The 2019 Swing for the Kids golf tournament raised about VNĐ1.8 billion ($77,400) to support students. This year's event will be held on November 21 in Hà Nội. — Photo courtesy of VIR

HÀ NỘI — The 2020 Swing for the Kids golf tournament will tee off on November 21 at the BRG Kings Island Golf Resort in Đồng Mô, Sơn Tây Town, about 46km from Hà Nội.

The 14th event has been delayed for months because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participants will compete in four groups, including one for ladies, classified by their handicaps.

Besides top prizes for the overall champion and the winners of each group, the organisers will present awards for the longest drive, nearest the pin and hole-in-one.

The annual charity competition aims to raise funds to support poor students who have excelled academically.

After 13 competitions, more than VNĐ17.5 billion (US$755,000) has been collected and delivered to more than 16,000 students as well as used to upgraded school infrastructure around the country.

At a press conference yesterday in Hà Nội, the organisers presented seven scholarships to outstanding students at universities in the capital.

"Over the past 13 years, Swing for the Kids has attracted kind-hearted people who wish to support underprivileged students nationwide, especially those from rural, mountainous and island areas," said Lê Trọng Minh, editor in chief of Việt Nam Investment Review and head of the organising board.

"The COVID-19 pandemic forced us to postpone but could not stop us from continuing our task. We believe that our support will help reduce students' difficulties and challenges and push them to higher results," he said.

Speaking at the briefing, Thái Việt Dũng, a representative of Exness, one of the tournament's sponsors, said: "We know have a corporate social responsibility and through Swing for the Kids, Exness is honoured to be taking part and contributing to fulfilling the dreams of disadvantaged children in Việt Nam."

Padungsak Thanakij, a representative of Banpu Company, said supporting education had been on Banpu’s sustainable development agenda since its establishment. This was Banpu's first year Việt Nam and we were lucky enough to find Swing for the Kinds as our strategic partner for implementing CSR projects here, he said.

At the briefing yesterday, the organisers also decided to contribute VNĐ1 billion ($43,000) to people in the central region who have been strongly affected by floods and landslides recently. — VNS