State Farm To Drop LPGA Sponsorship

  • February 25, 2011
The 2011 LPGA State Farm Classic June 6-12 will be the last State Farm sponsors, according to the company.

After 19 years as presenting sponsor, the Bloomington, Ill.-based insurer has decided not to renew its sponsorship.

"The local host committee has been tremendous to work with, but we continuously evaluate our sponsorships and have made a strategic business decision not to renew," said Mark Gibson, assistant vice president, marketing, in a statement. 

State Farm stepped up as presenting sponsor in 1992. At that time, changes to the LPGA tournament structure placed its position as a tour event in jeopardy. State Farm stepped in, and with a presenting sponsorship, the LPGA decided to keep the tournament on the women's tour. 

To continue support of the designated charities tied to the event, in 2012 the company will match the charitable funding generated from this year's event.  In 2010, the Classic gave more than $288,000 to 17 central Illinois charities. There were more than 55 applications for assistance this year.--Tanya Irwin

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