Portland LPGA event makes a $1 million donation

The LPGA Safeway Classic in Portland has donated $1 million to local children’s charities from its 2011 staging, marking the sixth consecutive year the LPGA Tour event has hit the million-dollar mark.

TGF announced the charitable contributions at a news conference at the Bing Lounge in the PacWest Center in downtown Portland. The main beneficiaries are Easter Seals of Oregon, the Evans Scholarship Foundation, Boy & Girls Clubs of Portland, Trillium Family Services, Police Activities League, The Children’s Course and Oregon Junior Golf.

The Safeway Classic — the longest running regular event on the LPGA Tour — has raised $16 million for children’s charities in its 40 years, with $13 million coming in the 16 years Safeway has served as title sponsor. The tournament will continue in 2012 after Safeway agreed to return as title sponsor. It will be held Aug. 17-19.