ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 17, 2012 – Today, Dixon Schwabl and the 95th PGA Championship announced Golf Balls on Parade, a community relations art project and charitable initiative to build on the community excitement for the 95th PGA Championship.

Earnie Ellison, director of business and community relations for The PGA of America, and Howie Jacobson, managing partner at Dixon Schwabl, unveiled two of the 100 limited edition five-foot giant Golf Balls on Parade, which will engage the business, arts, and golf community and create tourism in the Greater Rochester area and Western New York.

"These five-foot-tall, fiberglass sculptures, will add to the excitement of this world-class event," said Jacobson. "A portion of the sale of each golf ball will be split equally among four charities: Hillside Work Scholarship Connection, Golisano Children's Hospital, Reach for the Green, and a charity of each sponsor's choice."

The PGA of America is proud to support organizations and programs that focus on health and wellness, education, poverty, and family service.

Community relations is a major part of what The PGA stands to support. Behind all of the PGA Championships is the mission to enhance charitable organizations in the host communities, and Golf Balls on Parade does just that.

"To date, The PGA of America has contributed $75,000 to send seven Rochester City School District students to college through the Reach for the Green initiative," said Ellison. "Reach for the Green is one of many charitable benefits The PGA of America makes possible for the Greater Rochester community through the 95th PGA Championship. Thanks too, to area donors and organizations, Reach for the Green will continue to help many more deserving students."

Once a golf ball is sponsored, local artists will paint and customize the ball with a pre-approved or a newly created design. The sponsor may also work with an artist identified to submit a design for approval. A commemorative plaque identifying the sponsor, artist, and the golf ball name will be displayed on the base of the golf ball stand.

Oak Hill Country Club is the only club to have hosted all four of The PGA of America's major traveling Championships, which is why every golf ball will have the six Championship logos from all of the historic PGA events contested at Oak Hill Country Club: 1979 Grand Slam; 1980 PGA Championship; 1995 Ryder Cup; 2003 PGA Championship; 2008 Senior PGA Championship; and next year, the 95th PGA Championship. The names of each winner from the corresponding Championship will also be featured on the plaque.

During the summer of 2013, the golf balls will be incorporated into a scavenger hunt, challenging residents and visitors to find every Golf Ball on Parade, building additional community support and area tourism.

For more information on Golf Balls on Parade or to get involved, visit thebigparade.com and click on Golf Balls on Parade or contact Connor Dixon-Schwabl at 585-899-3285.

About the PGA Championship
The 95th PGA Championship will be conducted Aug. 5-11, 2013, at Oak Hill Country Club. The PGA Championship features the strongest field in golf and is considered one of the largest sporting events in the world. Since 1916, golf's best professionals have been competing for The PGA Championship's coveted Wanamaker Trophy; including past champions Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Davis Love III, Shaun Micheel, Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, and Walter Hagen.

About The PGA of America
Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.

About Oak Hill Country Club
Oak Hill Country Club (Rochester, N.Y.), recognized as one of the finest golf courses in America, has been synonymous with championship golf. In the past three decades alone, Oak Hills' renowned East Course has hosted the 1980 and 2003 PGA Championships, the 1984 U.S. Senior Open, the 1989 U.S. Open, the 1995 Ryder Cup, the 1998 U.S. Amateur, and the 2008 Senior PGA Championship. Since the 1956 U.S. Open, Oak Hill is the only golf club in America to host all six of the men's touring Championships. The 2013 PGA Championship will mark Oak Hill's 11th premier golf championship.