Dear Members,
This September I will be participating in the 3rd annual Smucker’s Birdies & Charity event. The event will take place at CCH on September 26th. The concept of the event is simple. We will tee it up to raise money for the Northern Ohio PGA Section Foundation and five other deserving charities by making as many birdies as we can while playing 72 holes in one day. Last year, the Northern Ohio PGA Section Foundation raised over $100,000 towards Northern Ohio charities. This year, we are hoping to reach $125,000 with your help! We encourage you to click here and pledge a dollar amount for each birdie we make or make a flat donation!.
On behalf of the Northern Ohio PGA Section Foundation, we will support the following charities: The Turn, Ohio Girls Golf Foundation, Clearview HOPE, Ben Curtis Family Foundation and the Edwin Shaw Challenge Golf Program. In addition, we will be supporting our own Northern Ohio PGA Section Foundation. This year, our Foundation once again gave two $10,000 scholarships to two very deserving high school seniors based on academics, community service, and financial need. Twelve sets of golf clubs have been awarded to juniors with financial need in 2022 through the Clubs Fore Kids program which is an initiative to grow the game of golf in Northern Ohio for those who would otherwise not be able to afford golf clubs. The Northern Ohio PGA also has four PGA HOPE programs which stands for Helping Our Patriots Everywhere and aims to use golf as a means of therapy for veterans. Below is some information about the other five charities that will be supported at this year’s event:
The Turn provides innovative programs, free of charge, to more than 200 participants annually at the campus of the Wharton Center at North Olmsted Golf Club. Program participants represented a broad range of physical disabilities, including stroke survivors, amputees, traumatic brain injuries, visual impairment, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and Parkinson’s disease. The participants at The Turn receive personalized fitness services designed to improve balance, coordination, flexibility, and mobility under the supervision of their team of PGA golf professionals.
The Ohio Girls Golf Foundation continues to play a key role in the growth of girl’s golf by providing educational, recreational and career opportunities. The OGGF has awarded over $100,000 in college scholarships to hundreds of girls, as well as hosted clinics and tournaments. It sponsors instructional golf clinics each spring for girls 8-18, geared to inform, educate and expand knowledge of all aspects of golf.
Clearview HOPE is a cost-free, year-round recreational and therapeutic golf program for women veterans. Ladies from every branch of service can join and do not have to have golf experience. The program begins each year with 6 weeks of lessons followed by regular play and instruction from LPGA/PGA Head Golf Professional Renee Powell. The program continues throughout the winter months with indoor golf clinics, social gatherings, and service projects.
The Ben Curtis Family Foundation is a program that provides non-perishable food and a toiletry kit to children at weekly intervals throughout the school year. The Foundation partners with schools to help identify children in need who will benefit from these “Birdie Bags.” Food insecurity exists everywhere. The Curtis Family uncovered research that revealed in Portage and Summit Counties, 20% of children suffered from food insecurity; this is almost 30,000 children in these two counties alone.
Cleveland Clinic Challenge Golf was developed by recreational therapists as a means of providing therapeutic benefits to people recovering from strokes, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, amputations, and neuromuscular disorders. The program has expanded to include adults and children with visual impairments, persons with developmental challenges, and those with less disabling impairments, such as hip or knee replacements. It is designed to assist all individuals, both disabled and able-bodied in learning the game of golf for the first time or experienced golfers in need of adaptive assistance. Classes are taught by PGA Professional Ron Tristano and other qualified staff.
This event is a great way to help Northern Ohio’s charities as well as help our club compete against other facilities in the area to raise the most money! Once again, we encourage you to click here and pledge a dollar amount for each birdie we make or make a flat donation! We are also accepting donations by check in the golf shop made out to the Northern Ohio PGA Section Foundation.
Here’s to a day full of fun and Birdies!
Thank You
Jeff Camp Jr.,PGA Head Golf Professional
The Country Club of Hudson
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