The ANNIKA Foundation, Hall of Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam’s charitable organization, was awarded a $50,000 grant from The Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation to further its mission to teach children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and offer aspiring junior golfers opportunities to pursue their dreams.
One of Central Florida’s most recognized and respected organizations, the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation provides funding for important programs focusing on education, arts, health and human services for many needy individuals, families and organizations in Central Florida.
“We are very thankful to The Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation for this funding,” said Annika. “I appreciate that they see the value in our many programs and our expanding presence in the Central Florida community.”
The grant will fund the development of several ANNIKA Foundation initiatives, including the Nine Healthy Habits, ANNIKA Junior Day and professional development.
“We are very happy to welcome the ANNIKA Foundation to our long list of Central Florida charitable organizations,” said David Odahowski, President and CEO of the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation. “We’re excited to support Annika’s passion for teaching young children life lessons through golf with the new Nine Healthy Habits program and ANNIKA Junior Day.”
Nine Healthy Habits is a unique children’s program being developed in partnership with The First Tee that focuses on promoting health and wellness through golf at over 200 The First Tee chapters and in 4,200 schools around the country. The Nine Healthy Habits teach life-long lessons broken down into nine pillars that children can easily remember and understand. They include energy, play, safety, vision, mind, family, friends, school and community.
ANNIKA Junior Day is an annual initiative of the ANNIKA Foundation that promotes junior golf to underserved children. The event was created in memory of Holly Baxter, a loving mother and golfer who died of brain cancer in 2007. Holly’s family asked that an event be created to promote junior golf to underserved children. The day includes a golf clinic led by Annika and skills stations for children to learn about the fundamentals of putting, chipping, swing and fitness. Past participants include children from the Orlando Minority Youth Golf Association OMYGA and the Boys and Girls Club.
More about the ANNIKA Foundation
The ANNIKA Foundation teaches children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and offers aspiring junior golfers opportunities to pursue their dreams. The Foundation has partnered with several key organizations to promote healthy and active lifestyles for children, including SPARK, the leading physical education program for schools; Florida Hospital for Children, supporting its Healthy 100 Kids initiative; and The First Tee, developing the Nine Healthy Habits curriculum for children. The Foundation annually conducts three major golf events for aspiring junior girls, including the ANNIKA Invitational at Reunion Resort in Orlando, Fla., the award-winning American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) event; the ANNIKA Invitational at Mission Hills in China for top Asian juniors; and the ANNIKA Cup, a team event for the top juniors in Sweden. The Foundation awards SPARK grants to schools, is a financial supporter of Healthy 100 Kids, and has endowed an ACE scholarship with the AJGA. Other key Foundation initiatives include ANNIKA Junior Day, the ANNIKA Inspiration Award and scholarships for aspiring Swedish juniors. More information about the ANNIKA Foundation can be found at www.annikafoundation.org.
About the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation
The Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation was created in 1973. Since then, it has been enriched by the Richard J. Conlee Fund and the H. Clifford Lee Fund. To date, the Foundation has issued nearly 3,000 grants to more than 400 organizations throughout the state, but primarily in Central Florida, totaling more than $95 million. Though it does not actively solicit outside donations, the Foundation will work with philanthropists to achieve their charitable goals. Board members are Gerald F. Hilbrich, Chairman; Herbert W. Holm, Vice Chairman; Matthew W. Certo; Deborah C. German, M.D.; David A. Odahowski and Richard J. Walsh. For more information, please visit www.edythbush.org.
Contact:
Elizabeth McCollum
Brener Zwikel & Associates
813-421-0550
elizabethm@bzapr.com
