PGA REACH WNY was created with the goal of providing support to various organizations within the boundaries of the Western
PGA
Through the game of
the Foundation will work to fund programs supporting its mission including the Western New York Section PGA Junior Golf initiatives and various other underprivileged youth golf programs. The Foundation will conduct and/or support a variety of initiatives that serve the founding pillars: Youth, Military, and Diversity & Inclusion in golf.
It is an honor to serve as the Executive Director of the PGA REACH WNY Foundation. I am inspired every day by the work that our local WNYPGA Professionals continue to do in the community. Founded in 2010 by local PGA Professionals, our goal is to positively impact lives through the game of golf. This charitable arm of the WNYPGA provides access and opportunities to individuals in the community through the game of golf.
This past year has been extremely impactful to our local communities! With 175 kids, our Junior Golf Tour touches and impacts lives by teaching life lessons through golf in a fun and safe environment. In 2024, PGA HOPE WNY grew to serve over 140 Veterans creating community and camaraderie between the HOPE programs.
On Monday, October 21st at Monroe Golf Club, Western New York PGA professionals will gather to play as many holes as possible in a 2-person scramble in hopes of making as many birdies as possible to raise money for PGA REACH WNY and Golisano Children's Hospital of Rochester.With the help from their donors, we were able to raise over $51,000, a remarkable number for our first year.
To our partners, sponsors, donors, volunteers, trustees, facilities, and PGA Professionals that continue to support our mission, thank you!
Sincerely, Tori
PGA Junior League is the flagship youth pillar program of PGA REACH WNY with the goal of making golf accessible to all kids in WNY. Participation in Junior League continues to increase each season as the program enables children to experience the fun and teamwork of golf. Through the PGA Jr. League, girls and boys ages 17 and under learn and enjoy the game with instruction and direction from PGA Professionals. Other youth programs include: WNYPGA Jr Tour, Drive, Chip & Putt, and WNYPGA Jr Golf Days.
1 FOUNDATION
Board of Directors, Trustee Advisory Board, PGA Pros, Partners, Section Staff, and Countless Volunteers
PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is the flagship military program of PGA REACH WNY that introduces golf to Veterans to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. Led by local WNYPGA Professionals, it is a proven therapeutic activity that has helped hundreds of Veterans across Western New York assimilate back into their communities. These programs are delivered throughout our region at no cost to the Veterans.
PGA REACH WNY is dedicated to making golf more accessible to individuals of diverse backgrounds and abilities. The PGA WORKS Fellowship is one of the flagship programs of PGA REACH WNY. This fellowship is the most valuable entry-level employment opportunity for individuals from diverse backgrounds to garner experience in all facets of the golf industry. The golf industry’s workforce is demographically homogeneous. The boards, senior leadership, and full-time staff are 95%, 97% and 86% Caucasian, respectively. The PGA is working to make the game diverse.
1,750+ PEOPLE SERVED
Veterans, Juniors, and Special Olympic Athletes
>$290,000 RAISED For Continued Community Programming
Co-Vice President
Michael D'Agostino, PGA
Executive Director Victoria Schiro
Co-Vice President
Michael O’Connor, PGA
Treasurer Dan Antonucci, PGA
Director Matt Clark, PGA
Secretary Jeff Mietus, PGA
Kendra Brim Leadership Buffalo
Rick Kennedy Hodgson Russ LLP
Director
Rob Krajewski, PGA
Buffalo Independent Director
Jamie Miller
Rochester Independent Director Mike Merriman
Erie Independent Director Ted Grassi III
Steve Coulton OnCore Golf
Lisa LaTrovato Buffalo Toronto Public Media
Tim DiGiulio CRPC L&M Wealth Management
Joe Mariano JAMCO Development
Eric Wood Buffalo Bills Radio Broadcast
Gia Bolognese First Tee WNY
Mark Nesbitt, Jr Aleron Companies
Kayla Burt Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Emma Powlin Morgenstern DeVoesick
Victoria Schiro Executive Director/CEO
Julie Haile
Director of Junior Golf & Player Engagement
Jake Cercone Cerone Law PLLC
Kyle Schultze LEGENDS
David Gonzalez Arbol
Stephanie Rivera Half Luna Empanadas
Royce Woods Citizen’s Bank
Nate Forrestel Adaptive Golf Association
