2005 Summer Golf Camps

The program’s camps and clinics were in full force again this summer. Youth from Project Chance, the Dennison and Kiwanis Branches of Girls Incorporated, the West End Neighborhood House, Peoples Settlement and the Salvation Army’s Day Care summer camp participated in golf instruction and life skills training. Other juniors who participated were members of the Neuman College High School Camp, the Special Needs group at H.B. Dupont School, the Girl Scouts at the Browns’ Boys & Girls Club, and the Nickelodeon group at Friends of the Children.

School Based Program Soars

Over the past year, the LPGA UYGP School has continued its success in reaching out to area youth and introducing them to the game of golf in a fun, interactive, hands-on way. As the result of a three year grant from the United States Golf Association (USGA), the LPGA UYGP continued its partnerships with the Red Clay Consolidated School District, Colonial School District, Christina School District, Marian T. Academy, Thomas Edison Charter School, St. Peter’s Cathedral School, A Friend of the Family Schools and the Martin Luther King after school program (SAFE Pathways Center, Project CHANCE)

In 2004-2005, the LPGA UYGP extended its program to include Nativity Preparatory School, Salvation Army Community Center, Lewis Elementary After School Program, Kumba Academy, and the Eastside Charter School. Throughout the school year, thousands of students experience the life skills program while learning the game of golf, golf etiquette and team building skills in their physical education classes or after-school programs.

The UYGP was also invited to coordinate an interactive booth at the Garnet Valley Middle School Heath Fair. LPGA UYGP instructors, Charma Bell and Vicki Abens taught over 1,000 students various golf skills.

2005 Dengler Scholarship Recipient, Victoria LeBron: An UYGP Inspiration and Role model

The confidence and life skills Victoria gained from her experience at the LPGA UYGP have already been influential in her life. A true role model for junior participants and youth everywhere, Victoria broke the “gender” barrier when she became the first female team member on the traditionally all male golf team at her high school.

Victoria considers herself a lifetime member of the LPGA UYGP and has already begun giving back to the program. This summer she served as an instructor assistant in the summer camps, volunteered in the administrative office, worked with fellow members of the UYGP to clean the Ronald McDonald House, and helped at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship. Victoria plans to continue helping young golfers as a teacher, coach, and friend. The LPGA UYGP is proud and blessed to have this talented and confident young woman serving as a positive female role model for younger junior golfers.

Past Events

Darius Smith featured in Web article

JuniorLinks.com published an article about Darius Smith, one of our students who has gone on to become a PGA Apprentice.

LPGA/USGA Girls Golf Holiday Party

On December 13, 2004 the LPGA/USGA Urban Youth Golf Program of Delaware had a holiday party at the Dupont Country Club. This event took place in the Rockland room of the country club. This was the LPGA/USGA second annual Girls Golf Holiday Party. In addition to the LPGA/USGA “What’s My Line” game there was a holiday decorating creation feature. A host of panelists represented the nine core values: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy, and judgment.

Special Thanks Go Out To:

The representatives from ING Direct were Deneen Donnely-Evans, Head Legal Counsel; Jennifer A. Papillo, ING Direct Kids Foundation Coordinator; and Melanie Lassiter, in charge of mentors for ING Direct.

LPGA/USGA Girls Golf Holiday Party Press Release

“Life Skills and the Gift of Sport given during the holiday season”

The LPGA/USGA Girls Golf Program of Delaware hosted its annual “What’s My Line” holiday party at the DuPont Country Club on Monday, December 13, 2004. Nine professional women served as panelists for the “What’s My Line” game. The LPGA/USGA Girls Golf Program participants will guess which panelist matches which career. The juniors were given various clues regarding the panelist’s employment category. However, it was up to the juniors and their mentors to determine each panelist’s occupation.

In addition to representing various segments of the work force, each panelist represented one of the nine core values included in the program’s Life Skills Curriculum. The nine core values are honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy, and judgment.

The object of the game was to match each panelist with her occupation, as well as, the specific core value she represented. The girls had the opportunity to ask questions of all panelists and gain a better understanding of how the core values are incorporated into a panelist’s job responsibilities.

Members of this year’s panel included a retired tennis professional, an accountant, a school psychologist, a college athletic director, a physical therapist, a corporate attorney and two representatives from finance and banking.

