2024 John Deere Classic Generates A Record $15.9 Million for Charity

Smart Lexus of Quad Cities Donates a 2-Year Lease to a Lucky Winner

The 2024 John Deere Classic and its Birdies for Charity program generated $15,976,574.68 for 476 participating local and regional charities each of which will receive an 8% bonus to add to their individual charity totals, officials announced today.

The ‘24 total broke last year’s record by $1,873,741 and this year’s bonus is up from last year’s 7.5%. Since the tournament was founded as the Quad Cities Open in 1971, it now has helped raise $189,652,123.66 with more than 99 percent of that coming since John Deere assumed title sponsorship in 1998.

“The John Deere Classic is proud of and grateful for the record charity numbers the tournament helped generate this year,” said John Deere Classic tournament director Andrew Lehman. “It couldn’t have happened without the steadfast support of John Deere, our sponsors and volunteers and, of course, our fans. The tremendous spirit that drives our tournament to new heights every year is based in the knowledge that everyone’s working for the charities that benefit our community.”

“This $15.9 million will benefit nearly every Quad Citizen by supporting a wide range of nonprofit organizations,” said Micaela Booth, Director of Birdies for Charity. “From health and wellness to cultural enrichment and essential services, our nonprofits are there for the community. The Birdies for Charity program gives them a turnkey fundraising campaign and additional revenue to help them continue their vital work.”

The announcement was made today at the John Deere Pavilion in downtown Moline, where tournament and charity officials gathered to celebrate the impressive numbers.

Meanwhile, Smart Lexus of Quad Cities awarded a two-year lease to the winner of the annual contest to guess the exact number of birdies recorded at the tournament and the Wednesday pro-am – 2,315 birdies. Smart Lexus of Quad Cities is the Official Transportation Sponsor of the John Deere Classic and provides courtesy cars to John Deere Classic contestants.

The $15.9 million total works out to $42.60 for each of the Quad Cities’ 375,000 residents, again making the John Deere Classic the No. 1 in per capita contributions on the regular PGA TOUR, a distinction it has held for more than a decade.

The total amount donated to the charities is the result of a three-pronged fundraising effort:

• The tournament’s Birdies for Charity program enables individuals, companies, and foundations to pledge a lump sum donation to a charity or charities of their choice.
• John Deere underwrites the administrative costs of the Birdies program, meaning that 100 percent of each Birdies pledge collected goes directly to the designated charities to be used at their organization. Charities pay no administrative costs to Birdies for Charity.
• The Bonus Fund consists of tournament revenues, direct donations, a John Deere matching grant, as well as proceeds from special events.

Davis Thompson, 25, shot a tournament record 28-under par to win the 2024 John Deere Classic by four shots. He was the 24th first-time winner of the 53rd version of the Quad Cities-based PGA Tour event.

The John Deere Classic, which includes Birdies for Charity, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in the John Deere Classic tournament offices at 15623 Coaltown Road, East Moline, Illinois.  Since 1971, the tournament has helped raise nearly $190 million for charity.