Holly Hubert GlobalSecurityIQ
Lindsey Taylor Police Athletic League
John Osberg Director of Development & Foundation Operations
Mollie Mars Operations Coordinator
Paul Steinig Hodgson Ross LLP
Ron Langhorne Glen Oak Golf Club
Dana Szymkowiak Safetec of America, Inc
Brayden Weiss Director of Competitions & Membership Services
Abigail Kludt PGA WORKS Fellow
250+ PGA Professionals
Collaboration with BDGA & RDGA
35Partners
1000+Youth
130+ Veterans
200+Golf Facilities
275+ Attendees at fundraisers
25 Jr Tour Events
PGA Jr. League is the flagship youth pillar program of PGA REACH WNY. We envision a world in which PGA Jr. League is accessible to every child, everywhere, regardless of background or circumstance. We believe that golf is for the collective and everyone deserves to feel a deep sense of belonging to healthy and caring communities. Behind every PGA Jr. League team is a PGA Coach providing a safe, caring and organized environment for every child to become (and stay) a golfer. These experts in the game are provided with flexibility to create a coaching program that works best for their players and families.
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In 1999, the WNYPGA Junior Golf Tour was formed to provide an opportunity and atmosphere for juniors to enjoy the camaraderie, friendship and sportsmanship of competitive golf at a series of premier venues throughout the Western New York Section of the PGA of America. Since the conception of the WNYPGA Junior Golf Tour, it has grown from 10 annual events to the current schedule of 25 events. Annually the membership is between 150 – 230 junior golfers that play approximately 2,000 rounds of competitive golf. Since 1999, it has had over 4,600 members and over 27,000 rounds! The WNYPGA Section is proud of the fact that we have touched the lives of so many young golfers over the past 25 years. Through the game of golf we have instilled the life skills of honesty, integrity, competitiveness and camaraderie.
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Y O U T H
A joint initiative founded in 2013 by the Masters Tournament, United States Golf Association, and The PGA of America, Drive, Chip & Putt is a free nationwide junior golf development competition aimed at growing the game by focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf.
By tapping the creative and competitive spirit of girls and boys ages 7-15, DCP provides aspiring junior golfers an opportunity to play with their peers in qualifiers around the country. Participants who advance through local, sub-regional, and regional qualifying events in each age/gender category earn a place in the National Finals, which is conducted at Augusta National Golf Club the Sunday before the Masters Tournament and is broadcast live by Golf Channel.
Thank you to Dick’s House of Sport for hosting!
Y O U T H
The 45-minute golf clinics introduce juniors to the game of golf utilizing the American Development Model (ADM) to develop the entire athlete and not just specialize in one sport. Instruction is focused on Stage Two of the American Development Model (ADM), FUNdamentals, to develop skills for play focused on fun, inclusion, and developmentally appropriate activities.
10 youth were able to receive 1:1 instruction!
M I L I T A R Y
PGA HOPE (Helping our Patriots Everywhere) is the flagship military program of PGA REACH WNY, the charitable foundation of the Western New York Section, PGA of America. PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans to enhance their physical, mental, social, and emotional well being. The program introduces the game of golf through a developmental 6-8 week curriculum taught by WNYPGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. All programs are funded by PGA REACH and supplemented by PGA REACH WNY, so the cost of programming is free to all Veterans.
( H E L P I N G O U R P A T R I O T S E V E R Y W H E R E )
PGA HOPE has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Veterans Affair (VA), which enables Recreational Therapists to refer Veterans to the PGA HOPE program as a form of therapy. Through a robust program strategy, PGA HOPE aspires to create a physically and emotionally healthier Veteran community by shaping lives, changing lives, and possibly saving lives through the game of golf.
It is a fact that suicide is a major issue among military Veterans with recent statistical studies showing that 17 Veterans a day commit suicide. PGA HOPE WNY is working to change that statistic.
