FOUNDATION FOCUS From the President’s Desk Michael O’Connor, PGA Message from the Executive Director’s Desk Steven Bartkowski PGA REACH WNY What is it? Military Pillar Update Message from our PGA HOPE Ambassador Youth Pillar Update Featuring WNYPGA Junior Tour Fall Series Diversity/Inclusion Pillar Update Featuring PGA WORKS introduction Professional Spotlight Featuring Brian Jacobs, PGA PGA REACH Bag Program Golf bags benefitting PGA REACH Programs PGA REACH Update Featuring 100-Hole Marathon Become a PGA REACH WNY Partner Upcoming Initiatives Friends of the Foundation Be Social WNY Follow us on Social Media for updates Foundation Partners
1 President Michael O’Connor, PGA mjokah@aol.com
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Vice President Tim Fries, PGA tim.fries@glenoak.com
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Secretary Mike D'Agostino, PGA mikethepro@aol.com
Treasurer Jeff Mietus PGA jmietuspga@gmail.com
Erie Independent Director Andy Conner aconner@crfwlaw.com Rochester Independent Director Ralph Fornuto ralph.fornuto@asuresoftware.com
20 Buffalo Independent Director Jamie Miller millertime6789@gmail.com
Executive Director Steven Bartkowski sbartkowski@pgahq.com (716) 313-2943
Foundations Operation Coordinator Jacob Coles jcoles@pgahq.com (716) 247-6283
Tournament Director Ric Alberico, PGA RAlberico@pgahq.com (716) 707-3814
PGA WORKS Fellow Hope Warkoczeski hwarkoczeski@pgahq.com (716) 646-8479
Junior Golf Director Bob Ashley, PGA bashley@pgahq.com (716) 707-3818
Western New York PGA Section Glen Oak Golf Club 711 Smith Road East Amherst, NY 14051 Main Phone/Fax: (716) 626-7095 wnewyork@pgahq.com westernnewyork.pga.com www.westernnewyork.pga.com/foundation
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Michael O’Connor, PGA President PGA REACH WNY The Kahkwa Club Michael O’Connor PGA, CPGA, CMAA mjokah@aol.com
Since inception back in 2014, the PGA REACH WNY Foundation has raised $821,000 and distributed over $769,000 back to the Communities within the WNYPGA Section. The foundation continues to grow each year and there are new and exciting projects underway. Despite a challenging year with Covid-19, PGA REACH WNY made a significant strides in impacting our Communities and moving the needle on an exiting project at our Section homesite. A very special thank you to Steve Bartkowski our Executive Director, and Jacob Coles our Foundation Operations Coordinator for all there efforts throughout this challenging year. Their passion, dedication and hard work were the driving force behind numerous initiatives such as; PGA HOPE Clinics, Memorial Day Closest to the Pin, Playing for Covid-19, Summer Golf Nights for PGA HOPE, PGA HOPE Buffalo Chapter Classes, Tee it for the Troops and 100-Hole Marathons. Thank you to all the Professionals, Volunteers, WNYPGA Board as well as the PGA REACH WNY Committee for their support and effort in supporting our vision! Our leadership is working on Project F.O.R.E. (Fostering Opportunities through Recreation and Education) at our Section Office. This project will create indoor/outdoor learning centers to provide more affordable year round access for our Veterans, Youth and Diverse populations. The project will see a short course, indoor learning center and academy. Potential land has been identified near the WNYPGA Section home office and a 6-hole short game facility has been designed. Concepts for an indoor simulator area have also been in the works. The vision is to establish similar facilities in Rochester and Erie. The Committee is finalizing the plans for the capital campaign to fund the construction. Our Committee will be meeting in November and will update you on our progress.
