GCBAA Foundation 2014 Annual Report

Golf Course Builders Association of America

Foundation

2014 Status Report

Newton Recreation Commission Junior Golf Clinic Newton, KS

A Message From Foundation President, Rick Lohman What a year it’s been!

In April, we welcomed new staff member Lori Romano as our Information & Education Coordinator. Since then, it has been full steam ahead for the Foundation. At the top of Lori’s priority list was determining which Sticks for Kids Programs were active and effective, how those programs are fulfilling our vision and purpose, and how we can continue to provide support to the programs to help them remain viable. Right now, with just under 50% of programs reporting for 2014, we are already seeing some incredible numbers in total participation and overall program impact.

Because of our program, children are getting the opportunity to hold clubs in their hands, sometimes for the very first time. Because of our program, children are learning the fundamentals of golf, and all the life lessons that go along with it. Because of our program, parents are watching their children blossom and gain confidence and fall in love with a game that they may otherwise have never had the opportunity to play.

We’ve done a lot, but we want to keep doing so much more!

Foundation Board Members Mark Arrimour Total Turf Services Joe DiRenzio Paige Electric Co., LLP Christine Faulks Faulks Bros. Construction Bill Kubly Landscapes Unlimited, LLC Kun Li Forward Group Ron Stepanek Community Golf Services

In addition to maintaining and strengthening existing programs, we are also constantly looking for ways to broaden our reach. Over the summer, we launched a Sticks for Kids and Foundation e-newsletter to share success stories and help connect our members and generous donors to the programs and scholarship recipients they are supporting.

We also launched 15 new SFK programs, including partnerships with the Michigan Women’s Golf Association, Lakeside Memorial Golf Course, The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Wadsworth Foundation’s Links Across America, and the Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association. And with the help of a generous Eagles for Education grant from the USGA and Chevron, we hand-picked 14 of our long-standing, successful programs to receive a brand new 64GB iPad Air preloaded with dozens of golf-related swing analysis apps, training videos, educational materials, and STEM-related lesson plans. We can’t wait to see how this new technology helps take our programs to the next level!

As we look forward to 2015, we are excited by the possibilities before us. We are growing. We are changing. We are consistently striving to keep improving. Now is a great time to get involved. Reach out in your own communities.

Find ways to spread the word about the GCBAA Foundation. With the support of our staff, the GCBAA members, and our generous sponsors and donors, we will continue building a successful program and positively impacting the lives of the children we serve.

Thank you for your continued support!

Tom Shapland Shapland Golf Consultants, LLC Dennis Wagner Ewing Irrigation

Rick Lohman, Foundation President

Who We Are The GCBAA Foundation is the charitable arm of the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA), a non-profit trade association of the world’s foremost golf course builders and leading suppliers of the golf course industry. The GCBAA Foundation is committed to providing youth with the tools and opportunities they need to explore the game of golf and potential careers in the golf industry.

What We Do The future of golf is dependent upon the next generation. In 1997, the GCBAA established the GCBAA Foundation to provide the necessary tools and opportunities to allow the next generation of golfers to learn and enjoy the game.

Since its establishment, the GCBAA Foundation has taken a special interest in supporting underprivileged children by launching the Sticks for Kids Program, a junior golf outreach program that provides clubs, bags, teaching materials, and marketing materials to participants. Children ages 5-18 are taught the fundamentals of the game, as well as life lessons such as etiquette, integrity, sportsmanship, safety, and respect for themselves and others.

The safe, friendly environment and dedicated instructors optimize each child’s personal experience.

The GCBAA Foundation is committed to providing the tools and opportunities for youth to explore the game of golf and potential careers in the industry. The Foundation has developed the following goals: •

Develop and maintain the Sticks for Kids Program to introduce the game of golf to children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to learn the sport, educating them in the rules of golf, life values, and environmental stewardship. SFK has been the cornerstone of the Foundation’s work in the past, and will continue to be in the future.

•

Fund a scholarship program to encourage University students to pursue careers in a green industry, such as the golf industry. Scholarships are awarded to juniors and seniors who are participating in golf-related programs. GCBAA members or others can increase donations in the form of matching scholarships.

•

Support benevolent programs that benefit both society and the golf industry. The Foundation will reach out to other like-minded organizations to promote causes that benefit the growth of golf.

Where We've Been From its inception, members of the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA) wanted a way to give back to their communities. In 1997, they launched the Sticks for Kids Program to provide a positive and enduring golf experience including instruction on golf rules, etiquette, safety, and environmental awareness. A Foundation to carry out this work was established in 2001.

