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Parents
Hold the AJGA’s Future in Their Hands |
Corporate
partner and golf course leads are needed for the 2006 season
and beyond |
By
Matt Larson
Sponsorship Coordinator
Bruce Slovitt wears many hats. He’s been a parent, tournament
chairman, and an AJGA advocate in Illinois during his six years
of involvement with the AJGA. The relationship began as many
do; hoping to get talented Illinois junior golfers, including
his own, the exposure needed against top competition through
an AJGA tournament with the anticipation of one day earning
a college golf scholarship.
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Bruce
Slovitt |
“I
got involved because my kids played and I wanted to have a tournament
nearby to expose the local golf community to a high level of
competition,” Slovitt said. “I just enjoy helping
to give kids the opportunity to see and play golf at a high
level.”
To say Slovitt just “got involved” is an understatement.
Slovitt has stimulated his relationship with the AJGA to the
fullest by being a tournament chairman himself and by bringing
in other tournament chairmen, corporate partners and golf courses
in the Chicagoland area.
“Before I knew about the AJGA, I saw kids that could have
played college golf but only had local tournaments to play in,”
Slovitt remarked. “Now, and over the last six years, there
are about 20 Illinois kids recruited to play college golf per
year rather than five.”
If you have ever wondered how the AJGA is able to provide a
great golf experience bursting with top competition, scholarship
exposure, social interaction, a qualified staff and great tournament
gifts at some of the top golf courses in the United States;
the answer is quite simple…through the help of parents
like Bruce Slovitt. With the help of the AJGA family, the Association
is able to fulfill its mission as a nonprofit organization to
grow and develop young men and women who aspire to earn college
golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.
Over 50 percent of the AJGA’s revenue is received from
corporate partners. The AJGA is able to keep costs down because
the AJGA is dependent upon the support of parents of juniors,
family and friends to help find those corporate partners and
golf courses. Such top-notch courses as Grayhawk Golf Club,
Rich Harvest Farms, The Country Club of North Carolina, Coto
de Caza Golf and Racquet Club, and the TPC at Southwind dot
the AJGA schedule because of parent leads.
Fidelity Investments, Golf Pride, The Thunderbirds, Gelber Group,
and Hanmi Bank are just a few examples of corporate partnerships
that have resulted from the connections of parents willing to
take ownership in the AJGA.
Taking ownership in the AJGA not only positively affects your
son or daughter, but the lives of many junior golfers throughout
the United States. Because of the support of corporate partners
and the willingness of golf courses to offer their services
over the past decade, the AJGA has been able to donate over
$1 million to grassroots junior golf programs and other foundations
(including the ACE Grant and the newly developed Youth Leadership
Club), highlighted by nearly $250,000 in 2005.
“The AJGA is grateful to our parents, like Bruce Slovitt,
for their philanthropic efforts and vision to create first-class
tournaments that will benefit our young people for the rest
of their lives,” said AJGA executive vice president of
development, Jason Etzen. “With additional corporate partner
and golf course support, we will be able to provide more opportunities
and increase local charity support. The AJGA has a very bright
and exciting future.”
The AJGA currently has foremost corporate partner and golf course
needs in the following states: California, Illinois, New York,
Texas and Virginia. By no means is this a limiting list. The
AJGA is always looking for corporate partners and golf course
leads in other states for current and future seasons.
If you would like to get involved and know of any companies,
organizations and/or golf courses that would possibly be willing
to help the AJGA, please contact Jason Etzen toll free at 877.373.2542,
ext. 746 or at jetzen@ajga.org.
It is because of parent support the AJGA is able to conduct
the best junior golf tournaments in the United States. |
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