Please keep in mind that our goal is to have a positive impact on lives throughout our Section through the game of golf. Our foundation supports a variety of initiatives that serve our founding pillars, youth, military and diversity in golf. If you want to get involved or have an idea please reach out to myself, Steve or Jacob. Kind Regards, Michael O’Connor, PGA PGA REACH WNY PGA Professional
www.westernnewyork.pga.com/foundation
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Steven Bartkowski Executive Director WNYPGA & PGA REACH WNY Steven Bartkowski sbartkowski@pgahq.com (716) 313-2943
Ladies & Gentlemen, We truly hope that you enjoy the first “Foundation Focus” which will be a quarterly communication coming from the Western New York Section, PGA (WNYPGA) regarding updates on our charitable arm - PGA REACH WNY. I am inspired everyday at the work that our WNYPGA Professionals continue to do for their community as true brand ambassadors of their respective facilities. For those who are unaware, PGA REACH WNY is the charitable arm of the WNYPGA that was created by local club professionals with the mission of “Positively Impacting Lives Through the Game of Golf.” This is achieved by free or affordable programming through our three founding pillars that are supported - military, youth, diversity/inclusion. While COVID19 certainly hindered many activities that were planned for 2020 we were still able to impact over 450 kids through our junior programs, 90 veterans through PGA HOPE and afforded to give another diverse individual a one-year work fellowship experience through PGA Works. With the gracious support of fundraising this fall we anticipate that 2021 will be one of our most impactful years yet as we hope to impact over 1300 youth, over 150 veterans, hire another PGA Works Fellow, begin to train Special Olympics Athletes and get back in the hospitals with our Smiling FORE Life Programming. To our partners, donors, volunteers, host facilities and PGA Professionals that continue to support our mission - thank you! The growth we have seen over the last four years would not be possible without the support of our community. For those interested in getting involved, please take a look at some of the opportunities in this report and feel free to reach out to me directly at (716) 313-2943 or sbartkowski@pgahq.com. Respectfully, Steven Bartkowski WNYPGA & PGA REACH WNY Executive Director
www.westernnewyork.pga.com/foundation
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What is it?
www.westernnewyork.pga.com/foundation
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A message from our PGA HOPE Ambassador PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week (NG&WW) is a unique opportunity for Veterans who possess the motivation to excel in their personal rehabilitation journey and represent their local PGA HOPE community on a national level. Over the course of four days in Washington D.C., 20 PGA HOPE graduates who have been nominated by PGA Professionals from their home PGA HOPE programs will receive a tool kit of new skills focused on advanced golf instruction and impactful wellness training. This curriculum is an extension to what Veterans have been learning throughout the years at their home PGA HOPE programs. At the conclusion of the event, the 20 PGA HOPE graduates become PGA HOPE Ambassadors and when they return to their home programs, have new responsibilities to help foster the game of golf through the PGA HOPE Program. The Western New York PGA HOPE Ambassador , Nick Martone, is a former Marine with an energetic charismatic personality. View his video message above as to what PGA HOPE means to him.
PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is the flagship military program of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans with disabilities 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 PGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. All programs are funded by PGA REACH and supplemented by PGA Section Foundations, so the cost of programming is free to all Veterans.
PGA HOPE has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Veterans Affairs (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. The Hero video to the right featuring Jack Nicklaus, highlights the positive impact that PGA HOPE has on the lives of military Veterans.
www.westernnewyork.pga.com/foundation
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We had an overwhelming number of participants in our Summer PGA HOPE classes at Glen Oak Golf Course. Each week we had over 40 participants at our golf clinics! It is the highest attendance we have seen for our PGA HOPE program since it started. We were able to graduate 50 veterans from the program and 31 of those veterans were involved in our clinics for the first time. The PGA HOPE Program helps to provide a way for veterans to adjust to civilian life. Professionals and veterans are able to bond through their love of golf and growth in the game. Veterans are able to get involved in the program by joining the program through their Veterans Affair program, like the one at Western New York Healthcare System at Buffalo. We were able to host the 40+ veterans for 8 weeks of clinics at Glen Oak Golf Course. One week of our clinics was focused on mental health. Patrick, VA Recreational Therapist, lead the group in chair tai chi; guest speaker, Savannah, talked about meditation and reiki; and Brian Jacobs gave full swing lessons with alignment rods on the range. The mental health week helped to tie together golf and taking care of oneself. It has been a privilege serving those who have served through the PGA HOPE program. Thank you to all who have helped support our veterans throughout this program! If you are interested in helping with the program during the winter or next season please contact Section Staff. For the first time ever PGA REACH WNY was able to host a Winter program for veterans. During the off season it can be tough for golfers to maintain the skills they have practices throughout the Summer golf season. The 6-week program was held at the Paddock Chevrolet Dome in Tonawanda, NY. We hosted 40 veterans and were able to use the entire facility including the range, putting area and simulators for different lessons. PGA HOPE in Erie, PA kicked off at Lake View Country Club on September 3rd, 2020! Although the group is small, they make up for it in personality! The golf clinics will continued for five weeks lead by Steve Crane with the help of Rich Conwell, David Wedzik and Tom Wedzik. The PGA HOPE Erie program has always been a bit smaller, but the goal is to grow the program in the coming years which we can do with your help in advertising the program or volunteering with the program. PGA HOPE is meant to serve our veterans, but it also serves golf professionals by building friendships and providing another outlet to grow involvement in coaching programs.
