GIBSONIA — Years ago, Paul Wilhelm decided to sponsor a neighbor on the LPGA Tour.

A former president of U.S. Steel, Wilhelm died of cancer in April 2001, but his generosity and charitable contributions live on.

The fifth Paul J. Wilhelm LPGA Pro-Am Golf Classic, which benefits the Mars Home for Youth, takes place July 14 at Treesdale Golf &Country Club.

The event partners a LPGA Tour member with four others in a five-player scramble format. Through the efforts of tour member and Furman University women's golf coach Jen Hanna, there are 31 LPGA Tour golfers playing in the event.

"Paul helped Jen get started in the LPGA,"said Hanna's mother, Lorraine Hanna. "He was a friend and neighbor of ours in the Treesdale community.

"The Mars Home for Youth was one of his favorite charities. He loved golf and helping people in need."

Mars Home for Youth offers an alternative school for children in need. Commuters and residents attend Longmire Academy on the facility's grounds, whichhouse about 45 residents for six to 12 months at a time.

"Kids are here for a variety of reasons," said the home'spublicist, Shellyn Shoenthal. "Victims of abuse, mental illness, any type of personal trauma. ... Kids are usually referred to us through the court system."

When Jen Hanna received word a Wilhelm benefit golf outing was in the works a few years ago, she wanted to participate.

"It's a way for me to pay tribute to him, to thank him for what he's done for me," Hanna said. "It's a way to help children, too, and that's always important.

"It's a great event and the number of LPGAplayers who join keeps growing every year."

There were 20 LPGA players involved when Hanna first passed the word. This year, 31 of them will be at Treesdale.

Besides playing the pro-am, the LPGA pros put on a junior golf clinic before the event.

"This is a first-class event all the way,"event chairman Russ Ford said. "We have about a 60 percent attrition rate year to year, so people keep coming back."

Last year's Wilhelm event raised $62,000, and Ford said about $65,000 will be raised this year.

The tournament has raised more than $187,000 since its inception.

A pre-event party takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. July 13, at the Mars Home for Youth, at which time the pairings are announced for the pro-am.

The junior golf clinic takes place the morning of July 14, followed by the golf outing itself.

"Mars Home for Youth is in need of funds, and when Paul died, he wanted contributions to be sent there,"Lorraine Hanna said. "Helping troubled children in need meant a lot to him. It does to all of us."

Jen Hanna played the LPGA Tour for six years and still has her tour card. She is in her third year as coach at Furman, her alma mater.

Hanna led Furman to its conference title and a berth in the 24-team NCAA national tournament last season.

She plans to contribute to the Wilhelm LPGA Pro-Am Golf Classic as long as the event takes place.

"You start something like this hoping it will be successful. This was my vision when I got involved and I'm glad it came to fruition," Hanna said. "Pro athletes want to give back."

Anyone can still play in the event by calling Lorraine Hanna at 724-625-0865 by Monday.

TOURING TREESDALE

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The following LPGA players will participate in the Paul J. Wilhem LPGA Pro-Am Golf Classic July 14 at Treesdale Golf and Country Club:

Jen Hanna, Angie Ridgeway, Brandi Jackson, Kelly Cap, Sherri Turner, Jenny Gleason, Natalie Tucker, A.J. Eathorne, Kelly Lagedrost, Kristy McPherson, Alena Sharp, Kim Bauer, Sarah Lynn Sargent, Simi Mehra, Jean Bartholomew, Beth Bader, Becky Lucidi, Diana D'Alessio, Caroline Blaylock, Ashli Bunch, Carmen Hajjar, Nancy Harvey, Leslie Spalding, Annette DeLuca, Denise Killeen, Nicole Jeray, Luciana Benvenuti, Beth Allen, Becky Morgan, Kristina Tucker, Marcy Hart