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10.21.05 - It's no secret that wherever the Professional Golfers' Association goes, money follows. But for next week's Charles Schwab Cup at the Sonoma Golf Club, a lot of that money will be donated to the local community.

Last year the Charles Schwab Cup championship and the PGA raised $350,000 for Sonoma-area charities and more than $110,000 in free dental work for local children. "We fully expect at least that amount this year as well," said Ray Kumli, volunteer coordinator for the event that runs Tuesday through Sunday, Oct. 25 to Oct. 30. "It's a fun event and it really helps the community."

Kumli will manage close to 500 volunteers who will work various shifts handling everything from first aid and handicap services to crowd and noise control. Kumli, who has worked with the tournament for three years, has enlisted a good mix of fresh faces and experienced regulars to volunteer. "We had a surge of volunteers just in the last week. ... so we're all set and ready to roll," said Kumli.

Some of the local groups profiting from the money that will be raised next week include the Boys & Girls Club Valley of the Moon, the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, the Valley of the Moon Children's Foundation and Hanna Boys Center.

For the greater Bay Area, the V Foundation Wine Celebration, which raises money for cancer research, and the First Tee of San Francisco, which provides affordable golf access to children who may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in the sport, will also receive donations.

While Charles Schwab is already a big supporter of the Boys & Girls Club, said Chad Chatlos of the PGA, the tournament chose the other groups by checking out what other organizations are active in the community.

It's a two-way street for the charities and the tournament, according to Chatlos.

"We see how the charities can help us promote the event and partner up with them to reach the community via avenues like newsletters and boards of directors so that we can in turn cut a check to them," said Chatlos.

And it's not only charities that profit - the whole community benefits from the event's exposure. The tournament will reach approximately 77 million homes as it airs on the Golf Channel, which Chatlos said will help to promote tourism in the area. Plus the local retail stores and restaurants visited by attendees should see higher numbers. According to the Sonoma Valley Health and Recreation Association, the championship has a positive impact of $4 million to $6 million on the community each year.

That should put smiles on the locals' faces - along with Christina's Smile Clinic, a truck that provides free dental work to uninsured children. It has been following the PGA and Champions Tour and will stop across the road from the tournament at Altimira Middle School Wednesday through Friday.

The nonprofit mobile dental clinic, run by Dr. Richard Garza out of Austin, Texas, and local volunteer dentists, is housed in a 48-foot trailer equipped with three dental-treatment stations, X-ray equipment and an instrument-sterilization area. Each child receives a comprehensive dental exam and any immediately needed dental care, such as extractions, fillings, root canals and sealants.

"Most of the children are usually really grateful - we haven't run across any huge fears of the dentist yet," said Dr. Yolanda Mangrum, who has worked with the program for three years. "It's a very positive environment - the kids all get a T-shirt from Christina's Smile Foundation, toothbrushes, toothpaste and stickers."

During the clinic's three days, 18 volunteer dentists will meet with about 120 children between the ages of 6 and 18 years old. The children were identified as needing the dental services by the local schools, teachers and the Office of Migrant Education. Approximately $50,000 worth of dentistry is delivered each day.

The goodwill doesn't end there. Mangrum keeps a list of the children who need preventive services and opens her local office to them in February during her office's annual sealant clinic.

Activities begin Tuesday, Oct. 25, with practice rounds for the pros and a 4 p.m. youth clinic with defending champion Mark McNulty. Wednesday Oct. 26, is the pro-am competition, and Thursday to Sunday is championship play. Tickets are available online at www.pegtour.com/tournaments/s539/tickets or by calling (800) 868-7563.

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