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On October 1st, we began our campaign to raise funds and awareness about PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere). PGA HOPE is the flagship military program of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. Because of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Veterans Affairs, PGA HOPE programming is offered at no cost for Military Veterans as a form of therapy and is funded by PGA REACH. We are so lucky in Western New York because we are able to serve over 50 veterans through PGA HOPE. The program is saving lives especially during this unique year. With the help of PGA HOPE ambassadors, like our own Nick Martone, we are able to learn how to continuously serve those who have served. You can help our effort to support the PGA HOPE Program and help PGA REACH WNY raise the most by donating to our PGA National Day of HOPE 2020 Page!
Each year Wanakah Country Club hosts the Tee It Up for the Troops golf outing to raise funds for those who serve. Each year the WNY PGA HOPE Program receives a portion of the profits from the event to support the programs. Funds raised for PGA HOPE help to pay coaches, purchase equipment like single rider carts and golf course equipment. This year at the Tee It Up for the Troops event, eight of our veterans from the WNY PGA HOPE program were invited to play in the event. Prior to the outing veterans received a clinic about full swing and putting from Jerry Coleman, PGA and Jeff Mietus, PGA. We were able to showcase the success of PGA HOPE in communities at the event and build relationships with other organizations who serve veterans.
We are collecting cans! PGA HOPE veterans have been working tirelessly to collect cans for deposit to earn funds for the Western New York PGA HOPE program. Funds raised from cans are for golf equipment, rounds of golf for our veterans, and coaches who instruct during clinics. Veterans are on a quest to return one million cans. If you have empty cans and bottles to return, there is a dedicated trailer at Glen Oak Golf Course for collecting cans to deposit. We are so grateful to Tim Fries and Glen Oak Golf Course for hosting the trailer to collect cans!
www.westernnewyork.pga.com/foundation
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Learn about the Youth Programs in WNY PGA Jr. League exists to bring communities together through fun, team golf experiences… plus those experiences that transcend golf itself, like friendships that last for years to come or a newfound sense of confidence. What started as an idea penned on a napkin while watching the Little League World Series has grown to more than 60,000 boys and girls on teams spanning all 50 states in 2019. This unique approach highlights team play versus individual competition and serves as a feeder system to transition youth golfers to existing junior golf programs, such as those offered by local PGA Sections.
Watch Carlos stumble into PGA Jr. League while hunting Bigfoot. He quickly learns about the format, what it takes to be a great teammate, and why PGA Jr. League is even more fun than hunting mythical creatures! Click on the video to see our new PGA Jr. League Ambassadors NBA star, Steph Curry, and U.S. Women’s Soccer star Alex Morgan.
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 36 events. Annually the membership is between 200 – 250 junior golfers that play approximately 2,000 rounds of competitive golf. Players in all divisions will compete in a season-long points race to qualify for the season-ending Junior Golf Tour Championship. Since 1999 it has had over 4,500 members and over 25,000 rounds! It is recognized by Junior Golf Hub and Junior Golf Scoreboard two of the leading Junior Golf organizations in the country. The WNYPGA Junior Golf Tour is the leader; most recognized and respected Junior Golf Competition in Western New York and we will continue to improve “The WNYPGA Junior Golf Tour Experience”. The WNYPGA Section is Most Proud of the fact that we have touched the lives of so many young ladies and gentlemen over the past 21 years. Through the Game of Golf we have instilled the life skills of honesty, integrity, competitiveness and camaraderie. www.westernnewyork.pga.com/foundation
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The Western New York PGA Junior Tour helps young athletes to cultivate friendships and become competitive golfers all while visiting some of the beautiful courses across the section. Thank you to all our hosts from throughout the season. We wrapped up the Summer season at the Junior Tour Championship at Stafford Country Club on August 3rd &4th. View the full results from the Championship here.