The first SFK Programs were launched with adult-sized clubs, cut down to be used by the children in the programs. Over the years, the Foundation’s reach expanded and the program continued to evolve. We began investing in high-quality junior clubs. We developed instructional and marketing materials. We forged partnerships with other organizations engaged in the training and development of junior golfers.

Best of all, we continued to grow.

50+

Sticks for Kids Programs have been launched in every U.S. state, as well as several locations around the world.

500+

More than 500 individual Sticks For Kids Programs have been launched since 1997.

313,988

$1,000

Youth participants in Sticks for Kids since 2007. With programs ranging in size from 3 to more than 13,000 participants a year, each SFK site is uniquely designed to serve children in the community.

Establishes a new Sticks for Kids Program. That’s right. A donation of just $1,000 is enough to launch a brand new SFK Program in your community.

$515,000 Total GCBAA Foundation support since 2007. Each year, the GCBAA Foundation approves funding for new programs as well as supporting existing programs through the SFK Maintenance Grant.

Maintenance Grant After years of heavy use by active programs, many clubs and bags end up needing to be replaced. In 2012, the GCBAA Foundation established the Maintenance Grant, a program that allowed existing SFK Programs to apply for additional funding to supplement their thriving programs with new equipment.

Each year, active SFK Programs who have completed the SFK Year End Survey are eligible to apply for a Maintenance Grant by logging onto:

www.gcbaafoundation.org/sticks-for-kids/apply

Applicants are screened and approved by the Foundation Board. Once approved, they are eligible to receive up to 10 sets of junior clubs (in various sizes), bags, and SFK program materials.

Many SFK Programs receive additional support in their own communities with local restaurants donating snacks, local businesses sponsoring give-aways and t-shirts, and much more.

Partners & Sponsors The GCBAA Foundation has partnered with and received grant funding from the following companies and organizations:

Where We're Going Each year, the GCBAA Foundation strives to do more--to reach more children, to launch more programs, and to find more ways to support the golf industry. We collect feedback from our programs to figure out what’s working, what’s not working, and what we can do to improve. We work with allied associations to determine where our help is most needed in the industry as a whole. And we reach out to our generous sponsors and donors to show them how their support is impacting the lives of the youth we serve.

It’s a big task, but we’re excited to be a part of it keep it all moving forward.

Fundraising At the Golf Industry Show, the 2015 Harley Raffle is already underway, and tickets are selling like hot cakes. One of the most popular fundraisers of the year, the Chuck Cloud Memorial Raffle gives participants a 1/500 chance of winning a brand new Heritage Softail Classic Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

GCBAA staff, board members, and association members work together to sell tickets in the months leading up to the GIS in San Antonio, as well as selling tickets on location on the trade show floor. The grand prize winner has a choice of the motorcycle or $10,000 cash. An additional 50 tickets are then drawn for a $100 cash prize,

The GCBAA Foundation is committed to breaking down the barriers that may prevent the next generation from exploring the game of golf. We believe it is important to build new partnerships and support existing Sticks for Kids Programs by making junior golf equipment accessible to children so they can learn the game.

We are always looking for ways to expand our reach. Recent discussions have included ideas for the development of new SFK-branded clubs, the possible development of a short course construction program, and the integration of STEM-related curriculum with the addition of an iPad Air as part of a pilot program with USGA and Chevron.

which winners have the option of generously donating back to the Foundation, or keeping for themselves.

In addition, planning is already underway for the 2015 GCBAA Summer Meeting to be held July 21-23 in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO. This annual event plays host to the biggest GCBAA Foundation fundraisers of the year - the Foundation Live & Silent Auctions, Raffle, and Sticks for Kids Charity Golf Tournament.

Each year, our generous sponsors donate a variety of fantastic prizes including golf getaways, vacation packages, signed memorabilia, premium bottles of wine, gift baskets, and much more to be auctioned off and given as raffle prizes to participants.

GCBAA members and guests also enjoy participating in the annual charity golf tournament which wraps up a great week full of educational and networking opportunities.

USGA/Chevron Partnership In 2014, the GCBAA Foundation received an Eagles for Education Grant, and 14 Sticks for Kids Programs were chosen to participate using some exciting new STEM-related resources and curriculum.

