DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., May 15, 2018 – For the second year in a row, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Foundation will partner with the Turner Family Foundation to help develop the next generation of female leaders when the first of five LPGA Leadership Academies on the 2018 schedule is held next month.

The two-day event will be presented by the Turner Family Foundation from June 12-13 and hosted at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota – the first time that an LPGA Leadership Academy will take place in the North Star State. The Turner Family Foundation is sponsoring this event in honor of Leslie Corrigan Turner, an avid golfer who made a significant contribution to the Twin Cities community through her lifetime commitment to volunteerism.

"Mom was passionate about making sure girls had equal opportunities to participate in sports in general, in part as a way for girls to build their self-confidence and develop leadership skills. Given that she was so involved in the game of golf her whole life, presenting the LPGA Leadership Academy in the Twin Cities is a perfect way to honor her legacy," said Turner's daughter, Marcie Sullivan.

The executive women’s panel at this Leadership Academy in Blaine will comprise Kelly McQueen, Senior Vice President and Relationship Manager at PNC Bank; Ruth Weber Kelley, Vice President of Leadership and Organizational Communications at Cargill; Kendal Wetzel, Director of RIA Distribution - ‎Allianz Life; Dana Mortenson, Co-Founder and CEO of World Savvy; and Toni Halleen, Owner and COO of Schaefer Halleen LLC.

"We are committed to empowering, inspiring and transforming the lives of girls and young women through the game of golf," said Nancy Henderson, President of The LPGA Foundation. "We are very excited about the impact that The LPGA Leadership Academy is having on the young girls who participate in the program."

The LPGA Foundation introduced the two-day LPGA Leadership Academy in 2015 to engage teenage girls in golf and provide them with a framework to develop confidence and enhance their communication and leadership skills. Group leadership exercises, expert-led discussions, journaling and interaction with female executives and mentors help girls focus on their individual strengths and leadership style.

The LPGA Leadership Academy uses the game of golf as a platform and learning tool to:

Teach girls how to become better decision makers
Overcome and let go of setbacks
Take calculated risks and embrace opportunities
Develop skills to accomplish specific goals
Play their own game and find their own voice

Leadership Academy events will also be held this year in Stockbridge, Georgia from June 19-20; in Daly City, California from July 16-17; in Southern Pines, North Carolina from July 24-25; and in Rye, New York from August 7-8. Each LPGA Leadership Academy hosts 40 girls aged 13-18.

In addition to attending the Academy, each participant will be eligible to apply for The LPGA Foundation Scholars Program which includes invitations to LPGA events, mentoring programs and a $5,000 college scholarship. Details about The LPGA Leadership Academy, the 2018 locations and applications for participation can be found on The LPGA Foundation website at: https://www.girlsgolf.org/events/leadership-academy.

LPGA Foundation and Turner Family Foundation Align

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