| FRISCO, Texas (August 7, 2024) – The PGA of America REACH Foundation, the Association’s 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, will take center stage August 10th at 1:30 p.m. ET in the CBS Special: “PGA of America REACH Foundation: So all can Love this Game.” Narrated by CBS Sports Broadcaster James Brown (Host, “THE NFL TODAY”), the special will celebrate the powerful stories of individuals and communities transformed by the four pillars of the Foundation: PGA Jr. League, PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), PGA WORKS and PGA Places to Play. The mission of the Foundation is to positively impact the lives of youth, military and diverse populations by enabling access to PGA of America Golf Professionals, PGA of America Sections and the game of golf. “Through our more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals, the PGA of America REACH Foundation introduces golf to thousands nationwide, but more importantly, impacts lives along the way,” said PGA of America President John Lindert, PGA Director of Golf at the Country Club of Lansing (Michigan). “From coaching kids through PGA Jr. League, enhancing community golf facilities with PGA Places to Play, diversifying the industry workforce through PGA WORKS, or supporting Veterans with PGA HOPE, we are proud of the Foundation’s significant mission.” Storylines featured in the CBS Special include: PGA Jr. League – Keeton Park Golf Course – PGA Opportunity LeaguePGA Opportunity League at Keeton Park Golf Course, located in Dallas, Texas, is the Association’s newest initiative under the PGA Jr. League umbrella. PGA Jr. League is the flagship youth-pillar program of the Foundation with efforts focused on making the program accessible to every child, everywhere. Scholarships are available for children who qualify for financial assistance or are from military families. At Keeton Park, the program is 100 percent scholarship based and fully funded by the Foundation. The program is led by PGA of America Golf Professional Tony Martinez, his son Ty Martinez, PGA, and brothers Jose and Erik Rodriguez. After losing their father to COVID, Tony has served as a father-figure and mentor over the last few years to the Rodriquez brothers. Together, they have created a family atmosphere for the program, coaching their two younger sisters and building an impactful program for youth in the area. PGA HOPE – Veteran James Davenport, PGA of America AssociateVeteran James Davenport found his passion in the game and industry after serving in the Navy for 26 years. His participation in his local PGA HOPE program positively influenced his dealings with PTSD, anxiety and depression from decades of military service. It even inspired him to become a PGA of America Golf Professional, getting his start in the industry in 2023 as the assistant golf professional at Native Oaks Golf Course in Valley Center, California. Today, he’s progressing toward becoming a PGA of America Member and serving as the PGA HOPE Coordinator for the Southern California PGA. More than 1,000 Veterans will be served this year through 27 program locations in the region he oversees. PGA HOPE is the flagship military program of the Foundation. The program introduces golf to Veterans and Active Duty Military to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being through a 6-8 week curriculum, led by PGA of America Golf Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. PGA WORKS Fellow – Kyra CoxPGA WORKS Fellow Kyra Cox ignited her passion for golf by competing on the MET PGA Junior Golf Tour and continued her high-level competition at Furman University and Howard University. She participated in the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship before her PGA WORKS Fellowship with the MET PGA Section, a one-year paid immersion in a PGA Section’s Foundation operations. She now works full-time for the Section as the Foundation and Events Administrator. PGA WORKS is a strategic initiative designed to diversify the golf industry’s workforce. The program leverages fellowships, scholarships, career exploration events and the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship to inspire and engage talent from diverse backgrounds to pursue key employment positions across the golf industry. PGA Places to Play – Gillespie Golf Course2025 PGA Places to Play Spectator Championship Legacy Grant recipient Gillespie Golf Course in Greensboro, North Carolina, holds a prominent history from the civil rights movement with the “Greensboro Six.” In 1955, six heroic Black men were arrested for daring to play the white-only golf course. Their impact changed access to municipal golf courses around the country. The PGA Places to Play Grant helps revitalize key areas of the facility through a renovation project, which also includes a $2 million investment from the City of Greensboro, ensuring it remains a fit location for all to learn and love the game under the direction of Head Professional Bob Brooks, PGA. PGA Places To Play creates opportunities to support golf facilities and sustain affordable access to the game for people of all backgrounds and abilities through seed grants from the PGA of America REACH Foundation. The program creates access through community-based initiatives and PGA of America championship markets. |
| About PGA of America REACH FoundationThe PGA of America REACH Foundation is the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America. The mission of the Foundation is to positively impact the lives of youth, military and diverse populations by enabling access to PGA of America Golf Professionals, PGA Sections and the game of golf. For more information on the PGA of America REACH Foundation, visit PGAREACH.org, follow @PGAREACH on Instagram, X, formerly known as Twitter and find us on Facebook. |
PGA of America REACH Foundation To Be Featured August 10th at 1:30 p.m. ET in the CBS Special
