The annual 3M Celebrity Challenge – a five-hole exhibition held during the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in Pebble Beach, Calif. – was in full swing Wednesday, Feb. 6, as celebrity pairings played for $100,000 in prize money that will be donated to a charity of their choice.
The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am website calls the 3M Celebrity Challenge "one of the most legendary pre-tournament events" where celebrities representing Team [Clint] Eastwood and Team [Bill] Murray play the famous 'Whiskey Run' – holes 1, 2, 3, 17 & 18 at Pebble Beach Golf Links. This year's winner: Team Eastwood.
Fans watched the entire competition, which is traditionally followed by an unconventional, lighthearted awards ceremony on the 18th green. This year’s celebrities and their designated charities include:
| Team Eastwood | Charity | Total | ||||||||||
| Clint Eastwood | SPCA for Monterey County | $1,000 | ||||||||||
| Colt Ford | St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital | $1,000 | ||||||||||
| Clay Walker | Band Against MS | $50,000 | ||||||||||
| Andy Garcia | Monterey Peninsula Foundation | $50,000 | ||||||||||
| Team Murray | Charity | Total | ||||||||||
| Bill Murray | Hemophilia Foundation of N. California | $1,000 | ||||||||||
| Alfonso Ribeiro | Fresh Start Surgical Gifts | $1,000 | ||||||||||
| Larry the Cable Guy | Clinic with a Heart | $1,000 | ||||||||||
| Ray Romano | Harvest Home | $1,000 |
Scholarships for high school students
As part of the event, 3M sponsors scholarships for students from two area high schools. Sophia Buraglio, Carmel High School; and Grace Gonzales, Salinas High School, were selected based on essays that addressed the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, how they see 3M uniquely positioned to address the goals, and why. The two high schools also received funding to use at their discretion for other college-bound seniors.
3M CEO Mike Roman was on hand, as were many other 3M executives, including Paul Keel, senior vice president, 3M Business Development and Marketing-Sales, who presented the scholarships.
3M SVP Paul Keel with scholarship recipient Grace Gonzales.
A long history
3M has sponsored the 3M Celebrity Challenge for 59 years – it's another way we invest in communities and education, specifically STEM education, to help ensure success for students and prepare them to thrive in the future.
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