HARTFORD – Phil Mickelson might not realize it when he is lining up a putt on the 18th green at the TPC at River Highlands in Cromwell, but the Canon Greater Hartford Open is not only entertaining thousands upon thousands of people, it is helping out just as many.

And maybe more.

The Greater Hartford Jaycees are a volunteer group of young men and women ages 21 through 39 with a focus on leadership development through community service. The group was founded in 1943 as an extension of the New Haven chapter – the only one in Connecticut at that time.

The Greater Hartford chapter is most commonly associated with the Canon GHO. Marketed and managed exclusively by our chapter since 1952, the GHO (which has had several sponsors, with Canon now in its 18th year) raises more than $1 million in profits annually.

With these revenues, the Greater Hartford Jaycees organize projects and services benefiting various aspects of the community. Annual projects include Playscape – the purchasing and construction of a playground at a selected site in the area; Project Harvest - the winter distribution of food to 3,000 needy families; and HOBY – a four day leadership seminar for more than 200 high school sophomores.

Along with financing these and over 70 other projects, tournament revenue is returned to the community through the Greater Hartford Jaycees Foundation. Presently, the Foundation awards $40,000 in college scholarships to eligible high school seniors from the Greater Hartford Area and more than $600,000 in grants to community organizations.

The Greater Hartford Jaycees Foundation was established in 1971, when, with the help of Tournament proceeds donated by GHO champion Bob Murphy, the Jaycees awarded their first grant to the Greater Hartford community. The Foundation has funded program services in the Greater Hartford Area for more than 20 years, and reached the $500,000 funding level in 13 of those years. In 2000, the Foundation will exceed $15 million in total grants and scholarships since it’s inception.

The Foundation operates four distinct funding programs: Scholarships Program, Grants Program, Children’s Fund Program, and Special Projects.

The Grants Program awards up to $20,000 to qualified non profit organizations in our focus areas. Applicants participate in a thorough review process that includes a site visit as well as a presentation.

The Children’s Fund was established in 1985 to award grants of $50,000 or more to non-profit organizations with programs addressing children’s issues. This year’s recipients were announced at the Canon GHO opening ceremonies.

The Special Projects area addresses unique funding requests in addition to a number of long standing funding relationships. For over 20 years, the Foundation has awarded funding to the Jaycee-Courant baseball league and Hartford USA Jaycee Youth Soccer. Other projects that are supported include Riverfront Recapture and the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford.

The Scholarship Program awards scholarships to high school students residing in Greater Hartford. Individuals are awarded funding based on academic success, demonstrated leadership skills, and financial need. Seven scholarships are granted. These include the Canon Technology Scholarship, the Canon Environmental Scholarship, the Sammy Davis Jr. Performing Arts Scholarship, and four general scholarships.