DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Sept. 18, 2020 – During a time when traveling and gathering to play tournament golf proves very challenging due to COVID-19, the LPGA Professionals and LPGA Amateur Golf Association (LPGA Amateurs) recently raised $56,185 without leaving their hometowns.
From Aug. 28 to Sept. 13, the LPGA Professionals and LPGA Amateurs hosted a Virtual Pro-Am and Virtual Scramble. The LPGA Professionals hosted Pro-Am scramble teams, a four-person scramble with one LPGA Professionals member and three amateurs, while LPGA Amateurs created teams with four amateurs. Competitors were able to play at their local facilities all over the country. Instead of entry fees, donations were made to the LPGA Foundation, specifically the LPGA Renee Powell Grant, the LPGA Amateurs Women on Par Scholarship, and the LPGA Professionals COVID-Relief Fund.
The LPGA Renee Powell Fund, established this year, has an objective to provide need-based grants to new and existing LPGA*USGA Girls Golf programs that serve Black communities. The grants will provide access, instruction, equipment, and additional funding required to be introduced to the game and stay engaged with the sport. Through this effort, the LPGA Foundation will further its commitment to creating an engaging, safe, inclusive and diverse environment to empower, inspire and transform the lives of all women and girls through golf.
The LPGA Professionals COVID-Relief Fund was initiated to provide financial assistance to LPGA Professionals members whose ability to earn a living was negatively impacted during the global pandemic.
“It is so exciting to see the incredible support and participation by our LPGA Professionals and their students, friends, and members as they played this first-of-its-kind virtual event,” said Marvol Barnard, LPGA Professionals National President. “Throughout the pandemic, LPGA Professionals have asked for ways to support fellow members, and the COVID-Relief Fund has provided a wonderful outlet to do so. The tremendous popularity of this event is clear, and we plan to make this an annual event going forward.”
The LPGA Amateurs Women on Par Scholarship was established in 2007 by the EWGA Foundation (now the LPGA Amateur Golf Association) to provide financial assistance to “non-traditional” female students. These scholarships are intended for women, aged 30 and older, who are attending a college or university for the first time or returning to school after an absence to complete their technical/vocational, Associate, or bachelor's degree. The scholarships are designed to help these women get “on par,” or get an equal footing, with their peers, friends, and other women who have had a chance to complete their college education. Since its inception, the scholarship program has helped over 25 women realize their dreams of obtaining their degrees.
The LPGA Virtual Pro-Am and Virtual Scramble produced 191 teams and over 1,100 players in total.
“In a year like 2020 where the world has thrown us so many curve balls, it felt so good to come together even virtually as the LPGA community to impact the future in a positive way,” said Nancy Henderson, the LPGA’s Chief Teaching Officer and President of the LPGA Foundation. “Everyone talks about the new normal. This event might have been conducted virtually, but you could feel and see the spirit of giving through the pictures and stories."
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