Golf pros back company's philanthropic expansion
Expanding its philanthropic efforts, Aberdeen-based EnQuest has teamed up with Scottish golfing legends Paul Lawrie and Bernard Gallacher as part of the company's fund-raising efforts for a number of local causes.
When it holds its annual charity golf day in June, EnQuest, the largest UK independent oil and gas producer in the UK North Sea, will help raise funds for the Paul Lawrie Foundation, a UK-based charity aimed at getting children involved in sports.
EnQuest has committed to supporting the Paul Lawrie Foundation (PLF) as one of its nominated charities while former winning Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher will serve as the guest of honor at the June event. Proceeds from the event will go to the Paul Lawrie Foundation, the Play Golf – Help Save Lives campaign, and Aberdeen charity, Archway.
Former Open champion Paul Lawrie launched his foundation in 2001, two years after he won the 1999 Open at Carnoustie. Initially set up to give youngsters from all backgrounds across the region the opportunity to play and compete in golf, the Foundation has since grown to support a number of other sports such as football, tennis, swimming and snooker.
"We are delighted to have the support of EnQuest and their staff and flattered that they have chosen to partner with us," Lawrie said. "By working together, we will continue to make golf an enjoyable and accessible sport for local youngsters and be in a position to provide more opportunities for kids in the host of other sports with which we are now also involved," he continued.
As well as supporting the Paul Lawrie Foundation, EnQuest will continue to raise money for Aberdeen charity, Archway, for which it has already raised more than £116,000 (roughly US$190,000) over the last two years. The company also has a long-standing, community partnership with Tullos Primary School.
David Heslop, managing director UKCS at EnQuest, said: "Our people are at the core of EnQuest's success and, thanks to their passion and enthusiasm, we have raised thousands of pounds for good causes. They told us that as well as continuing to support Archway, they wanted us to establish a relationship with a new charitable organization. We decided upon the Paul Lawrie Foundation because it is a local charity that is having a positive impact on a large number of young people who may not ordinarily have the opportunity to get involved in sport.
"We look forward to building on our achievements to date with another year of fundraising that will support local charities whose work has a tangible and positive impact on the lives of people in our community."
EnQuest's annual charity golf day, one of the company's largest fundraising efforts, will be held this year on June 20 at The Fairmont St Andrews. Last year, the event drew 160 players and raised £55,000 (approximately US$91,000).
This year, Bernard Gallacher joins the event on behalf of his nationwide Play Golf - Help Save Lives campaign. Gallacher, recent recipient of a Lifetime Achievement honor at the 2014 Scottish Golf Awards, launched the campaign in partnership with the Professional Golfers' Association and Arrhythmia Alliance after suffering a cardiac arrest in August 2013 during a dinner reception in Aberdeen. He credits the availability of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), along with early-response CPR treatment at the venue for saving his life.
Money raised for the campaign from EnQuest's golf day will help equip a number of golf clubs and driving ranges in Scotland with the life-saving devices. Currently, just 30% of the 3,000 golf courses and 840 independent driving ranges that serve over 4 million people across the UK have an AED. The goal of the campaign is to ensure every club or driving range in the UK and Ireland has at least one public access AED by the end of 2014.
Finally, money raised by EnQuest's golf day will help continue to support Archway, a provider of services for children and adults with learning disabilities and their families throughout Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. The charity aims to build Betty's Place, a specially-adapted holiday cottage in the Aberdeen area .
Mikaila Adams | Managing Editor - News
Mikaila Adams has 20 years of experience as an editor, most of which has been centered on the oil and gas industry. She enjoyed 12 years focused on the business/finance side of the industry as an editor for Oil & Gas Journal's sister publication, Oil & Gas Financial Journal (OGFJ). After OGFJ ceased publication in 2017, she joined Oil & Gas Journal and was named Managing Editor - News in 2019. She holds a degree from Texas Tech University.
