LINCOLN, Neb. (May 12, 2021) — As the gavel was passed from one longtime leader to another, the association’s charitable arm dramatically increased its commitment to providing free clubs to programs like The First Tee and LPGA*USGA Girls Golf.
The GCBAA Foundation will more than double its annual support for its signature Sticks For Kids to $200,000 next year and make similar gifts the next two years. The grant, one of the largest ever of its kind, will provide more than 10,000 kid-friendly clubs to programs all over the country.
“After a lot of discussion about the future, we decided to go big,” said outgoing Foundation president Tom Shapland. “We feel there’s just never been a better time to make this kind of ambitious commitment and do even more to welcome this new generation of youngsters to the sport of a lifetime.”
Shapland said the additional commitment to Sticks For Kids will more than double the number of clubs granted to numerous chapters of The First Tee as well as LPGA*USGA Girls Golf programs. “We want to put even more clubs in the hands of girls across the nation. When motivated kids are provided with clubs, they keep playing.”
The contribution represents a fitting capstone to Shapland’s remarkable 5-year term as president of the Golf Course Builders Association of America’s charitable arm. “No one has done more for the Foundation,” says GCBAA president Judd Duininck. “When you have committed, smart, passionate volunteers like Tom you get things done. Super-charging Sticks For Kids as his last official act is a great example of that.”
Justin Apel, Executive Director for both the association and foundation, said: “As Sticks For Kids nears it’s 25th anniversary, the foundation has invested a total of $736,000 in grow-the-game programs. We hope the next three years will almost double that and focus even more on supplying clubs to LPGA*USGA Girls Golf sites. All told, those programs touch more than a half-million kids a year.”
Shapland’s successor as president, Ellen Davis, is no stranger to the Foundation having served on GCBAA board for 20 years. Now she’s charged with overseeing this big new initiative.
"It’s humbling to pick up the thread of the years of great work and leadership from Tom,” said Davis. “The success of the Foundation, just like our association, always comes back to terrific people with that can-do volunteer spirit. Tom is just one of those people.”
Davis, manager at SportzMix Solutions/Waupaca Sand and Gravel, says she’s looking forward to directing efforts to support youth instruction and engagement. “We’re making a bigger commitment but our mission has always been to ensure children have the chance to learn the game."
She said she was encouraged by the Foundation’s success in aligning itself with grant-making organizations that are a better pipeline for Sticks For Kids to achieve its mission. And the longtime GCBAA supporter is particularly gratified to be able to help girls golf programs. “As we’ve grown our alignment with the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Program it’s really warmed my heart,” Davis says. “Sticks for Kids has always had impressive numbers not only serving younger players, but also serving more girls proportionately than any other youth programs. We’re proud of that and excited to be doing even more.”
The timing is perfect, said Nancy Henderson, LPGA Foundation president. “We are absolutely thrilled to receive this amazing gift of clubs from the GCBAA Foundation and Sticks For Kids. Our goal is to make sure that every girl has the equipment that they need to participate in one of our more than 500 LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Programs across the country. This generous gift could not come at a better time as the post pandemic demand for golf equipment has never been greater.”
Henderson called the gift “a testament to the GCBAA’s dedication and passion for the game of golf.”
Shapland is excited about the Foundation’s future: “Hundreds of members of the GCBAA contributed countless hours to make the association thrive. And when the GCBAA began to thrive, the association was able to use its success to establish a Foundation dedicated to increasing participation in the game of golf. It’s fitting that our new commitment to the game of golf comes in our 50th anniversary year. It’s a great way to celebrate.”
