THE PLAYERS Championship and community partners helped more than 500 St. Johns County students go back to school with the right tools, thanks to the inaugural ‘Tools4Schools’ Resource Day on Saturday, Sept. 8. Through donations from employees, the community, businesses and partners, students from Crookshank Elementary School and those who qualify for the school district’s A.S.S.I.S.T program received clothing, schools supplies, toiletries, food and health services.

“We are so appreciative for the many community partners who stepped up to support these students and their families,” said Cathie Hurlburt, director of charitable outreach for the PGA TOUR. “Saturday’s event was an example that Together, Anything’s Possible.”

Tools4Schools Resource Day was a collaboration amongst THE PLAYERS, PGA TOUR, TPC Sawgrass, World Golf Hall of Fame, St. Johns County Full Service Schools and the St. Johns County Education Foundation. More than 300 students received health screenings courtesy of St. Vincent’s Mobile Health Unit, Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Vision is Priceless, Speech and Hearing Center of Jacksonville, and Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures. Colgate also provided 600 toothbrushes and toothpaste. Approximately 10,000 clothing items were distributed to the students and families. Philosophy Hair Salon provided 45 haircuts and Hair Cuttery gave out 200 haircut vouchers to attendees. Wal-Mart donated $10,000 in school supplies and THE PLAYERS provided each student with a voucher to receive one pair of new shoes.  Dignity U Wear, Books-A-Go Go, and Second Harvest also contributed to the event.

“Every child deserves to start school with the proper tools and resources, and we are extremely grateful for the generosity of THE PLAYERS in helping St. Johns County students who need it most,” said Dr. Joseph Joyner, St. Johns County School District Superintendent. “We are also thankful for all of the community partners who contributed services and supplies that made this event an overwhelming success.”