer survivor Laine Meske, who hit the first ceremonial tee shot of this year’s PGA Tour Champions American Family Insurance Championship, on Tuesday joined American Family Insurance CEO Bill Westrate, tournament host and player Steve Stricker and his wife Nicki Stricker onstage at the company’s headquarters to unveil the over $2 million raised by this year’s tournament.
The event, held in June at its new TPC Wisconsin location, generated $2,035,000.
Tournament proceeds benefit the Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation, which supports hundreds of charitable organizations and the American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, where in 2017 Meske received treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia as an infant.
Roughly 50% of the 2025 tournament proceeds will be distributed to the hospital this year.
“We are incredibly fortunate to live in a community where giving back is part of who we are,” said Nikki Stafford, president of American Family Children’s Hospital. “American Family Insurance made the first gift to help build our children’s hospital, and for more than 20 years, their support has helped us to grow and thrive, making Madison a destination for families seeking the highest level of care for their kids.”
The remaining half of this year’s AmFam Champ proceeds will support 161 primarily local charities.
Telisa Yancy, American Family Insurance enterprise president and Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation board president, commended “these organizations and the work that they do to help children and families in our community.”
Addressing representatives of many of those set to receive funding, she said, “I just want to take a moment to say, ‘Thank you for all you do.’ … Having a significant charitable impact is the ultimate goal and purpose of this great tournament. We’re so proud to say that we have accomplished that year, after year, after year. … And that impact is multiplied of course when those recipients use those (funds) to advance their programs.”
Among the nonprofits receiving grants this year are:
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The Madison Parks Foundation Inc., which helps fund the Kids Need Opportunities at Warner program, which supports underserved youth with sports-based youth development, mentorship and life skills programming;
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The Road Home Dane County, which provides housing opportunities for families experiencing homelessness; and
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The Vera Court Neighborhood Center, which works to stabilize underserved communities with programming centered on youth development, adult education, senior engagement and more.
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Westrate called the tournament “a labor of love,” adding, “It’s an event that really exemplifies our commitment to our community, to children, to children’s health, and (it is) a way to engage way beyond just supporting organizations.”
This year’s AmFam Champ proceeds bring the total amount raised since the inaugural tournament in 2016 to $21.78 million, funding 1,171 charitable grants.
The ninth annual AmFam Champ attracted thousands of fans from 49 U.S. states who attended three days of tournament play, almost 1,000 volunteers who put 18,500 hours of work into the occasion and over 100 vendors.
The tournament’s total economic impact from 2016-25 is estimated at over $125 million.
“It’s an amazing example of the many partners joining together to contribute their time, their talents and their resources to … this professional golf tournament,” said Jeff Swalve, American Family Insurance agency president and Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation vice president.
Next year’s tournament will once again be held at TPC Wisconsin and is set to take place June 5-7.
“There are so many ways in which this tournament benefits our community,” said Westrate, “and we’re just so proud to be affiliated with it.”
