The Sifford Scholarship Fund was established in 2022 in honor of Dr. Charles L. Sifford – the first Black golfer to earn a PGA TOUR card in 1961. The Cobbs Creek Foundation in Philadelphia serves as the fiscal sponsor for the scholarship fund.
June, 12th 2023/ Philadelphia, PA – Last week, the Sifford Scholarship Committee selected seven exemplary HBCU students, from a strong pool of applicants, as the recipients of the inaugural Sifford scholarship. The Sifford Scholarship Fund was established in 2022 in honor of the legendary and trailblazing Dr. Charles “Charlie” L. Sifford – the first Black golfer to earn a PGA TOUR card in 1961. The Sifford Scholarship was created to help fund college costs for students who attend a Historically Black College or University and minority students focusing their education on a golf management program.
2022 marked the centennial anniversary of Dr. Sifford’s birth. Throughout that calendar year, celebrations were held in his honor. One such events – the 2022 Travelers Championship in Hartford, CT took the lead in raising funds to support the Dr. Charles L Sifford Scholarship Fund. Dr. Sifford secured his first victory on the PGA in 1967 in Hartford, CT. To continue to honor his legacy, the Travelers Championship, one of the premier events on the PGA Tour, will host the 2nd annual Sifford golf tournament during tournament week 2023 to generate additional funding for Sifford Scholarships. The 2023 Sifford Scholars are:
- Cameron Blount (North Carolina Central University)
- Naveah Dobnye (Morgan St. University)
- Angela Dodson (Savannah St. University)
- Quincy Leonard (Florida A&M University)
- Rhaili-Em Lowe (Howard University)
- Clarence Sanders (Morehouse College)
- Kambre Terry (Howard University)
The Sifford family offered their congratulatory remarks -“The inaugural class of Sifford Scholars is nothing short of amazing. The Sifford Family is so proud of the seven scholars chosen. These young scholars selected exemplify the academic and personal excellence on the path to a successful career. Dr. Sifford would be extremely proud of the young men and women chosen to receive a scholarship in his honor.”
“Charlie Sifford has made such a lasting impact on professional golf, especially in Connecticut by winning here on the PGA TOUR for the first time,” said Travelers Championship Tournament Director Nathan Grube. “This initial class of Sifford Scholars is a tremendous way to honor Charlie’s legacy and guarantees that his memory and influence will reach the next generation of students.”
The Cobbs Creek Foundation serves as the fiscal sponsor of the Dr. Charles L. Sifford Scholarship Fund. From its founding in 1916, Cobbs Creek embraced both Black and women golfers and acted as the home course to Charlie Sifford during the time he was a resident of Philadelphia.
About Cobbs Creek Foundation
The Cobbs Creek Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established in 2018 to restore the Cobbs Creek Golf Course and to return the site to its status as one of Philadelphia’s historical landmarks. In partnership with local schools and community members, the Foundation’s mission is to create a state-of-the-art, economically sustainable golf and educational campus that provides opportunity for the youth of Philadelphia by serving their academic, athletic, and social-emotional needs. To learn more about the Cobbs Creek Foundation, visit www.cobbscreek.org.
About the Travelers Championship
The Travelers Championship, held in Cromwell, Connecticut, is one of the premier events on the PGA TOUR and part of the FedExCup series. The tournament proudly supports the TOUR’s Tradition of Giving Back by donating 100% of net proceeds to charities. Travelers, a leading provider of property and casualty insurance for auto, home and business, is the Official Property Casualty Insurance Provider of the PGA TOUR. The company became the tournament’s title sponsor in 2007. Travelers has been doing business in the Hartford community for more than 160 years and has been a corporate sponsor of this event each year since its inception in 1952. Complete details are available at TravelersChampionship.com.
About JLMP LLC
JLMP LLC is the exclusive life rights agent for the Sifford Estate, in partnership with WME Legends. JLMP aims to improve awareness of Dr. Sifford’s trailblazing efforts, the rich life lessons from his Just Let Me Play story and his vision of diversity in the professional game of golf. JLMP also seeks to advance Charitable/DEI efforts via our 501 c(3) fiscal sponsors – The Cobbs Creek & Cleveland Foundations – by securing sponsorship from those who share Dr. Sifford’s vision for growing diversity in golf. For additional details on the Sifford Scholarship Fund – visit https://siffordscholars.com.
