FARMINGTON, Conn. -- Connecticut PGA Section President Ralph Salito presented an $84,000 donation to the Connecticut PGA Section Golf Foundation, Oct. 14, on behalf of 55 PGA Professionals who participated in the annual "Drive for the Game" campaign to support youth and diversity golf programs throughout Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. This brings the total raised by local PGA Professionals to nearly $750,000 since 2002 when the campaign began.
This year's donation is the result of the collaborative efforts of 47 PGA Professionals who conducted various fundraising activities, such as golf marathons, at 29 different golf facilities, and personal donations from an additional eight professionals.
"We are very appreciative of the participating professionals of the Connecticut PGA Section," said Andrew Campbell, PGA Professional at Black Hall Club in Old Lyme, Conn., who served as the 2009 "Drive for the Game" campaign chairman. "It has been a tough year for fundraising for obvious reasons; however, we are happy to see how PGA professionals used creativity and ingenuity to involve their communities in raising funds and awareness for the campaign."
Salito, PGA Professional at Richter Park Golf Course in Danbury, Conn., reported the donation to Foundation President Frank Selva, PGA Professional at Race Brook Country Club in Orange, Conn.
"Studies have shown that 90 percent of golfers who are introduced to the game as a junior golfer become core or avid golfers," said Salito. "It is imperative that golf professionals continue to lead the industry's player development campaign and specifically to promote golf among young people to ensure continued growth of the game."
Salito congratulated PGA Professional Peter Pulaski of The Course at Yale in New Haven, Conn., who had earlier been named recipient of the 2009 Section President Award, for his continued fundraising efforts each year to benefit the "Drive for the Game" campaigns.
"Every golf professional owes a debt of gratitude to those who develop junior programs, organize instruction clinics, and promote the growth of the game," said Pulaski. "I am happy to play a small role in enhancing the grant opportunities the Foundation provides."
Each year, Pulaski conducts a Pro Pro Scramble event at Yale and donates a portion of the course and cart fees to the Foundation. He will receive his award on Sunday, Nov. 22, during the Section's Annual Special Awards Banquet.
Selva, a co-founder of the Foundation who has continued to serve on the Board of Directors since its inception in 1995, is proud of the nearly three quarters of a million dollars in contributions made by PGA Professionals and the accomplishments of the Foundation over the last fourteen years.
"PGA Professionals of the Connecticut PGA Section are committed to their mission to grow the game of golf," Selva remarked. "They realize that our junior players are the future of the game and that youth programs, as well as programs for women, Special Olympic athletes, and people with disabilities, need their support if they are to continue to grow."
Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded more than $530,000 in grants, including some $70,000 this year, to programs such as Channel 3 Kids Camp; the Charlie Ormsby Memorial Golf Clinic for Children; The Eastern Amputee Association; The First Tee of Connecticut; The Kennedy Center Charity Golf Classic; Physically Challenged Golf Association; New England Special Olympics; Lyman Orchards Golf Skills Jamboree; Tallwood Junior Golf School; Camera Memorial Junior Open; Torrington Rotary Club Junior Golf Tournament; Connecticut PGA Junior Golf Association; Connecticut PGA Junior Championship; PGA Play Golf America Day; and the Jack Kelly Connecticut PGA Junior Tournament of Champions. Grants for 2010 will be awarded using this year's donation. Information about applying for grants and eligibility can be found on the Section Web site at ctpga.com.
The Connecticut PGA Section is a not-for-profit organization chartered by The PGA of America in 1933 to promote golf and enhance the livelihood of its members. The Section is comprised of more than 360 men and women professionals who are committed to growing the game of golf. More information about the Section is available on the organization's Web site, at ctpga.com.
The Connecticut PGA Section Golf Foundation is an IRS recognized charitable not-for-profit corporation established in 1995 to provide grant assistance to worthwhile youth, Special Olympic and physically challenged golf programs throughout Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. Donations made to the Foundation are tax deductible.
PGA Professionals participating in the 2009 "Drive for the Game" campaign:
Rob Barbeau
Ron Beck
Jeff Beyer
Ryan Bowey
Sean Busca
Andrew Campbell
Mike Carney
Archie Cart
Frank Carta
Jason Clark
Joe Connerton
Rich Crowe
Ron Dellostritto
Chet Dunlop
Kent Dunn
Bill Flood
Howie Friday
Tim Gavronski
Chris Gay
Ken Gemmell
Tom Gleeton
Ryan Hall
Tom Halsted
Mickey Hawkes
Kyle Hedstrom
Jodi Hitchcock
Tex Kane
Craig Kealey
Brian Keiser
Hope Kelley
Ryan Kesten
Andrew Killoran
John Kozyra
Robbie Leming
Walter Lowell
Ray Mahon
Don Malen
Ian Marshall
Jim McDonald
Mark Moriarty
John Nowobilski
Mike O'Grady
John Paesani
Peter Pulaski
Gary Reynolds
Ralph Salito
Frank Selva
Kevin Shea
Ed Slattery
Wayne Smyth
Bob Sparks
Jack Stevens
Bob Tiedemann
Jeremy Vitkauskas
Mike Zaranek
Golf Facilities in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts:
Golf Club of Avon
Black Hall Club
Burlington Golf Center
Clinton Country Club
Crestbook Park Golf Course
Fairview Farms Golf Course
Farmingbury Hills Golf Course
Country Club of Farmington
Hartford Golf Club
Indian Hill Country Club
Lake of Isles
Madison Country Club
New London Country Club
Norwich Golf Course
Oak Lane Country Club
Old Lyme Country Club
Race Brook Country Club
The Ranch Golf Club
Rock Ridge Country Club
Rockledge Golf Course
Shuttle Meadow Country Club
Stanley Golf Course
Tallwood Country Club
Tumble Brook Country Club
Country Club of Waterbury
Watertown Country Club
Wethersfield Country Club
Willowbrook Golf Course
The Course at Yale