In addition to emphasizing the importance of the program’s Life Skills Curriculum, the LPGA/USGA Girls Golf Program unveiled its collaboration with the Women’s Sports Foundation’s “GoGirlGo! Get America’s Girls Moving” initiative. The Women Sports Foundation established this initiative during its 30th anniversary to help encourage girls to become physically active and to keep active girls ages 8-18 from dropping out of physical activity. “The Women’s Sports Foundation is delighted to be joining with the LPGA/USGA Girls Golf Program of Delaware. We look forward to assisting the Delaware community in gaining awareness of the tools available to enable young girls to live active and healthier lifestyles”, stated Donna Lopiano, Executive Director.

The Women Sports Foundation is a national charitable educational organization seeking to advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity. The Foundation’s Participation, Education, Advocacy, Research and Leadership programs are made possible by individual and corporate contribution. Please visit the Women Sports Foundation web site at www.WomensSportsFoundation.org, www.GoGirlGo.com or AOL Keyword WSF.

The LPGA/USGA Girls Golf Program of Delaware will be offering 100 young girls the opportunity to receive incentives if they “Bring a Friend to Golf”. Girls currently enrolled in the program will be asked to enroll a friend, who is not currently physically active, for golf instruction classes. In return, both the active and the new junior golfer will receive a pink LPGA ponytail hat with the breast cancer logo compliments of DRIVE HEADWEAR, the LPGA licensed headwear company.

For more information regarding the LPGA/USGA Girls Golf Program of Delaware’s 2005 initiatives, please contact Ms. Judy Stout at (302) 428-1612 or e-mail her at LPGAUYGP@aol.com.

LPGA UYGP Gives Back

LPGA UYGP junior golfers kept busy during Year 2003 by volunteering their time and energy to various local organizations. Members of the LPGA UYGP’s Junior Advisory Board came together to lend a helping hand to the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House by completing tasks such as vacuuming, sanitizing toys, cleaning windows and baking cookies.

In April, the LPGA UYGP Administrative Office received a much-needed spring-cleaning from our LPGA UYGP family! Junior golfers, their families, instructors and staff came together to spruce up the outside by removing piles of pine needles, removing buried bricks and creating a beautiful flower bed.

Our biggest volunteer events of the year are the activities held during the week of the McDonald’s LPGA Championship. Over 150 junior golfers and their families volunteered at one or more events held during Championship week. Some of those events included the Rotary Putting Scramble, AstraZeneca Scramble for Kids, AIG Scramble for Kids, Women’s Amateur Tournament and the Saturday Pro-Am. The juniors enjoyed playing with or caddying for local company representatives who participated in various LPGA UYGP events.

A new volunteer opportunity occurred in October when the Wilmington Country Club hosted the 2003 USGA Mid-Amateur. LPGA UYGP Junior Golfers participated in the Mid-Am festivities by picking up range balls at the North Course driving range. Juniors were not alone in the huge responsibility of collecting range balls; members of the Wilmington Country Club’s volunteer committee and volunteers from the McDonald’s LPGA Championship were on hand to teach the juniors proper ball picking techniques. A few of LPGA UYGP Juniors also volunteered their time to be caddies for tournament participants.

1st Annual College Scholarship Fundraiser Successful

The first annual Barbara H. Dengler Scholarship Fund Wine Tasting and Silent Auction was held on March 13, 2003 at the Terrace at Greenhill in Wilmington, Delaware. With over 100 people in attendance, the Barbara H. Dengler Scholarship received an additional $7,000 as a result of efforts from many volunteers. The Barbara H. Dengler Scholarship is available to all LPGA UYGP junior golfers who are graduating seniors and have been active participants in the program for a minimum of two years. Applicants do not have to play college golf to apply for scholarship funds. The Barbara H. Dengler Scholarship Fund was created to provide financial assistance to junior golfers when pursuing higher education.

Hard Work Recognized

The Annual LPGA UYGP Volunteer Recognition Dinner showcased the efforts of many dedicated volunteers during the 2003 golf season. Thirty volunteers were on hand to receive their recognition and celebrate the successes of the LPGA UYGP.

Mr. Joseph Patermo and Mrs. Andi Degnan were the 2003 recipients of the annual Carrie P. Russell Caring and Devotion Award. Joe Patermo has been a volunteer at the Dover Air Force Base during class instruction for four years and has been responsible for organizing all of the volunteers at this site. Joe also makes sure that operations run smoothly at the Dover Air Force Base golf course and serves as the liaison between the base and the program. Thank you Joe for all you do to help the youth in Dover, Delaware.

