Birdies raised a record-breaking $16.9 million throughout the 2025 tournament. This year’s total includes a 9% bonus match for 460 nonprofit organizations participating in Birdies for Charity, a program fully underwritten by John Deere to ensure every donation goes to the organizations making a difference, according to a news release.
“The John Deere Classic is more than a golf tournament — it’s a powerful force for good in the Quad-Cities,” said Mara Downing, vice president of global brand and communications at John Deere. “We are incredibly proud to stand alongside our community, our partners, and our employees in supporting the causes that matter most. This milestone is a testament to what we can accomplish together.”
Birdies for Charity started in 1993 and operates as the charitable arm of the tournament.
John Deere Classic Tournament director Andrew Lehman said last year was also a historic year, with $15.9 million raised for local organizations.
This year’s official total of $16,944,896 was nearly one million more than last year’s $15,976,574. At the tournament, ticket sales were up 23% and TV viewership was up 28%.
Micaela Booth, director of Birdies for Charity, said the 9% bonus match this year was the real game changer and is what sets Birdies for Charity apart.
“These unrestricted dollars are game changers for our participating nonprofits. They allow organizations to respond to urgent needs, invest in long-term growth and expand their reach in ways that restricted funding often doesn’t allow,” she said. “It’s one of the most meaningful parts of what we’re able to offer through this program.”
With this year’s total, the tournament has now surpassed $206 million in all-time charitable giving — 99% of which has been raised since John Deere became title sponsor in 1998.
In addition to the charities that benefited this year, a Bettendorf man was able to drive away in a brand new Lexus, through the Birdies for Charity contest where fans try to guess the number of birdies made during the event. This year produced five finalists who correctly guessed 2,102 birdies.
Each finalist was given a key at random, and whoever’s started the vehicle was the lucky winner. Dave Dahlby, of Bettendorf, picked the winner and will have a two-year lease on the vehicle courtesy of Smart Lexus of the Quad Cities.
Love
0
Funny
0
Wow
0
Sad
0
Angry
0
The business news you need
Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Gretchen Teske
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
Your notification has been saved.
There was a problem saving your notification.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Log In
Don’t have an account? Sign Up Today