The Western New York PGA Junior Tour wrapped up the Summer season in August 2020. However, with the uncertainty of whether regular high school season play would happen for junior golfers, we wanted to provide more opportunities for young golfers to compete and continue to grow their game. That is why we created the WNYPGA Fall Junior Tour Series! Learn more by clicking here.
Many youth sports and activities are getting postponed or canceled, and the negative impact on a kid’s mental and physical health is significant. This is where YOU can fill the void by providing fall programming. It's a great opportunity to get new kids into the game or to capture your current students in a new season. Register as a PGA Junior League captain by clicking here!
Create a safe environment at your golf course for families to enjoy quality time together through PGA Family Cup! PGA Family Cup brings PGA Jr. League to life for families in a format all ages can enjoy together. Most importantly, it’s designed to build a vibrant community around YOU, the family expert coach, at your golf course. This program can provide families the opportunity to safely engage in the sports world again and begin the healing process for your community. Learn more with the PGA Family Cup Facility Guide and register as a Family Cup captain and facility.
www.westernnewyork.pga.com/foundation
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Learn about the Diversity & Inclusion Programs in WNY PGA WORKS is a strategic initiative, designed to diversify the golf industry’s workforce. Funded by PGA REACH, the 501(c)(3) 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. • In 2019 the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship hosted 189 student-athletes from 41 HBCUs, HSIs, and minority-serving institutions. • PGA WORKS Fellows have worked in 9 different PGA Section offices. • PGA WORKS fellowship alumni have a 100% job placement rate in sports and 77% job placement rate in golf since 2017 • PGA WORKS has awarded 25 Scholarships since 2018. PGA WORKS encompasses fellowships, the Collegiate Championship, career expos, Beyond the Green programming and scholarships. You can learn more b y clicking here. Or you can view a video encompassing PGA WORKS programming by clicking on the image below!
Some history about Special Olympics New York starts with “Eunice Kennedy Shriver who founded Special Olympics in 1968. Just one year later, Dorothy Buehring Phillips inaugurated the program in New York— and the state sent its first delegation of athletes and coaches to the Northeast Regional Special Olympics competition in Boston, Mass. Special Olympics New York was incorporated in 1970 with Phillips as its first State Director. In June 1970, Rochester hosted the first State Summer Games. Today, Special Olympics New York is the largest program in the United States and one of the largest in the world.” Special Olympics New York’s mission is to “provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.” The PGA REACH WNY Foundation is excited to help grow the game by partnering with Special Olympics New York. Learn more at their website: https://www.specialolympics-ny.org/ www.westernnewyork.pga.com/foundation
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PGA WORKS is an initiative designed to diversify the golf industry’s workforce so it looks like the community the PGA of America serves. The PGA WORKS 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. In the PGA of America, only 11 sections of the 41 sections have PGA WORKS Fellows and Western New York is one of those sections! The PGA WORKS Fellowship provides the opportunity for a one-year, paid immersion in a PGA Section’s Foundation operations. This entry-level employment experience offers a taste of what a career in the golf industry can provide. Jacob Coles is a PGA WORKS Fellowship Program Alum and now works full-time as the Coordinator of Foundation Operations in the WNYPGA Section. The PGA WORKS Fellowship encouraged Jake to enter the golf industry and to pick up the game of golf for the first time. The current PGA WORKS Fellow, Hope Warkoczeski, is passionate about the power of golf. You may have seen her at Junior Tour events, PGA HOPE, or various other section events.
Jacob Coles WNYPGA & PGA REACH WNY Coordinator of Foundation Operations jcoles@pgahq.com
Hope Warkoczeski PGA REACH WNY PGA WORKS Fellow hwarkoczeski@pgahq.com
Prior to the PGA Championship PGA WORKS participants and other young professionals have the opportunity to hear from Golf Industry professionals during the Beyond the Green Program. The program was virtual this year to keep participants safe and gave young professionals a unique look at the PGA Championship. You can watch the whole webinar by clicking on the video! Also, be sure to tune in to 1:50:00 on the webinar to hear about PGA WORKS developing in our section.
