DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., May 4, 2009 – The Duramed FUTURES Tour announced today that iMPACT Ventures, LLC will become title sponsor of its Richmond, Va., tournament, which will be the Tour’s first event to take steps to become more environmentally conscious now and in the future.  The $100,000 iMPACT Classic will be held August 14-16, at the Richmond Country Club.

The sponsorship will mark the second partnership between the Duramed FUTURES Tour and iMPACT Ventures, which also sponsors the iMPACT Invitational in Daytona Beach, Fla.

“We are delighted to be partnering with iMPACT Ventures and, together with Richmond Country Club, take steps to improve the environment around us,” said Zayra F. Calderon, CEO of the Duramed FUTURES Tour. “I believe that the environmentally-friendly initiatives the iMPACT Classic will be undertaking will not only create a positive experience for the tournament and the citizens of the Greater Richmond area, but also provide a benchmark for our other events.”

Some of the initiatives already earmarked to make the event “green” are printing tournament tickets on recycled paper and providing recycling bins for plastic and aluminum bottles. In addition to tournament initiatives, Richmond Country Club has adopted several other proactive stewardship measures. The water used for irrigation comes exclusively from stormwater runoff and is collected in on-site ponds. Organic debris from tree and landscape plants is composted and returned to the property. The golf course management staff, under direction of Richmond Country Club Superintendent Greg McCue, CGCS, has constructed birdhouses in specific areas of the course to enhance nesting opportunities. 

The tournament and golf course sought the advice of the Environmental Institute for Golf, the philanthropic organization of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, whose mission is to continue to advance golf’s environmental sustainability.

This year, the tournament will be partnering with the 2009 Green Building Summit, hosted by iMPACT Ventures founder and CEO, Bobby Christian. This event, which will be held concurrently with the tournament, will bring companies together to discuss and learn more about environmental stewardship.

“With iMPACT serving as title sponsor, the desire to develop a 'green' golf event was a natural fit with the Green Building Summit, and furthers iMPACT’s commitment to the environment,” said Christian. “We’re excited to take on a leadership role. The integration of the summit and the eco-friendly golf event will provide the Greater Richmond area with a unique opportunity to combine financial savings and positive environmental benefits by going green.”

For more information about the iMPACT Classic and its green initiatives, visit the tournament’s official website at www.impactclassic.com.

About iMPACT VENTURES

iMPACT Ventures, LLC, is a strategic consulting firm committed to delivering results for high-tech growth companies. Combining experience, business development and operational capabilities, and a proven system, iMPACT partners with clients to help them achieve growth objectives.  For more information, visit www.impact-enpr.com.

About the Duramed FUTURES Tour

The Duramed FUTURES Tour, the LPGA’s developmental tour, is in its 29th competitive season. The Tour’s mission is to prepare the world’s best young women professional golfers for a successful career on the LPGA Tour. The top 10 money winners each season earn automatic memberships on the LPGA Tour for the following season. With more than 300 alumnae as current members of the LPGA through 2008, former Duramed FUTURES Tour players have won a total of 345 LPGA titles, including 37 major championships. Duramed FUTURES Tour events have contributed more than $4.5 million to charitable organizations throughout the nation since 1989. For more information, visit www.duramedfuturestour.com.

Contact: Joely Pique, Communications Manager, Duramed FUTURES Tour, 386-290-7174, joely@duramedfuturestour.com