Each program received a brand new 64GB iPad Air registered, activated, and pre-loaded with dozens of golf-related apps, lesson plans, and educational materials. There are golf swing analysis apps and a number of instructional videos and golf drills, designed to teach and reinforce fundamentals and help instructors diagnose and correct issues. There are also a variety of STEM-related lesson plans, general golf news, and Sticks for Kids program materials.

We are excited to see how this new technology will take our existing SFK Programs to a whole new level!

THANK YOU! A special thank you to everyone who donated to the Michael A “Mike” Matteson Memorial Fund and the Glen Dean Copeland Memorial Fund in 2014. All donations went directly to the Sticks for Kids Program.

Just take a look at the numbers and you’ll see how much your generous donations touched the lives of thousands of children who participated in programs across the U.S. this year. To learn more about setting up a memorial fund to benefit Sticks for Kids, contact the GCBAA Office at 402-476-4444.

Dix Hills Park Junior Golf Program Huntington, NY

2014 Snapshot

Scholarships

From small, rural summer camps on the Kansas plains to large, year-round after school programs in inner city Philadelphia, SFK Programs across the U.S. are thriving. Each program is unique, designed and implemented according to what works best for the grantee/location. This flexibility gives each SFK Program the opportunity to grow and evolve and serve the local community.

In 2014 •

15 new SFK Programs were launched, including partnerships with the Wadsworth Foundation’s Links Across America Program, the Michigan Women’s Golf Association, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and the Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association

•

Smallest program - 3 participants

•

Largest program - 13,200 participants

•

14 long-standing, active SFK Programs received a 64GB iPad Air as part of the USGA/Chevron Eagles for Education funding

•

37 existing programs received new equipment under the SFK Maintenance Grant

•

5 First Tee Programs received SFK junior equipment

•

Approximately $37,000 was spent on new and existing programs

•

A SFK & Foundation e-newsletter was launched

•

•

With just under 50% of active programs reporting, more than 44,000 children were served

More than $55,000 was raised during the GCBAA Foundation Auction, Raffle, and SFK Charity Golf Tournament

Over the years, the GCBAA Foundation has provided scholarships to students at more than 20 colleges and universities, including: • University of Nebraska • Colorado State University • Kansas State University • Rutgers University • Methodist University • Lake City Community College • University of Wisconsin • Arizona State University • University of California, San Diego • Washington State University • California State Polytechnic University • Texas A&M University • Oklahoma State University • University of Missouri • Mississippi State University • University of Georgia • University of Maryland • University of Massachusetts • Penn State University • Michigan State University • North Carolina State University • Ohio State University • University of Illinois For more information on how you can contribute to the GCBAA Foundation Scholarship Program, call 402-476-4444 or visit www.gcbaafoundation.org.

2014 By the Numbers Since 1998, the GCBAA Foundation has launched more than 570 SFK Programs worldwide. In 2013, there were 318 verified active SFK Programs in the U.S., serving more than 41,000 children. With just 50% of 2014 programs reporting, there are more than 46,000 youth participating in more than 170 programs.

The average annual operating budget of the SFK Program is $35,000. With more than 40,000 youth served in both 2013 and 2014, that means the program is consistently operating at less than $1 per child.

Program Type

Organization Type

Participant Skill Level

Instructor Type

Participant Gender

Revenue

Community Type

Income vs. Expenditures

Partners and Sponsors The past and continued success of the GCBAA Foundation’s Sticks for Kids Program is dependent on our dedicated staff, our loyal members, and our generous sponsors. Because of your support and donations, children across the country are able to pick up a golf club (many for the very first time) and be introduced to a game that they can continue to play for the rest of their lives. Thank you for all that you do to make this possible!

Friends of the Foundation Platinum Level ($100,000 or more) •

Golf Course Builders Association of America

Gold Level ($50,000 up to $99,999) •

United State Golf Association (USGA)

•

The Toro Company and Foundation

•

Wadsworth Golf Charities Foundation/Wadsworth Golf Construction Company

Silver Level ($10,000 up to $49,999) •

Caterpillar, Inc.

•

ISCO Industries, LLC

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Landscapes Unlimited, LLC

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Heritage Links

•

Jim Kirchdorfer Memorial

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D.H.R. Construction

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Hydrema U.S., Inc.

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John Deere Landscapes

•

Bandon Dunes

Bronze Level ($1,000 up to $9,999) •

Audubon International

•

Genesis Golf Builders, Inc.

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McDonald & Sons, Inc.

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Sunbelt Rentals

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Course Crafters, Inc.

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Golf Course Construction, Inc.