www.westernnewyork.pga.com/foundation
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Since 2017, we have had the privilege of working with the Special Olympics New York (SONY) organization to help share the game of golf to their athletes. We have held annual Charity Hockey games, which have raised over $25,000 for the SONY Golf Program. In 2020, Glen Oak Golf Course announced a partnership with SONY to become the official training center for the Erie Golf Club, providing use of the course, equipment and PGA-certified coaches for the program. Starting September 16th, the Erie Golf Club began their training at Glen Oak GC to prepare for the next golf season "On behalf of our 300 PGA professionals in the Western New York Section PGA, we are so proud to be able to announce the expansion of our partnership with Special Olympics New York’s Western Region in 2020,” said Bartkowski. “Through the Charity Hockey Classic we have been able to raise close to $25,000 for their golf program over the past three years, and this just feels like the right next step in making a long term significant impact. To host their training program at our new PGA Section Homesite with instruction from our PGA professional certified coaches fits directly in line with our mission of positively impacting lives through the game of golf. With access being a major barrier for golf, we will now be able to provide that to these athletes.”
www.westernnewyork.pga.com/foundation
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How PGA REACH Programs Helped me Grow the Game as well as a Professional and Person. I am Brian Jacobs, a PGA Professional as well as a Lead Coach for Golf Channel Academy. I own and operate my own brand (Brian Jacobs Golf) and the academy at Mill Creek Golf Club in Rochester, NY. 2020 has had its “ups and downs” for some I am sure, but for me it has been “all ups”! Before you think I am not thinking clearly, let me explain. I love adapting and facing a challenge. I have utilized programming we have access to as PGA Professionals through the WNY PGA REACH Foundation. For my academy I have always done 1:1 long term player development, some camps through PGA Jr. Camps and then 2-3 times per year I would donate my time to branches of the military, generally, the Air Force. I would go to various bases and donate my time on the range and the golf course teaching enlisted, officers and families of the men/women who are serving our country. I would also visit youth at Galisano Children’s Hospital as part of a program called Smiles Fore Life that is spearheaded by PGA Professional, Mike D’Agostino. As I got more involved in these Foundation charitable endeavors, I learned more about PGA REACH/PGA HOPE and PGA REACH Foundation umbrella of programs then began to get more involved. My desire to learn more was fueled by the opportunity to help others. I started my year helping to do instruction for PGA HOPE at the Paddock Dome in Buffalo where each Sunday night other PGA Professionals and myself met with over 40+ men and women veterans who LOVE golf. It was my privilege to serve these heroes and I continued through the summer program all the way to graduation which was a “tearjerker” for me. We all, in my way of thinking, need to connect to this program as it does so much for the participants. I feel so humbled and honored to be a part of PGA HOPE! I was so taken by the winter and summer program I offered 4 Fridays in July for PGA HOPE Golf at Mill Creek Golf Club. We generally had 4 groups of veterans who made the drive (some as far as 2 hours) to participate in a free clinic then go out and play Mill Creek. This was, for lack of a better term, a blast and brought me even closer to the veterans. It helped me understand how vital these programs are for our veterans. We played lots of golf and had lots of laughs, ice cream at a local creamery each week and concluded with a chicken wing outdoor get together. On September 25 -28 myself and some of my sponsors will host 11 PGA HOPE veterans in Rochester for 4 days of “Rochester Golf” along with cookouts and camaraderie each evening. The veterans will bring their campers or tents and camp out on my property and I will make this an annual event. My goal is to raise awareness in my community of how vital it is to serve those who served us and educate on veteran transition back to their daily lives. This will be a small way to give back to veterans and again, my plan is to make this an annual event and raise not only awareness but funds for the important work PGA REACH does. th
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I was very fortunate to have multiple conversations with Doug Wert, PGA early in 2020. Doug is our PGA Jr. League Regional League Manager and a wonderful resource and now, friend. I was considering offering PGA Jr. League at my academy and facility, but was having difficulty recruiting youth. I decided to offer the program to youth and to the families (parent, guardians, siblings, biological grandparents) of the youth. As I made the choice to run what we call a “hybrid program” I wanted the families to be together and learn together not only because of COVID-19, but after spending many years as a public high school teacher I know what often makes the needle move and that is “community”. So many youth programs are “dump and dash” and I have always had an open tee policy. Parents are always welcome to stay and observe and understand what their child is learning. I believe this helps so we can all be sending the same messages when it comes to practice, preparation or competition. We struck gold! I had 8 families (32 people) participate in an 8-week program that included 90-minute practices and bi-weekly 9-hole competitive play from various yardages of 25 to 150 yards. We met on Sunday afternoons when the course was slower in play and the practice facility was generally empty. The youth and families ranged in skill from raw beginners to intermediate and each family connected so well. We had Dad’s, Mom’s, Grandparents, and siblings all in a supportive environment and it was fun to hear the cheers from the families for other families as they succeeded. When a family needed encouragement the culture all embraced each other! www.westernnewyork.pga.com/foundation
