Area Bank Locations Serve as Collection Spots for Golf Club Donations
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL, June 30, 2011 – During the month of July, RBC Bank, the U.S. retail banking wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada, has joined forces with the EWGA (Executive Women’s Golf Association) to serve as collection spots for donations to the EWGA Foundation’s ‘Drive for Dreams’ campaign.
RBC Bank locations in Fort Lauderdale, Manatee County, Naples, Orlando, Palm Beach County and Tampa are participating to collect “gently used” golf clubs to benefit Golf for Injured Veterans Everywhere (GIVE) and Salute Military Golf Association (SMGA), two player development programs that support our nation’s heroes. For a list of the participating bank locations, see: http://tinyurl.com/6ev4nvk
The club donations are monetized, turning unwanted golf clubs into cash donations to the EWGA Foundation based on their fair market trade-in values. EWGA chapter volunteers in the designated markets will handle the club pick-ups from the various bank branches in their area and utilize the PGA of America’s Trade-in Network to facilitate the fundraising process.
“As we celebrate America’s Independence Day, it is fitting that we launch this year’s annual ‘Drive for Dreams’ campaign to help our modern day patriots,” says Pam Swensen, CEO of the EWGA. “We greatly appreciate RBC Bank’s strong grass-roots commitment and local involvement to expand this program.”
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada, RBC Bank has more than 420 full-service banking centers, an extensive ATM network and 24/7 online and telephone banking across a six-state market. RBC is the official Bank of the PGA of America and Official Banking and Financial Services Partner of touring professionals Anthony Kim, Earnie Els, Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar, Fred Couples, Luke Donald, Morgan Pressel, Stephen Ames and Mike Weir.
“In celebration of RBC’s partnership with the PGA of America, RBC Bank is proud to partner with golf associations with a grassroots footprint like the EWGA,” said Shana Peterson-Sheptak, Regional Manager for South Florida. “We are thrilled to help the EWGA with its support of our nation’s veterans.”
The EWGA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, with the support of local EWGA chapters and individual members across the United States launched the ‘Drive For Dreams’ outreach program in 2007. It was created to ‘Give the Gift of Golf’ – sharing one’s good fortune with those less fortunate through contributions of golf equipment and other needed resources. GIVE and SMGA have been named the designated recipients for the second consecutive year.
Other EWGA Foundation initiatives include the Women On Par® scholarship program; financial support for the development and refinement of the EWGA Golf Education curriculum; financial support to bring speakers with expertise in leadership development training and facilitation to EWGA meetings and gatherings; and fundraising in support of LPGA-USGA Girls Golf (Girls Golf).
Over the past eight years, the EWGA Foundation, through EWGA chapters and association-wide fundraising efforts, has raised nearly $500,000 in support of Girls Golf, one of the EWGA Foundation’s designated charities. EWGA members also serve as mentors and volunteers at more than 40 Girls Golf sites, making the EWGA one of the largest single contributors to the Girls Golf program aside from the USGA.
Since its founding in 1991 as the Executive Women’s Golf Association, the EWGA has welcomed more than 100,000 women into the game of golf, connecting them to learn, play, and enjoy golf for business and fun. This association delivers a wide range of golf, social and networking activities for both new and experienced golfers at chapters throughout the United States and international chapters in Canada. The EWGA is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. For more information about the association and its membership, visit www.ewga.com
Contact:
Angie Niehoff
Niehoff Marketing Associates
561-868-0297
niehoff@bellsouth.net
