CHICAGO – With the sold-out 2012 Ryder Cup less than three months away, excitement surrounding Magnificent Moments, an officially-sanctioned charitable fundraising campaign of the 39th Ryder Cup, continues to grow. Magnificent Moments currently provides the best way to secure a spot on the grounds of Medinah Country Club during the Ryder Cup, which will take place Sept. 25-30.

The PGA of America is supporting two Chicago charities – the Illinois PGA Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana – by offering a limited number of weekly grounds passes to the Ryder Cup. These passes are only available to charitable supporters.

"The Ryder Cup has long been one of the toughest tickets in all of sports, and this year's event has once again sold out thanks to the great enthusiasm of passionate golf fans," said Eric Schmidt, Executive Director of the fundraising campaign. "This makes the Magnificent Moments campaign the best way to still purchase weekly passes for the Ryder Cup. In addition to watching some of the best golfers in the world, supporters will help children and families in Chicagoland, leaving a legacy long after the 2012 Ryder Cup is over."

Magnificent Moments Events: "Bagpipes & Blues" and "Tartan Art on the Avenue"

In addition to Ryder Cup weekly grounds passes, Magnificent Moments ticket packages include invitations to "Bagpipes & Blues." This official, PGA-sanctioned Pep Rally on Sept. 27 at Chicago's iconic Field Museum will allow both European and American guests to celebrate the 2012 Ryder Cup with premium food, bar and Chicago Blues music and Scottish bagpipes. Ticket holders will also receive recognition as a "Bagpipes & Blues" supporter. Event dress is casual.

With the recent passing of official Ryder Cup artist and School of the Art Institute of Chicago alum LeRoy Neiman, "Tartan Art on the Avenue," a unique, outdoor public art exhibit celebrating the 2012 Ryder Cup, now becomes more iconic. Before his passing, Neiman painted the first golf ball for "Tartan Art on the Avenue," which will feature super-sized golf balls adorning Chicago streets and shops, all distinctly decorated by local and national artists to create another one-of-a-kind fundraiser for Magnificent Moments. This golf ball was the last piece of art completed by Neiman.

"He used his drip paint style as homage to Jackson Pollock," said Neiman spokesman Ben Isaacs of Cobalt Artworks recently, "and painting the Tartan Art ball was great fun for LeRoy as his trademark bold colorful style shines through in the finished artwork."

Neiman had never done a public art exhibit such as Tartan Art, but as honorary chairperson of the fundraising event, he was pleased to again be able to give back to Chicago, a city with so many fond memories and so much history for him and his wife Janet.

For more information about the Magnificent Moments ticket packages and events, please visit magnificentmoments.org or contact Eric Schmidt at 630-623-8366 or eschmidt@rmhccni.org.

About Magnificent Moments
Magnificent Moments is an officially sanctioned charitable fundraising campaign of the 39th Ryder Cup, which will be played Sept. 25-30, 2012, at historic Medinah (Ill.) Country Club. The campaign is raising money for two local charities – The Illinois PGA Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana – by hosting a series of "Magnificent Moments" in Chicago leading up to the Ryder Cup.

The campaign launched with the Ryder Cup Captains' Charity Golf Shot on September 26, 2011, and will continue with a "Tartan Art on The Avenue" public art exhibit and a "Bagpipes & Blues" event at the iconic Field Museum. "Tartan Art on The Avenue" will be on display during the month of September 2012 along Michigan Avenue and at other iconic Chicago locations. Large golf balls will be decorated by local, international and celebrity artists. Internationally acclaimed artist LeRoy Neiman, who is an alumnus of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, also painted the first golf ball that will tour Chicago for special occasions. The "Bagpipes & Blues" event will be held on September 27, 2012, the eve of the opening day of the Ryder Cup. In a blend of Ryder Cup and Chicago indulgences, the event will showcase culinary favorites from both Europe and the United States, and include a world-class auction featuring Ryder Cup experiences and merchandise. Music will include the distinctive sounds of Scottish bagpipes and the iconic Chicago blues. The event will be open to the public, with tickets available for purchase.

