Providing HOPE

PGA HOPE Philadelphia (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is the foundation's flagship military program. PGA HOPE introduces golf to veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. The program introduces the game of golf through a free developmental 5-week curriculum, taught by PGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. Over the course of 2022 and 2023, PGA HOPE Philadelphia is expanding to nine chapters in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

PGA HOPE Philadelphia reached over 200 new active duty U.S. military veterans in 2022, increasing the program's total reach to over 500 since its inception in 2015. Beginning in 2021, PGA REACH Philadelphia started providing a job board to PGA HOPE veterans, allowing them to work at local golf facilities, and giving them additional course access and program benefits. In addition to weekly learning opportunities, the foundation began offering offseason clinics at Fairways & Dreams Indoor Golf in Conshohocken, Pa., to keep them engaged over the winter months. Our program would not be the success that it is without the help of our 12 squad leader volunteers. Additionally, four veterans (Gerry Ortiz, Scottie Cuff, Roann Leatz, and George Vasiloff) and Jeff Breiner, PGA, had the chance to represent our Section at the 2022 PGA Secretary's Cup during PGA Championship week in Tulsa, Okla.