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Donate to the WPGA Scholarship Fund
The Scholarship Fund of the Western
Pennsylvania Golf Association was founded in 1941 with the
awarding of two scholarships to the University of Pittsburgh and
another to Duquesne University. The first Caddie Welfare
Committee surfaced in 1927 and addressed issues for the benefit
of caddies at the various Member Clubs of the Association.
Fourteen years later the movement secured enough money to
sponsor its first scholars.
Those responsible for beginning
Caddie Scholarships were C.K. Robinson, Chairman of the
Committee, William H. Duff, II, Association President, Wallace
M. Thompson and Fred Brand, Jr., Association Secretary. Brand
was particularly inspired by Charles "Chick" Evans who founded
the Evans Scholars Foundation of the Western Golf Association.
In the Scholarship Fund's fifty-plus years of service, nearly
six-hundred scholars have attended colleges or universities with
the assistance of a WPGA Scholarship. Many WPGA Scholarship Fund
alumni have distinguished themselves in a variety of careers.
The WPGA Scholarship Fun's
purpose has always been to assist worthy and qualified students
employed by WPGA Member Clubs. The fund originally was available
to caddies only, but now club employees in all
departments--course maintenance, club house and golf shop--are
eligible. The fund qualifies in the IRS code as a 501-c3
charitable trust; all donations are tax deductible.
In 2005, the WPGA Scholarship Fund
reached an agreement with the
Evans Scholars
where a student who has been accepted by both organizations can
receive a joint scholarship. There will be at most
one student at any time receiving the joint WPGA/Evans
scholarship.
| The Scholarship Fund is
an equal opportunity program that does not discriminate
on the bassis of gender, race, religion or ethnicity. In
the selection of students, the Scholarship Committee
concentrates on four key issues: academic
qualifications, employment (a minimum of two years
service at a WPGA Member Club),
extra-curricular/community activities and financial
need. The annual award is renewable up to four years
provided the student maintains a 2.80 grade index or its
equivalent. The
WPGA Scholarship Fund accomplishes two objectives each
time a student graduates. We provided help for deserving
students for whom scholarships make a financial
difference and we have provided opportunities for young
people to contribute to society. If the WPGA Scholarship
Fund is to expand the current program we must develop
additional revenue sources as similar programs have done
around the country. We rely on donations from area
corporations, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association
and its Member Clubs and alumni and friends of the
program. We cannot grow the WPGA Scholarship Fund
without the overall participation of the golf community,
and we seek your help. With additional funds we can to
two things--grant larger scholarships to the students
whose need exceeds our grants and provide more
scholarships. We want to do both.
Please consider a
donation so we can continue to promote education, assist
worthy club employees who make the days at our clubs and
courses more enjoyable and provide incentives though
scholarships for employees in the future. |
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