DEMOPOLIS &8212; Grocery shoppers wishing to support Demopolis City Schools have a final opportunity to do so this week at a local grocery store.

Food World has designated The Demopolis City Schools Foundation as a charity of choice for the Bruno&8217;s 2008 Golf Ball Promotion, held to support Regions Charity Classic, presented by Bruno&8217;s.

For a seven-week period, April 2 until May 18, Food World customers in Demopolis had the opportunity to donate to the Foundation, and 100 percent of the funds raised in-store will return to the Foundation.

Johnson said patrons can contribute $1 and more to the Foundation that will go directly toward to the organizations needs.

During the first couple of days of the drive the store collected more than $200. Thus far the store has fundraised approximately $500 for the Foundation.

Jan McDonald, executive director of the Foundation, said, the drive is a reflection of the store&8217;s interest in the community.

Last year, the 2007 Regions Charity Classic, presented by Bruno&8217;s, donated more than $688,000 to charitable organizations in Alabama. Over its 16-year history, the tournament has donated almost $10 million to Alabama charities.

In addition to the Golf Ball Promotion, Foundation supporters can take part in the Birdies for Charities project benefiting the Foundation by pledging a minimum of two cents per birdie hit during the Classic on May 15-18 at Ross Bridge. Donors also have the option of making a flat contribution of $10 or more. Last year, golfers hit 808 birdies. A donor pledging two cents would have contributed $16.16.

McDonald said the first 50 pledgers for the Birdies for Charity project will receive a free one-day pass to the tournament.

McDonald said anyone pledging via the promotional brochure should bring the pledge to the Foundation office in order to receive his or her pass. Anyone pledging online should contact McDonald to verify the pledge and receive the pass.

The Foundation and other charities taking part receive every penny of the donations generated from loyal supporters and those up to a challenge. Those who pitch in to help the Foundation also have a chance to win prizes.

To create additional interest in the program, the Regions Charity Classic Foundation is sponsoring a &8220;Guess the Birdies&8221; contest. The official pledge forms invite donors to guess the number of birdies that will be made by Champions Tour players.

The grand prize in the &8220;Guess the Birdies&8221; contest is a cruise from the Norwegian Cruise Line. Other prizes include a trip to the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Fla., a weekend at Ross Bridget Golf Resort and Spa, golf packages and more.

Birdies for Charity is a fundraising program designed to give the charities taking part the chance to generate contributions for their organizations.

Most of the 43 charities enrolled in the program are from the Birmingham-Hoover area.

The Demopolis City Schools Foundation, designated as Lucky No. 13, is the only group in west Alabama taking part.

Brochures for those wanting to pledge are available at the Demopolis Country Club, The Ravine Golf Course, Regions Bank, Omni Sports and the Demopolis City Schools Foundation. All pledge forms should be returned to the Demopolis City Schools Foundation.

Anyone wishing to pledge may do so online by visiting the &8220;Birdies for Charity&8221; Web site at www.regionscharityclassic.com/birdies/make-a-pledge.php.

For more information on Bruno&8217;s 2008 Golf Ball Promotion or Birdies for Charity, call the Foundation at 334-289-2226.