PALM COAST, FL — More than 30 years ago, a snow delay on the PGA Tour set in motion a series of events that would change Jim and Tabitha Furyk’s lives and eventually make a lasting difference for thousands of families across Northeast Florida.
In February 1995, professional golfer Jim Furyk found himself with unexpected time on his hands during the Northern Telecom Open in Tucson, Arizona. While waiting in the locker room, he struck up a conversation with fellow golfer Mark Carnevale, who gushed about the townhome he’d purchased for $152,000 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway and TPC Sawgrass.
Furyk had been looking for property in his native Pennsylvania for a lot more than that and
was intrigued by the possibility of being able to practice all-year round in the Sunshine State. So, when he wasn’t in the field for the Masters that April, he paid a visit with his dad and when they weren’t practicing at TPC, they began exploring the greater Jacksonville area with a real estate agent. Furyk ultimately purchased a townhome in the same Ponte Vedra Beach community as Carnevale, just one building away.
“It felt like a can’t-lose deal to see if we liked it and we fell in love with the area,” Furyk recalled.
It actually was during construction of their future first home together that Jim met Tabitha, but surely she could’ve slammed the breaks on the move had she wanted to, right? “I’m from Ohio. Florida didn’t sound so bad,” she said with a smile.
The week of the 1996 Players Championship, the couple moved into their new pad, beginning a life together in Northeast Florida that would extend far beyond the golf course. What started with an unexpected weather delay eventually became a home, a family and a deep commitment to giving back to the community that welcomed them.
The Furyks have a passion for giving back
In 2000, Jim and Tabitha began pursuing a shared goal: using their success and connections to help people in need. That vision grew into the Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation in 2010 and the annual Furyk & Friends tournament. Originally launched as a two-day event around Jim's 40th birthday, Furyk & Friends brought together golf, live music, food and entertainment to create an enjoyable experience while raising money for local charities in education, healthcare, nutrition and safety for at-risk children and families.
A decade later, with the support of the PGA Tour and commissioner Jay Monahan, the event evolved into a PGA Tour Champions tournament, expanding its reach and fundraising potential. Tabitha elaborated on why that mattered to her.
“It was about helping more people. The need is so great. When you start feeding 300 kids and you see the difference and you know that there are 1,100 that need to be fed, you’re going to find a way to get it done,” she said.
A key partner in that growth has been Constellation, a longtime sponsor of Jim’s professional career. He recalled traveling to Baltimore to discuss the tournament and finding a partner who understood the couple’s passion and what they hoped to accomplish. The partnership has helped transform their original idea into a fundraising effort that has generated more than $5.45 million for 52 charities throughout the greater Jacksonville area. [According to the foundation’s Form-990, it had contributions, gifts and grants totaling just over $6 million in 2024 and a paid staff of four; neither Jim nor Tabitha nor anyone else in their family draws a salary.]
Among the organizations benefiting from that support are Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Blessings in a Backpack, Habitat for Humanity and First Tee. For the Furyks, however, the numbers tell only part of the story.
“I think when Jim and I started this to do something to give back, I don't think we ever imagined how much it was going to grow,” Tabitha said.
New home for the tournament, continuing commitment to Jacksonville
This year, Furyk & Friends has moved from Timuquana Country Club, a private club in Jacksonville, to Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Palm Coast, bringing the PGA Tour Champions event to Flagler County.
The move represents an opportunity to expand the tournament’s audience and introduce its charitable mission to a broader community. But the Furyks say Jacksonville, where their family and philanthropic efforts took root, will remain central to their work. The goal is to build on the relationships they have developed over the years while extending assistance to more children and families across Northeast Florida.
“That's part of the reason we're here,” Tabitha said. “We've come to Flagler County to continue to grow that footprint and the impact that we have on those that need it the most.”
Making sure children don't go hungry
One of the foundation’s longest-standing priorities is ensuring children have access to nutritious food, particularly when school is out. Through its support of Blessings in a Backpack, the tournament helps provide food for approximately 1,100 children each week, amounting to about 60,000 meals. For children who depend on school meals and other assistance, that support can make a meaningful difference.
“Those kids would be devastated without it. So, we want to continue that great work and continue to grow it,” Tabitha said.
The foundation also supports Hope for the Holidays, a program designed to help families facing food insecurity during school breaks. The initiative provides food assistance to an additional 6,000 families during the holidays, helping address the gap that can emerge when children lose access to regular school meals.
Through its expanding network of partners, the foundation is also supporting Provision Packs, a locally grown and locally supported initiative in Flagler County focused on feeding children.
As part of that effort, the Furyks announced plans to provide meals for 100 additional children who otherwise would not have been served. The expansion is expected to increase the program’s reach from 170 children to 270 during the 2026-27 school year.
“Feeding kids has always been a passion of ours, so this is giving us an opportunity to, again, expand the footprint and feed more kids,” Tabitha said.
Building stronger families and brighter futures
The foundation’s impact extends beyond food assistance.
Through its partnership with Constellation, the Furyks have helped support three full Habitat for Humanity home builds and several renovation projects, providing families with opportunities to improve their living conditions and build greater stability. They also are helping support a new teen center at the Boys & Girls Club of St. Augustine. The facility is expected to offer a gathering space for young people, with opportunities for arts, performances and other activities. A particular emphasis will be placed on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, including robotics and technology labs.
The foundation’s support of Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Baptist Health programs also helps advance efforts to care for sick children and support families navigating difficult circumstances. Meanwhile, its work with First Tee introduces young people to golf while emphasizing the values, discipline and life skills associated with the game.
Each initiative reflects the same underlying belief: communities become stronger when children and families have the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.
Furyk & Friends is more than a golf tournament
For spectators, Furyk & Friends offers the excitement of watching world-class golfers compete alongside live entertainment, great food and a lively social atmosphere.
Tabitha recognizes that the event is designed to be fun. Some have even described it as an adult spring break or given the timing of the tournament, shall we say, a fall break. But beneath the concerts, competition and celebrations is a purpose that remains at the heart of everything the Furyks have built. Every tournament creates another opportunity to raise funds, strengthen partnerships and bring attention to organizations doing essential work throughout the region.
The move to Palm Coast offers the chance to welcome new supporters and expand that impact without leaving behind the Jacksonville community that helped inspire the foundation in the first place. More than three decades after a snow delay unexpectedly introduced Jim Furyk to the place he would call home, his connection to Northeast Florida continues to grow.
What began with a conversation in a golf locker room has become a legacy measured not only in tournament victories or dollars raised, but also in meals delivered, homes built, children cared for and opportunities created.
Adam Schupak is a Golfweek senior writer.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: How a snow delay led Jim Furyk to Florida where he built a charity legacy