•

Mid-America Golf & Landscape, Inc.

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Terry & Karen Gwinn

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Duininck Golf

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Golf Course Industry Magazine

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PointeNorth Insurance

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The Turf Company

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Dye Design International

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Golf Creations

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Prince

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Thomas Turf Services

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Eagle Golf & Landscape Products

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Golf Works

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Project Evergreen

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Tommy Sasser

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Fairmount Minerals Foundation

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Keepers of the Green

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Rainmaker Golf Development, Inc.

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Total Golf Construction, Inc.

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FedEx Services

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Kinder Porter Scott Family Foundation

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Ryangolf Corporation

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Total Turf Services, Inc.

•

Finish Line Youth Foundation

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LASCO Fittings

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Sam Ferro (Fairmont Minerals Foundation)

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United Golf, LLC

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Forward Group

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Lepanto Golf Construction, Inc.

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Seaside Golf Development

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Frontier Golf

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Liquid Fence Co.

•

Smith Turf & Irrigation

What People Are Saying “The children showed such happiness as they improved from week to week and enjoyed the experience. Thank you!”

“It is a great program and we enjoy being a part of it. Thank you!!”

- Brian M., City of Willoughby “Thank you for backing us with this program. It works well for our children in Southfield!”

- Terri R., Southfield Parks & Recreation “Truly a great program! Thanks for letting us be a part of it.”

- Ginny B., Waukesha County Park System “It has allowed us the opportunity to reach the youth in our community teaching them golf and life skills they may have not had otherwise. Some are taught these skills for the first time because their parents/guardians and even school teachers don’t have the time to instill them into their lives. Some children come to the program with lack of respect and only doing what they want to, but leave with knowledge of what to do and the choice is theirs on how they act.”

- Steve H., High Point Parks & Recreation

- Lori H., Sanford Parks & Recreation Colt participated in the new Sticks for Kids Program at Lakeside Memorial Golf Course in Stillwater, Okla.

“Thank you so much for supporting our organization!”

- Cathy P., First Tee Greater Portland “The Sticks for Kids Grant has been great in allowing us to provide equipment for participants in all of our classes and leagues for kids as young as 3 years old. Parents and Guardians are always happy to hear they can register for one of our programs and give their child a chance to try golfing without having to purchase clubs. We have increased the accessibility of the sport to our community by keeping participant and district costs lower thanks to the equipment supplied by Sticks for Kids.”

- Paul D., Niles Park District

“The program is very important to the success of our after school programs. Most of the sets are loaned to the kids that can’t afford junior golf equipment. It enables them to continue with the on course part of our program. Thanks you for including our academy in this wonderful junior program.”

- Paul T., Sanctuary Lakes Golf Academy “Button Hole is very grateful for the equipment provided by Stick for Kids. Button Hole is located near the two largest cities in New England that have gangs and several housing projects. Button Hole is working hard everyday to expose these young people and the community to the life’s best social game and teach the life lessons learned through golf. “ - PJ F., Button Hole

“In 2014 we introduced the game of golf to 425 youth. We had 225 youth participate in our summer golf clinics. We had 50 girls participate in our year-round girls only Girls in Golf Program. We had 50 incarcerated young men aged 15-18 from Camp Sweeney participate life skills through golf program and we partnered with Marilyn King to teach Olympian Thinking. We helped expand the OAL High School Girls Golf League from 2 teams to 3, and 10 of the 12 girls in the championship match are current or past Ace Kids Golf participants.

We received an iPad from Sticks for Kids in partnership with USGA Eagles for Education and Chevron. We are able to use technology to teach the science of golf, analyze and compare golf swings and add STEM education to our curriculum.

Thank you for your support. It is always a pleasure partnering with Sticks for Kids to make a life long impact on inner city Oakland youth.”

- Preston P., Friends of Oakland Ace Kids Golf Program

How can you help?

Whether you’re looking to get actively involved and launch a Sticks for Kids Program in your community or donate to the GCBAA Foundation, we’re here to help. Contact the GCBAA Office at 402-476-4444 or email lori_romano@gcbaa.org and find out how you can get involved.

For more information about Sticks for Kids, to fill out a New Program or Maintenance Grant Application, or to download any of our SFK Program Materials, visit www.sticksforkids.org.

GCBAA Foundation 6040 S. 58th St., Suite D Lincoln, NE 68516 Tel: (402) 476-4444

Fax: (402) 476-4489

www.sticksforkids.org