Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers Supports PGA REACH Georgia
Youth and Military Golf Initiatives in the Southern Rivers Region
ATLANTA, GA – PGA REACH Georgia, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation and arm of the Georgia Section of the PGA of America (“Georgia PGA”) whose mission is to positively impact the lives of youth, military, and diverse populations by enabling access to the Georgia PGA, Georgia PGA Professionals, and the game of golf in Georgia, is honored to have received a charitable donation from Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers (GoodwillSR) in support of various youth and military golf initiatives within the Southern Rivers Region.
GoodwillSR, one of 154 independent and community-based Goodwill 501(c)(3) nonprofits across the United States and Canada, is headquartered in Columbus, GA and serves 50 counties in west Georgia and east Alabama as one of the region’s top employers and by providing free career services including job coaching, training and skills classes, GED preparation and testing, along with many other services designed to connect individuals to work. GoodwillSR, and its local Board of Directors, sees the value in supporting meaningful junior and veteran initiatives through PGA REACH Georgia amidst a thriving golf industry throughout the state.
Beginning in 2024, GoodwillSR will endow a GoodwillSR Gene Siller Memorial Grant, which will provide financial assistance to young golfers throughout the Southern Rivers Region looking to learn, play and compete in junior golf initiatives. Their endowment will ensure a junior golfer in the Southern Rivers Region will receive an annual grant in perpetuity. Additionally, GoodwillSR’s support will allow for military veterans throughout the Southern Rivers Region to receive complimentary instruction led by PGA Professionals. Lastly, this support will allow PGA REACH Georgia to bolster junior golf programming at the heart of the Southern Rivers Region in partnership with Godwin Creek Golf Course in Columbus, GA. PGA REACH Georgia will partner with the city of Columbus to hire PGA Golf Professional(s) and provide adequate instruction/programming such as, but not limited to, PGA Junior League, Drive, Chip & Putt, and PGA Family Cup.
“Goodwill has a long history of supporting people right here in our local community. In fact, we work tirelessly day in and day out to provide programs that enrich the lives of local youth, veterans and individuals from every walk of life. We are delighted to partner with PGA REACH Georgia to provide opportunities to engage in the game of golf to those who might not otherwise have had the chance. We see it as a form of personal enrichment that ultimately leads to personal success in a variety of ways.” said GoodwillSR President and CEO, Jack Warden.
“We are incredibly grateful and excited for GoodwillSR’s support and vision of growing youth and veteran golf within the Southern Rivers Region. Their unwavering support will have such a tremendous impact on juniors, veterans and PGA Golf Professionals throughout the region. We cannot wait to kick this partnership off with the upcoming announcement of the 2024 GoodwillSR Gene Siller Memorial Grant recipient,” said Georgia PGA CEO Scott Geary.
ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF THE SOUTHERN RIVERS:
Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers Inc. (GoodwillSR) is one of 154 independent, community-based Goodwill nonprofits across the United States and Canada. Headquartered in Columbus, Ga. and governed by a board of directors consisting of local business and civic leaders, GoodwillSR serves 50 counties in west Georgia and east Alabama as one of the region’s top employers and by providing free career services including job coaching, training and skills classes, GED preparation and testing, along with many other services designed to connect individuals to work.
Goodwill is unlike other organizations because our primary goal is to provide individuals with the skills and job placement services they need to ensure advancement opportunities and sustainable careers for a lifetime. These programs are all made possible through the donation of gently used clothing and household goods that are sold at Goodwill retail stores. To learn more about Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers, please click HERE.