This week, East Lothian Foodbank based in Tranent, has been the official charity of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open. The foodbank, which provides emergency food to people in crisis and feeds over 6,000 local people each year, benefited to the tune of £27,000 as the Official Charity of the 2020 Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club. The tournament was won by American LPGA star, Stacy Lewis.
Part of that figure came from a ‘Birdie Pledge’ initiative, backed by title sponsor Aberdeen Standard Investments whereby every birdie and eagle made by the professionals amounted to £5 and £10 being contributed to the fundraising tally – totaling £5,100, with 992 birdies and 14 eagles being made across the four tournament days.
Photo Caption: Candace Higgins (L), Director of East Lothian Foodbank is joined by representatives from the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open and champion Stacy Lewis at The Renaissance Golf Club.
The Birdie Pledge contribution was combined with donations from tournament host, The Renaissance Club, tournament promoter, IMG and the Ladies European Tour and LPGA, as well as online donations from the public. The valuable funds raised will help East Lothian Foodbank continue to care for the local community.
Candace Higgins, Director of East Lothian Foodbank, said: “To have been selected as the Official Charity of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open in the first place was an unbelievable honour, and now the generosity and support we’ve received from everyone at the event is overwhelming. We rely solely on donations to be able to do vital work in the East Lothian community, and the incredible amount raised from the tournament will not only allow us to continue this work but also means we can develop projects to support even more people. We can’t possibly thank everyone enough for their kindness.”
More than 14 million people in the UK live below the poverty line and as the impact of coronavirus continues to unfold, the East Lothian Foodbank has been busier than ever, with a 40% per cent increase in emergency food parcels given to people across East Lothian in the last three months.