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Two very compelling stories come out of the program not of competitive success but in life. I had an old (he is old, I am not) high school friend who wanted to be involved with the program as we discussed this one day at a breakfast we had together. He volunteered his time and did the ADM training offered via PGA.Coach (which I highly recommend you use) as well as got the team jersey’s and he loved the program so much! He said it was the “best part of his week” and I felt honored to have him there as this was a great chance to enhance his life. We would talk each week about how the families were developing in the areas we worked in, we enjoyed our time setting up the golf course and sometimes let the kids set it up with us so they took great pride in their course. The second comes from the Smiles Fore Life Program. One of the children, who was a 6-year old patient with bone cancer at Galisano Children’s Hospital, had done 6 rounds of chemotherapy and came to the golf program we offered in January and February of 2020. “My main man” (I call him) was declared in remission in March of 2020! I offered the program to him and his family and we were able to scholarship him in. Mike D’Agostino gave him US KIDS Clubs he had in I nventory and golf instruction from me is “free for life”. He was a treasure to be around and it was so good to see him healthy running and playing. His team came in 3 place in Family Cup but in my eyes, they were Number One. Each week he and his Dad, Mom and Grandpa came, never missed and his Mom could not thank me enough for all that I did for him. I did nothing. He gave it his all. I am sad to share his cancer is back and he is doing chemo and may need a marrow transfusion, but the families in the program have all rallied around him. They are sending him cards, notes, and pictures to uplift him. He is a rabid Bills fan and I teach some of the players and staff, so I’m working on messages of hope to lift him up. The golf aspect seems inconsequential, but his Mom said he would ask each day if it was Sunday, what color jersey and what was the practice plan because he wanted to be ready. He also would go out in his yard to practice every day the lesson we learned the week previous, now this is dedication. My main man definitely has impacted us all. We ended our program with a PGA Family Cup which ended in a playoff for two teams, in the dark with cell phones from all in the program lighting the green for the final putt. 31 phones light up a green pretty well! rd
I am currently running a 17U program with high school and middle school players where we practice then play match play each week. We are also doing a service program with all youth and families where the Head Grounds Superintendent will meet with the families and educate them on how to repair ball marks as well as how to fill a divot with sand properly, we then go out on the course as families and beautify each tee box by picking up tees, fill divots on the tee boxes and fairways and fix ball marks on the greens. I believe we must educate those getting into the game and reeducate many who are already in it, to care for property and set the appropriate example. We will have a dinner afterwards and have a few laughs I am sure! We are planning another Family Cup for Saturday, October 3 and are hopeful we can create even more participation as well as come together to celebrate 2020. rd
In summary, as I mentioned in my opening statement, “my 2020 has been all ups” and I give credit to those who I have been able to form relationships with through these programs whether it be National, Regional, Sectional Staff or program participants. I am more than honored and privileged to serve our veterans and families and at the end of each session, whether it be Smiles Fore Life, PGA HOPE, PGA Youth and Family, as I drive home, I can’t help but smile that I get to live out my purpose each and every day. I get to be surrounded by such wonderful, passionate people. I feel somewhat selfish because I know I get far more out of these interactions than those that meet me or are in a program and it humbles me and makes me want to work harder, to give more and to appreciate each day. I know our best days are ahead of us in these programs and I wish I could fast forward to the future but for now I will have fond memories of 2020 with all that we learned and the growth we have had together. Brian Jacobs, PGA Lead Coach-Golf Channel Academy WNY PGA Teacher of the Year WNY PGA Horton Smith Award Golf Digest Best in State www.westernnewyork.pga.com/foundation
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Junior Bag Recipients: • Tommy Bolduc • Victor Lim • Samantha Plummer
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PGA HOPE Bag Recipients: • Brian Becker • Andrew Buczek • Christopher Doldan • Steve Harris • Brian Jacobs • Ken Kopra • Nicholas Martone • John Osberg • Remo Scarsella www.westernnewyork.pga.com/foundation
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One tradition the Western New York PGA Section holds dear is the 100-Hole Marathons hosted across the Section to raise awareness and funds for organizations that serve the community. This year’s participants included The Kahkwa Club, Niagara Frontier Golf Club and Glen Oak Golf Course. This year the teams competed for the chance to hoist the new 100-Hole Marathon trophy. Teams kept their score throughout the round to see who would post the lowest score. However, teams who raised the most funds for their cause received 10 strokes off their score for the round to help bring the team closer to winning the trophy for the lowest 100-Hole Marathon score. The new trophy will travel from facility to facility each year as a team wins with the lowest score. A fun addition to the trophy is the team will be able to add to the trophy and personalize the trophy while the facility houses the trophy. The inaugural year in the race to the 100-Hole Marathon trophy, the Glen Oak Golf Course/ Course Lancaster Country Club team won with a score of 460 while raising $4070 in funds for the PGA REACH WNY Niagara Frontier Country Club Foundation.
