When the calendar flipped to 2018 last month, it didn’t just signify a new TGA competitive golf season on the horizon. It also brought with it opportunities for college scholarships and golf industry internships for young people and grants for likeminded organizations.
One of the missions of the TGA Foundation, the charitable arm of the association, is to provide financial and administrative support of existing grassroots junior golf development programs for deserving and underserved youth. Another Foundation purpose is to offer college scholarships and internships for qualified young people.
There are three such programs that are open now for application registration. Young people and organizations interested in applying for the Bill Penn Grant, TGA Works and/or the John Semander Family Scholarship are encouraged to complete the application process as soon as possible. Details and links for each opportunity follow below.
Named after the former TGA Executive Director and highly respected ambassador of the game, the Bill Penn Grant was established to support golf-related community outreach programs that provide local level instruction, educational materials and encouragement in pursuing the game of golf.
The grant, which can be as much as $5,000, is intended to assist organizations that help develop golf skills for juniors and introduce disadvantaged kids to golf. The contribution provides funding for specified needs and is not intended to finance daily operational or typical program expenses.
Recent recipients of the Bill Penn Grant include The First Tee of Greater Houston, which used the funds in 2017 to grow its in-school programming to two underserved elementary schools in a largely Hispanic east Houston neighborhood. The TGA also last year awarded a Bill Penn Grant to The First Tee of El Paso, which used the money to expand its program to help the families of deployed military servicemen and women.
Associations interested in Bill Penn Grants must be nonprofit and recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. Applicants must support the promotion of the game to junior golfers with economic disadvantages and provide detailed plans for the requested funds. For more information on the Bill Penn Grant requirements and to apply, click here.
We’re also currently accepting applications for TGA Works, a progressive program that gives high school-aged students opportunities for internships and future job opportunities within the Texas golf industry.
With a network of more than 500 Member Clubs, the TGA connects ambitious high school students with public and private facilities in need of extra summer help. TGA Works participants receive 10-week paid summer internships that introduce them to a broad spectrum of future career possibilities. The program also includes professional golf instruction and playing opportunities.
It’s a true win-win scenario. Participating Member Clubs get to invest in their local communities while they receive extra help from motivated and eager interns, who could end up as potential long-term employees. The TGA Works interns receive paid jobs in an exciting industry that offers a broad spectrum of career choices.
For more information on the TGA Works requirements and to apply, click here.
A $5,000 college scholarship was established in 2017 in the name of the family of John Semander, a former TGA Director and longtime volunteer who won the 2009 Bob Wells Award for his many contributions to the advancement of amateur golf in Texas.
A current Honorary TGA Board Member, Semander was the 2005 South Texas Volunteer of the Year. Two years later his wife, Nancy Semander, also a dedicated volunteer, won the same award.
The John Semander Family Scholarship is awarded based on a review of four primary criteria, including academic proficiency, a desire for higher education, high school honors/extracurricular activities and participation in organized junior golf programs.
A cover letter and two personal references are part of the eligibility requirements for the John Semander Family Scholarship. For a complete list of requirements and to apply, click here.
In 2017, the TGA Foundation distributed more than $33,000 in grants, scholarships and other funding for junior golf and golfers in Texas. In addition, through donations and matching funds from the TGA Foundation, more than $25,000 was distributed to hourly employees at TGA Member Clubs impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
With new plans underway for 2018, be sure to keep up to date throughout the year on TGA Foundation news.