Ms. Andi Degnan has been an instrumental part of the growth of the LPGA UYGP through her continued commitment to the program, her guidance with the coordination and growth of the after school and school based programs and her dedication to the success of the summer “Tour de LPGA UYGP” Summer Series.

Alumni Update

Mike Ficchi is a junior at Millersville University in Millersville, Pennsylvania. Mike is pursuing a degree in Industrial Technology with a concentration on electronics. Mike was the recipient of the 2003 Peter Bonnani Scholarship and a 2003 Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholarship. During the summer of 2003, Mike volunteered his time with the program at Thomas Edison School’s City Program.

Ken Yost, a 1998 alumnus of the program and recipient of the Barbara H. Dengler Scholarship recently accepted a full time position with the Arlington Virginia Fire Department. We wish Ken nothing but the best as he beings living out his dream of becoming one of America’s bravest.

Julia Campbell, a 2000 alumna of the program and recipient of the Barbara H. Dengler Scholarship and Ronald McDonald House Scholarship graduated in May of 2004 with a Bachelor Arts & English degree from Ursinus College (Collegeville, PA).

Darius Smith, a 2000 alumnus of the program, served as an instructor in the summer program and in the school based program. Currently he is working in Florida as an Assistant Professional at the Bayhill Golf Resort and the Meadowood Golf and Tennis Club in Orlando. The LPGA UYGP is appreciative of Darius’ volunteer efforts in serving as a positive role model for the youth in the program and his eagerness and excitement to give back to the program. Join us in wishing Darius success as he makes his dreams into reality.

Charma Bell II, a 2002 alumna and recipient of the Peter A. Bonnani Scholarship and Ronald McDonald House Scholarship is in her senior yearat LaSalle University. Her major is graphic arts/multimedia design with minors in both Spanish and business. Charma returned this summer as a junior instructor for the LPGA UYGP at Ed “Porky” Oliver Golf Course.

LPGA Urban Youth Golf Program Chosen as LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Provider in Delaware

The LPGA Urban Youth Golf Program has been selected to serve as the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf site for the State of Delaware. The LPGA-USGA Girls Golf of Delaware is part of the national LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program, which is the largest golf program in the nation exclusively for girls. It is organized and implemented by the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) Division through a partnership between the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and the United States Golf Association (USGA).

More than 2,400 girls participated in the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Club nationwide this year. The LPGA-USGA Girls Golf of Delaware is one of over 99 sites located within the United States.

Ms. Felise Cressman has been named as the site coordinator for the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf of Delaware. Ed “Porky” Oliver Golf Club will serve as the home site for the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Club of Delaware. The LPGA-USGA Girls Golf will be added to the ongoing services currently provided by the LPGA Urban Youth Golf Program of Delaware.

“We are delighted to be selected by the LPGA and the USGA to provide such a beneficial program for young girls in the Delaware area,” stated Judy Stout, Director of the LPGA Urban Youth Golf Program. “The LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Club will increase the number of young girls playing the game of golf. Young ladies will experience first hand the valuable opportunities golf has to offer.”

For more information on how to enroll in the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Program of Delaware, please contact (302) 428-1612.

PGA of America Supports LPGA Urban Youth of Delaware

The LPGA Urban Youth Golf Program (UYGP) of Delaware was awarded a grant of $8,100 by the PGA of America’s Growth of the Game Grant Program.

The LPGAUYGP was selected as a recipient of one of 50 grants, totaling nearly $700,000, being awarded nationally by the PGA of America in the year 2002.

The LPGA Urban Youth Golf Program of Delaware received this grant in recognition of its award-winning program that works with at risk youth. Now in its eighth year of operation, the program serves over 1,400 annually, some of whom have gone on to receive college scholarships. Grant monies were used to offset golf instruction cost for a recently formed partnership with the Wilmington Housing Authority, an initiative that reached another 100 youth living in the City’s public housing system. Funds were also used for golf instructors at the Dover Air Force Base, impacting an additional 100 participants. The PGA Foundation funds will be used for golf instruction provided by PGA members.

The PGA Growth of the Game grant program is one of a number of initiatives administered by the PGA of America through the PGA Foundation.