Funds Raised
Score
$3750
480
Glen Oak Golf Course
$4070
460
The Kahkwa Club
$3900
487
Our Western New York PGA Professionals have been donating a portion of all their tournament earnings to frontline workers through #PLAYINGFORCOVID19. The PGA REACH WNY Foundation will be matching those donated earnings to make an even larger impact. Thank you to all who have dedicated a percentage of their earnings! Total: $4,082.56
Matt Clark, PGA Tim Fries, PGA Bobby Hogan, PGA Matt Jarrell Greg Kaye, PGA Jeff Kaye, PGA Bob King, PGA Rob Krajewski, PGA Chris Kulinski, PGA Steve Latimer, PGA Mike Mancari
Sean Moffat, PGA Michael O’Connor, PGA Dave Patronik Dwayne Randall, PGA John Rossi, PGA Anthony Schiro Kirk Stauffer, PGA Jay Sutherland, PGA Mike Sweazy, PGA Mike Touhey, PGA
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We are looking for partners to help positively impact the community through the game of golf!
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Brand Recognition inside AND on-course at the PGA REACH WNY Homesite at Glen Oak Golf Course (average 35,000 rounds per year) 10 Hours of lessons, fittings, swing analysis with PGA Professionals Listing on PGA REACH WNY Foundation Website and Newsletter
Brand Recognition inside the PGA REACH WNY Homesite at Glen Oak Golf Course 4 hours of lessons, fittings, swing analysis with PGA Professionals Listing on PGA REACH WNY Foundation Website and Newsletter
Brand Recognition inside the PGA REACH WNY Homesite at Glen Oak Golf Course 2 hours of lessons, fittings, swing analysis with PGA Professionals Listing on PGA REACH WNY Foundation Website and Newsletter
Brand Recognition inside the PGA REACH WNY Homesite at Glen Oak Golf Course Listing on PGA REACH WNY Foundation Website and Newsletter
www.westernnewyork.pga.com/foundation
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Friends of the Foundation Learning Center PGA WORKS Fellow FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION EQUIPMENT RENTAL PROGRAM In our continuing effort to grow the game and provide resources to our members and facilities, the Western New York Section is proud to offer the Friends of the Foundation Equipment Rental Program. These items can be used at your facility and are great additions to events and programs such as junior camps, member guest tournaments, family golf days, etc. The donations collected through the rental program benefits the PGA REACH WNY Foundation, With a $250 donation, you can have access to ANY of the items to the right for the full year. For an additional $500 donation, you can have access to any of our three (3) PGA HOPE golf carts. To reserve a rental or for more information, please contact the Western New York PGA Section staff at wnewyork@pgahq.com
INDOOR/OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER PGA REACH WNY has the long-term vision of creating inclusive indoor/outdoor learning centers inclusive to the three (3) founding pillars to be able to provide a space in the to run year-round programming for our youth, military and diverse populations.
PGA WORKS FELLOW PGA REACH WNY has a long-term vision of having a fully funded PGA Works fellow each and every year. The entry-level employment experience offers a taste of what a career in the golf industry can provide. The employment rate post fellowship is over 80% nationwide.
www.westernnewyork.pga.com/foundation
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FOUNDATION FOCUS
@pgareach_wny
@PGAREACHWNY
GoFundMe
VIMEO
Western New York Section PGA REACH Foundation
WNY PGA
Follow the Section and the Foundation on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on our WNYPGA events! www.westernnewyork.pga.com/foundation
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www.westernnewyork.pga.com/foundation