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For 71 years, Firestone Country Club in Akron has set the stage for some of the greatest golfers in history — and it’s happening again July 10-14 at the Kaulig Companies Championship.

But it’s not just about the golf.

“It's more than a tournament,” says Matt Kaulig, the executive chairman of Kaulig Companies, which became the title sponsor of the event in 2023. “It’s a celebration of community and philanthropy that’s raised over $32 million for charitable organizations.”

It’s also a very good time, whether you like golf or not.

The 5-day event is part of the PGA Champions Tour, which brings together golf legends to compete at four major tournaments each year. “You get all the big names that everybody grew up with,” Kaulig says.

While the golf itself has always been a draw, the event had been run by out-of-town sponsors for more than two decades before Kaulig got involved.

Kaulig, who has earned a reputation as a hands-on philanthropist in the last decade, knew he wanted more than to write checks and see his name on banners. His goal was to transform the event into a fundraising powerhouse and all-around good time. So instead of outsourcing all of the planning or relegating it to a committee, he worked hand-in-hand with Kaulig Companies CEO and president Tim Clepper to rebuild the event.

“When we took the tournament over, it was corporate, it was stale. There was no energy,” Clepper says. “It’s a whole different ball game now. We do care. We’ve invested an awful lot of time and money in this. We want this to be a celebration of our Northeast Ohio communities.”

That was obvious to anyone who attended the event last year, according to Jeff O’Brien, the executive director of First Tee Akron, one of the charities benefiting from the event.

“The vibe at the tournament is so different now that Kaulig is involved,” O’Brien says. “It’s the place to be seen and it’s also raising millions for local charities, which is what we need right now.”

The heart of the off-course fun is the Kaulig Infinity Zone, which is right off the main entrance by the Firestone water tower and open to all ticketholders. There’ll be live music every night, including Kameron Marlowe from season 15 of “The Voice” who will appear Friday on the main stage. Guests can also enjoy the two-story High Noon Lounge, five different golf simulators, local food and family-friendly activities like face painting, mini golf and more. 

 “If you’re looking for something to do with your family, this is going to be special,” says Clepper, “even if you don’t like golf.”

But if you do like golf, you’ve got even more to look forward to

The event kicks off on July 10 with the Official Championship Pro-Am, which pairs four amateur golfers with a pro on Firestone’s par 70, 7,400-yard South Course. By the end of the February, all 400 tickets — which cost $27,700 each — were sold out.

“There are people coming from all over the country to play in this,” Clepper says. “You’ve got tournament champions from all over the world, and people want a chance to play with these guys and spend some time with them.”

Another big draw this year is NFL legend Peyton Manning, who is serving as the 2024 PGA Ambassador of Golf and will be present at a VIP event held on July 11 at the LeBron James Family Foundation’s House Three Thirty community center in Akron. 

“Manning sees the impact that golf can have in a community and the opportunities that this tournament can create in people’s lives,” Kaulig says, noting that the former quarterback launched his own PeyBack Foundation to help disadvantaged youth in 1999. “He’s making a difference.”

Once expenses have been paid, all of the remaining proceeds will go Northeast Ohio charities, notes Stacey Langal, the vice president of philanthropy at Kaulig Companies. “The more money the tournament raises the more dollars are going back into Northeast Ohio,” she says. “It’s a tremendous community impact piece.”

Last year, the event raised just over $1.2 million for Northeast Ohio charities, setting a record for golf events held at Firestone Country Club. The goal this year is to hit $2 million to disperse to 25 local charities.

“We intend to use this tournament as a platform to significantly change thousands of lives here in our community,” Clepper says.

Fittingly, some of those lives will be changed on the golf course. One of the charities that benefits from the event is the Akron chapter of First Tee, a youth development organization that uses the game of golf to teach kids life lessons like how to pursue goals, collaborate with others and grow through challenges.

“We know what we’re doing is working. We hear it from the parents and we see it,” O’Brien says. “Kids that have gone through First Tee are different than kids who have not. There’s a need for youth development organizations. You can see the need.”

That belief is shared by Kaulig who, in addition to sponsoring the tournament, has supported more than 300 local charities geared toward supporting the well-being of children and families.

“It was an easy decision for our team to sign on as the title sponsor,” Kaulig says. “We want everyone to join us this year in continuing the legacy of giving back at this incredible event and help us make an even bigger impact in Northeast Ohio.”