For more information about Magnificent Moments, visit magnificentmoments.org.

About the 2012 Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup, among the last great professional sporting events where winning, and not prize money, is its own reward, spans 38 competitions over 84 years. In 1927, enterprising English seed merchant Samuel Ryder commissioned the casting of a gold chalice that bears his name, and the inaugural Ryder Cup was contested at Worcester (Mass.) Country Club. The U.S. Team defeated Great Britain, 9 1/2 to 2 1/2, with the matches played June 3-4.

The Ryder Cup, recognized as the pre-eminent international team event in golf, has since expanded to involve the finest players of Europe. The United States has posted 25 victories, Great Britain/Europe has won 11 times, and there have been two ties. Europe currently has possession of the Ryder Cup trophy, thanks to a thrilling 14 1/2-13 1/2 victory over the United States in October 2010 in Wales.

The 39th Ryder Cup will be held September 25-30 at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club.

Media Site: rydercup.com
Facebook: facebook.com/RyderCupTeamUSA
Twitter: twitter.com/RyderCupTeamUSA

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 the Illinois PGA Foundation
The Illinois PGA Foundation is a 501 © 3 organization that serves as the charitable arm of the Illinois Section PGA, one of the forty-one geographical regions that comprises the Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA of America). Established in 1991, the organization focuses its community efforts on promoting the goodwill and growth of the game with an emphasis on activities that benefit youth.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana
The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana (RMHC®-CNI) is to improve the health, well-being and education of children through its core programs. Four Houses provide a "home away from home" to keep families together. To continue serving families in crisis, RMHC®-CNI is building a new Ronald McDonald House® – the largest in the nation – in Chicago, due to open in 2012.

About LeRoy and Janet Neiman
Best known for his vibrant, stunningly energetic images of sporting events and leisure activities, LeRoy Neiman was probably the most popular living artist in the United States. Neiman, who attended the School of the Art Institute from 1946 – 1950, taught at SAIC for 10 years beginning in 1950, and received an Honorary Doctorate in 2006.

His signature artistic style was familiar to a remarkably broad spectrum of Americans. He was the official artist at five Olympiads, and millions of people have watched him at work: on ABC TV coverage of the Olympics, as CBS Super Bowl computer artist, and at other major competitions, televised on location with his sketchbook and drawing materials, producing split-second records and highly developed images of what he is witnessing. He also has provided illustrations for Playboy magazine since the 1950s including the popular "Femlin" character that appears on the party jokes page.

Neiman met his wife, Janet, when both were students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and he went on to teach at the School for 10 years early in his career. Many of his images of what he calls "the good life," appeared in the form of etchings, lithographs, silkscreen prints, and sculptures as well as paintings, in the permanent collections of public and private museums and other institutions worldwide. These institutional acquisitions, along with sales of approximately 150,000 of his silkscreen prints to individuals, attest to the enormous appeal of his work.

LeRoy and Janet Neiman's gifts to SAIC and the affiliated Michigan-based school Ox-Bow collectively total $9 million. A member of the New York City Advisory Commission for Cultural Affairs since 1995, Neiman received four honorary degrees and, among other honors, an Award of Merit from the American Athletic Union (1976), a Gold Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement (1977), and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Muscular Dystrophy Association (1986). Through the years he has donated scores of his artworks to charitable organizations.

About the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
A leader in educating artists, designers, and scholars since 1866, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) offers nationally accredited undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate programs to nearly 3,200 students from around the globe. Located in the heart of Chicago, SAIC has an educational philosophy built upon an interdisciplinary approach to art and design, giving students unparalleled opportunities to develop their creative and critical abilities, while working with renowned faculty who include many of the leading practitioners in their fields. SAIC's resources include the Art Institute of Chicago and its new Modern Wing; numerous special collections and programming venues provide students with exceptional exhibitions, screenings, lectures and performances. For more information, please visit saic.edu.