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Founded in 2004, the South Florida PGA Foundation is dedicated to impacting lives throughout the south Florida community through the game of golf. Since its inception, the Foundation has grown 450%, granting more than $650,000 to local charities, local students and individuals conducting outreach programs. Each year the reach of the Foundation continues to grow, as programs develop and junior golf activities expand.
In 2019, the SFPGA Foundation granted nine local charitable organizations over $14,000 towards their efforts of providing golf throughout their community, seeking to bring positive change. You can see the charities donated to below and click each one to learn more about their organization.
The Chiera Family Foundation
Dade County Junior Golf Association/ 1st Tee of Miami
The First Tee Naples/Collier
Junior Golf Foundation of America
GIG - Gifts in Golf
Indian River Golf Foundation
LPGA - USGA Girls Golf
Palm Beach Junior Golf Association
Stoneybrook Junior Golf
2019 - Peurto Rico | 2018 - Indian River County - Arduini Family | 2017 - Miami-Dade County - Kyrece Massie |
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2016 – Martin County - Tandra Islam and Family | 2015 – Collier County - The Arcas Family | 2014 – Broward County |
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2013 – Palm Beach County | 2011 – Lee County | |
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Click below to view an additional news story about how golf pros are impacting the local community through outreach programs including Habitat for Humanity.
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Click here now to catch up with the Arcas family who built and bought a home in 2015.
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New in 2015, the South Florida PGA Foundation’s military pillar, PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), the flagship military program of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. In collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. Golf sessions are offered at NO cost to Veterans by South Florida PGA Professionals. Learning and playing the game of golf is a proven activity that has helped thousands of military Veterans assimilate back into their community through the social interaction the game of golf provides.
Recent News
Jack Nicklaus Hosts Military Veterans at The Bears Club in Celebration of Veterans Day and the 4th Annual PGA National Day of HOPE
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Click on the logo to learn more about #HOPEfromHOME. |
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To watch our inagural virtual session with Cohen Veteran's Network, click on the logo. To view the slides presented during our session click HERE now. |
If you are interested in participating in PGA HOPE please click on the right image below:
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Judy Alvarez, PGA - 2019 PGA National Patriot Award Recipient Read Here Watch Now Local News |
David McNulty, PGA - 2019 South Florida PGA Section Patriot Award Recipient Read Here |
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Allen Manguson - 2020 South Florida PGA Section Patriot Award Recipient Read Here |
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Army Specialist, Mary Anderson-Kokell was selected to represent south Florida as a PGA HOPE Ambassador for the life-changing program Helping Our Patriots Everywhere. Mary participated in one of the first PGA HOPE programs in 2015. Since then, Mary has proven the life-changing power of PGA HOPE. Mary was selected based on the impact this program had on her life and the impact she had on her fellow veterans. Mary participated in the inaugural National Health & Wellness Week in presented by PGA REACH in Washington DC. Each participating Veteran received a specially designed golf and wellness tool kit that included golf training tips, exercises and other recommendations for healthy living. Each new PGA HOPE Ambassador will now represent their respective PGA of America Section and support their fellow Veterans in communities across the country during PGA HOPE clinics and training programs.
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Click HERE now to hear the personal testimonies of two PGA HOPE graduates. |
“The PGA HOPE Program has been beneficial to so many veterans in so many ways. Being a recreation therapist for 32 years, I know the benefits of sports and recreation. It is when a veteran sees the benefit of participating that changes their lives. This program allows veterans an opportunity to work with one another with the built-in comradery they share in a community environment. Getting out of the house, interacting with others and learning or re-learning a leisure skill can change a veteran’s whole outlook on things and break a cycle of isolation, boredom, low self-esteem and inactivity. The natural environment of a golf course and the caring and compassionate PGA instructors who interact with the veterans each week provide therapy to these veterans on many levels. I’m fortunate to partner with such an organization in fulfilling the needs of our disabled veterans.”
- Eileen Jones, Former Chief of Recreation Therapy at West Palm Beach VA |
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“The [PGA HOPE] Golf Program was inspiring to meet fellow vets and PGA Professionals. The Veterans are fortunate to have such an opportunity, outside of the box of a typical PTSD therapy session. It gave us a chance to get out of the house and enjoy not only the sport but the beautiful greenery, blue skies and awesome surroundings. Mentally and physically the program was rewarding and gave us other venues to relieve depression and socialize with others. The sponsors from the VA and PGA HOPE program were sensitive, caring understanding and very supportive to each of the Veteran’s physical and mental health challenges. It was beyond the general support group, but rather a feeling of normalcy on networking and healing at the same time. Thank you!” - PGA HOPE 2016 Participant |
“The PGA HOPE program has been spectacular for me and everyone I know that’s gone through it. I used to play golf and I hadn’t played for some years. And I didn’t think I’d ever play again because I had lost my leg. I found out about this program and John Moscoso (one of the PGA Professionals) was the first one to work with me. I got the call asking if I would volunteer, and I had the time to do it… and that’s what I have been doing ever since. It’s been very rewarding working with other veterans. It’s allowed me to get back into the sport I started when I was 10 or 11 years-old. And it feels good to be out playing… and it’s very satisfying watching these [new participants] grow in the sport. Eventually we hope to have our tournaments together.” - Julian Newbauer, PGA HOPE 2015 Participant |
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One of the purposes of PGA HOPE is to inspire a lifelong interest in golf for our participating veterans. To foster growth in their new skills and love for the game, we coordinate with local PGA Professionals to provide extra golfing opportunties to our participating and graduated veterans. We plan to list some of these opportunites here below once we organize all of the information provided.
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National Golfing Opportunities for PGA HOPE Graduates
- Click HERE now for the list of offers |
Click on the images below to view more media covering our PGA HOPE programming in south Florida
After nine years this program has experienced much growth and success, and impacts more than 1,100 young patients annually. In addition to not just providing golf to the patients, in September of 2012 a permanent mark was left at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital with the installation of an astroturf putting green on the facility’s fourth floor. This installation was a “hole in one” with the patients and physicians, said Nick Masi, Director of Family Centered Care at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. Here is a snapshot of Smiling Fore Life in 2019:
Our Smiling Fore Life locations:
For more stories on Smiling Fore Life & the positive impact it's made on the PGA Professionals that teach and the children participating click below!
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We are thankful for the financial support from our partnership with the Florida Junior Golf Council grant that supports our endeavor to support our local youth community through the game of golf. You can learn more about their organization's mission HERE. |
Developed in 2018 the South Florida PGA Foundation annually provides one local student with a four year, $20,000 scholarship to assist with their college education. The student selected to receive the scholarship will receive it in $5,000 increments over the course of four years. In order to receive funding each year, additional paperwork including a copy of the student’s transcript must be submitted to the SFPGA Foundation to ensure the student is performing at an acceptable level.
For further information, please click HERE now.
Questions? Please contact Michelle Goda at mgoda@pgahq.com or 561-537-5809.