As we continue with our #CommittedtoOurCommunity campaign, we must recognize our MVP’s. The PGA Professionals and Associates who remain loyal to creating an impact in their local community make this mission come to life.
We have shed a light on all the life-changing programs that make up the pillars of our Foundation, but now we wish to recognize as many PGA Professionals and Associates as possible who are the heart of programs.
There are many PGA Professionals who have directly and indirectly impacted our programming. Please join us in recognizing those who give back through the game we love so much.
We have many PGA Professionals who spend hours investing in turning blueprints into homes. Each summer, we have close to 25 local PGA Professionals on our worksite for our 4-5 build days. Since beginning our coordination with Habitat for Humanity in 2011, we have built eight homes for well-deserving families. Our PGA Professionals have volunteered over 1,600 hours.
Click on the image above to read more stories about our Habitat builds.
We began PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) in 2015. Since its inception, we have hosted over 40 programs each requiring a team of PGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf. These PGA Professionals provide free golf instruction for military veterans for two hours once a week over the course of six to eight lessons.
Last year, 29 PGA Professionals volunteered 160 hours of instruction to our nation's heroes. Below is a list of all the PGA and LPGA Professionals and Associates who have assisted with our PGA HOPE programming since its inception.
Click on the image above to learn more about our PGA HOPE program.
Click HERE to learn more about how our Professionals continue to provide hope during this pandemic.
Judy Alvarez, PGA Colin Amaral, PGA
Zack Anderton Tony Barber
Louis Bartoletti, PGA Trish Beucher, LPGA
Sue Boyer, PGA Barb Bunkowsky, LPGA Mark Cammarene, PGA
Steve Clawson, PGA Fred Cook, PGA Pat Dowd, LPGA
James Dunn, PGA Pam Elders, PGA Terry Farino, PGA
Barry Fitzpatrick, PGA Vince Forte, PGA
Paige Golibart, PGA Joe Groch, PGA
Mike Harbour, PGA Rob Heering, PGA
Rick Hengstenberg, PGA Ron Howell, PGA
Jerry Impellitierre, PGA Mike Jonges, PGA Sean Kicker, PGA Chip Koehlke, PGA
Dick LeConche, PGA Steve Lupcho, PGA
Blaine Lytle Marty Maisa, PGA
Allen Manguson, PGA Dave McNulty, PGA Mike Melton, PGA
Frank Mentzer, PGA Tom Metzger, PGA
John Moscoso, PGA Marty Muldoon, PGA
Stephanie Peareth, LPGA Nick Pincket, PGA
Will Reilly, PGA Albert Rios, PGA
Jose Rodriguez, PGA Patrick Ronyane, PGA Eric Salomatoff, PGA Toby Schmidt, PGA Brian Schuler, PGA Trey Sonnes, PGA Terrie Weiss, LPGA
Jeremy Wells Donna White, PGA
Brian Yarusevich, PGA
Smiling Fore Life allows PGA Professionals to visit local children's healthcare facilities to provide an hour of smiles to young patients. Through modified golf, our Professionals help pediatric patients forget about their hardships and focus on the fun the game of golf provides. One of the Foundation's first programs, since 2010, our instructors have impacted over 11,000 children have participated in Smiling Fore Life. Our team of PGA Professionals and Associates volunteered 340 hours of instruction resulting in hundreds of smiles.
Click on the image above to learn more about this smile-inducing program.
Click HERE to see how our Professionals continue to produce smiles throughout this public health crisis.
Robin Albright, PGA Casey Andersen, PGA
Phil Argianas, PGA Sue Boyer, PGA
Santos Caceres, PGA Sebastian Camillo, PGA
David Carse, PGA Jared Chipley
Tommy Chipman, PGA Dave Cunliffe, PGA
Chris David, PGA David Guy, PGA
Mike Jonges, PGA Valarie LaPapa, PGA
Gayle Leslie, PGA Will Lust, PGA
Brett Martin, PGA Carla Overhiser, PGA
Jon Pazdera, PGA Dave Pesacov, PGA
From the tee-to-green and everywhere in between, PGA Professionals shape the games and lives of many junior golfers in south Florida. Across all of our Junior Tour Levels; during our Drive, Chip & Putt qualifiers; coaching PGA Junior League; and preparing juniors for their next level of play you can find a PGA Professional volunteering their time and impacting the next generation of golfers. Assisting with Drive, Chip & Putt qualifiers alone, 40 PGA Professionals volunteered over 1,600hours.
Please click on the image above to learn more about our Junior Tour.
Click HERE to learn more about how our Professionals and junior golfers continue to give back.
This team of dedicated PGA Professionals has led the charge of changing lives through the game of golf in south Florida since 2004. With some additions and changes over the years, this resilient group has remained dedicated to making decisions with a philanthropic focus. We are thankful for their continued support and guidance.
As we urgently wait to get back to "normal," our PGA Professionals continue working hard to ensure this happens as soon as possible. Many have shared their interest in getting back and keep changing lives. We know there are many more to thank who are not included on this email for that we say "THANK YOU ALL!"
To the managers who allow their employees to volunteer their time to our programs, to the one-time volunteers, and those who host these programs - thank you!
We are encouraged by our Foundation's steady growth and cannot wait to see who else joins our team and what's next for our Foundation as we remain #CommittedtoOurCommunity in these difficult times.
Be sure to follow our stories on social media on all the following outlets!
Be sure to follow us so you can see how our audiences continue practicing from home. For example, the Johnson's practicing at home thanks to Coach Dave providing some games and drills through Virtual Smiling Fore Life. Follow along so you can see more stories like these!
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS!