Fort Worth means everything to Angela Stanford. She’s never lived anywhere else.
Twelve years ago, the five-time LPGA winner started the Angela Stanford Foundation. On Monday at Mira Vista Golf Club, she hosted the annual “Let Your Life Shine Charity Golf Tournament” to help raise money to award scholarships to kids in the area affected by cancer. Since 2012, her foundation has awarded close to $200,000 in scholarships.
“I’ve had people help me along the way and I believe that if you have a gift to give and you can help then you should,” said Stanford. “I didn’t know cancer was going to be involved until my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and we had a board member pass away from cancer.”
It wasn’t just any board member. Stanford actually coached her daughter in basketball.
“The ripple of cancer affects everyone,” said Stanford. “I believe you need a purpose in life and when these kids get hit hard, whether it is themselves or their parents, we like to try and help them keep some purpose.”
A total of 21 LPGA players including some that were on red-eye flights from San Francisco, showed up on Monday of the Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic to participate in the pro-am.
“A lot of times the scholarship kids will come to the concert or the dinner and you get to see the faces and how thankful they are and the impact that she is having,” said longtime friend and fellow pro Kristy McPherson. “To get to meet the kids is special. It really tugs at your heart when you see where the money is going.”
While Stanford has five LPGA wins and 91 career top 10s, LPGA pro Dori Carter said that her foundation work may be her lasting legacy.
“Her golfing accomplishments are amazing, but I think this goes even farther than that,” said Carter. “This is going to last longer than golf. Everybody loves Angela and it was great to see her get a standing ovation (at the awards presentation).”
Stanford, 40, isn’t done playing golf so the legacy question is a tricky one because she’d love to keep winning, but her off course endeavors mean so much.
“I hope that someday, I come across one of our scholarship applicants and the kid says ‘without this scholarship, I wouldn’t have stayed in school’. That is totally enough for me.”
Stanford wouldn’t have been able to raise the funds without the support of her community and the LPGA players that gave up their time.
“It takes a village to help others and everyone in that room today – board members, LPGA players, volunteers, top to bottom has such a big heart. Our LPGA players are the best, they have the biggest hearts and I’d put them up against athletes from any other sport.”
With another successful charity golf tournament in the books, Stanford will make the short drive to Old American Golf Club this week to try and capture win number six. Even if she doesn’t, she’s already won this week.
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