PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., and NORTHBROOK, Ill., Jan. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The PGA TOUR and Astellas Pharma today announced new initiatives to engage golf fans and non-fans alike with a five-year extension of their relationship by entering into a sponsorship agreement that runs through 2020.

"The PGA TOUR is proud to continue its relationship with Astellas, a valued sponsor and a company that improves the lives and health of others," said Tom Wade, PGA TOUR chief commercial officer.  "It is a great fit when we find partners like Astellas who strive to make the world a better place, and we are excited to develop innovative and engaging campaigns that give back to those in need."

The sponsorship initially will focus on two Astellas-supported TOUR initiatives: an advancement of the PGA TOUR Volunteer Challenge and a new campaign called PGA TOUR's Must-See Moments, both sponsored by Myrbetriq® (mirabegron).

The PGA TOUR Volunteer Challenge
The PGA TOUR Volunteer Challenge is a "vote-for-me" competition designed to raise funds for charity while recognizing the talent, passion and commitment of the TOUR's more than 100,000 volunteers nationwide who have helped the TOUR achieve more than $2.14 billion in charitable contributions to date. 

The Volunteer Challenge, which was co-created by Astellas and the PGA TOUR in 2015, encourages fans to visit www.PGATOUR.com/Volunteers and vote for their favorite volunteer at any of 16 participating PGA TOUR tournaments. The volunteer with the most votes on Saturday of each tournament is named the winner and earns the opportunity to present a $10,000 check to the charity of his or her choice from a list provided by the tournament. Top-ranking tournaments also have the opportunity to earn additional charitable funding from Astellas based on the total number of votes earned collectively by volunteers and the tournament.

"Astellas is proud to partner with the PGA TOUR as both organizations share a deep commitment to the power of volunteerism," said Walt Johnston, vice president, Marketing, Astellas Pharma US, Inc. "We are honored to be part of the PGA TOUR's philanthropic legacy by donating more than $1 million to tournament charities over the course of the sponsorship and collaborating on this unique opportunity to give back to the communities where we work and live."

PGA TOUR's Must-See Moments
PGA TOUR's Must-See Moments is a season-long campaign that engages fans through multiple media channels. Fans are encouraged to visit PGATOUR.COM, select from a collection of video highlights as "Must-See Moments" from tournament competition, and vote for that week's winning moment.  A sweepstakes then provides two chances for one lucky fan and guest to make their own "Must-See Moments" by winning the trip of a lifetime, which includes airfare and accommodations, upgraded PGA TOUR tournament tickets and behind-the-scenes experiences at a PGA TOUR event, city tours, shopping sprees, and other items.  Additional prizes will be awarded each month, including gift cards for golf merchandise and tee times. The campaign and sweepstakes launched on January 10 and will continue through September 25, 2016.  Please visit www.pgatour.com/mustseesweeps to enter.

About Astellas 
Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.us. You can also follow us on Twitter at @AstellasUS. Visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AstellasUS.

About PGA TOUR
The PGA TOUR is the world's premier membership organization for touring professional golfers, co-sanctioning more than 130 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Web.com Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR China.

The PGA TOUR's mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in the communities in which it plays, and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players.

Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to more than 1 billion households in 227 countries and territories in 30 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2014, tournaments across all Tours generated a record $140.5 million for local and national charitable organizations, after surpassing $2 billion in all-time charitable contributions early in the year.

The PGA TOUR's web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

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SOURCE Astellas Pharma US, Inc.