Veterans have given everything to be there for our country when we need it most. We need to be there when they come back. PGA HOPE aims to serve more than 17,000 Veterans in 2024 alone at program locations nationwide.
Led by PGA of America Golf Professionals, PGA HOPE is introducing and teaching golf through a 6-8 week curriculum while creating a path forward for Veterans and Active Duty Service Members.
550+ Program locations touching every location in the US
Ravenwood Golf Club hosted PGA HOPE Graduates for a 9-hole Team Scramble!
Goal
A day for our veterans to stay connected with their fellow PGA HOPE graduates! Golf is what brought our veterans to PGA HOPE and golf is what will keep them connected and supported through the HOPE Cup.
13,000+ Current national waitlist of Veterans for 2025 and beyond
$330
Provides 6-8 weeks of V.A endorsed instruction for 1 US Veteran or Active Duty Service Member
WNY had 1 team composed of 4 Veterans and 1 Professional
Golf House Kentucky hosted the 9th annual Secretary’s Cup at the University of Louisville Golf Club!
48 Veterans were invited to play across 11 PGA HOPE Chapters
PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup celebrates the PGA HOPE Program by providing a unique and memorable experience for our military Veterans and the PGA Professionals who work tirelessly to positively impact Veterans’ lives. This annual conjunction with the PGA Championship began in 2016 and is named after the Secretary of Veteran Affairs in recognition of the Memorandum of Understanding between PGA REACH and the Department of Veteran Affairs. Each team is made up of four Veterans from a PGA HOPE program and one PGA Professional.
CANS FOR HOPE
RAISED $1,100 IN 2024!
One of WNY’s most memorable and impactful fundraiser golf tournaments. The event brings local businesses together to recognize our Military Veterans and Active Duty members. As a beneficiary, the PGA REACH WNY Foundation received $16,638.62 to help support the local PGA HOPE Chapters.
PGA WORKS is a strategic initiative designed to diversify the golf industry’s workforce. Funded by PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America, PGA WORKS 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.
The Western New York PGA WORKS Fellowship is a 12-month, full-time contract with a PGA Section to be fully immersed in the responsibilities of a Section staff member. As a Fellow, you get to experience the work behind the scenes, Player Development Programs, social media, marketing, tournament operations and even more. It is an initiative from PGA REACH to try and diversify the golf industry’s workforce.
In 2024, PGA REACH WNY was privileged to be able to hire PGA WORKS Fellow, Abigail Kludt (pictured to the left), giving golf industry experience that had never been introduced to the game of golf before. The goal is to have a membership and golf industry that look like a modern day America.
Putting under the lights to raise money for PGA
REACH WNY and to crown “WNY‘s best putter.“
$5,000 raised
Thank you to the TEE 2 GREEN Radio Show for sponsoring this event!
Numerous runners raced to raise money for our Foundation initiatives such as PGA HOPE, PGA WORKS, PGA Junior Tour, and PGA Junior League.
This year, we had a record number of participants with over 100! Hosted by SPECIAL OLYMPICS NEW YORK and PGA REACH WNY.
$15,000 raised
Thank Bob Powalski from PRAXIS FINANCIAL GORUP for being the title sponsor! over $1,000 raised
50+ participants came out to support our local athletes!
B I R D I E B A S H
27 PGA Professionals played in a 72 hole two person scramble to raise money for PGA REACH WNY and Golisano Children’s Hospital.
548 birdies over $51,000 raised
1,500+ lives positively impacted through the game of golf in 2024!
We are looking for YOU to help positively impact the community through the game of golf!
The PGA REACH WNY Partnership Program provides companies with a vehicle to create community impact through the game of golf. By becoming a partner, you will directly benefit and enhance our Foundation’s 3 Pillars of Programming: Military Veteran support via PGA HOPE“Helping Our Patriots Everywhere,” engaging youth via PGA Jr. League and Jr. Tour, and promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in golf via PGA WORKS.
Love the game of golf? Have a desire to create positive impact with golf as the platform? We are looking for engaged civic and business leaders to join our growing Trustee Advisory Board to help us continue “Positively Impacting Lives through the Game of Golf.”