Seeks Industry Support Through In-Kind Donations and Member For a Day Auction
ORLANDO, FL – The Breakthrough Golf Alliance has officially kicked off its 2026 year-long fundraising campaign to support five exceptional scholarship recipients who represent the future of competitive golf. The campaign, which launched in January 2026 with the successful Alliance Cup Charity Scramble presented by Taino Golf at Wekiva Golf Club, aims to offset the extraordinarily high costs of competing at the elite levels of junior golf – expenses that challenge even financially stable families who are committed to supporting their young athletes’ dreams.
The 2026 scholarship recipients include four individual junior golfers and one high school team: Ava Saavedra (Class of 2027, Circle Christian School, Orlando, FL), Brevin Bennett (Class of 2030, Norwich, NY), Luz Melendez-Gonzalez(Riverview, FL), Keishlyan Vega (Puerto Rico), and the Winter Park Boys Golf Team (Winter Park High School, FL).
“These five recipients represent everything we believe in at Breakthrough Golf Alliance,” said Brendon R. Elliott, PGA. “They have the talent, dedication, and passion to succeed at the highest levels of competitive golf. What they need is the financial support to compete on premier tours, access quality instruction, and showcase their abilities against the best competition in the country.”
A CALL TO THE GOLF INDUSTRY: IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED
While monetary donations remain vital to the campaign’s success, Breakthrough Golf Alliance is specifically calling on golf industry partners to consider in-kind contributions that can directly impact these young athletes’ development and competitive opportunities.
“We’re reaching out to equipment manufacturers, apparel companies, training aid developers, golf technology firms, and all segments of the golf industry,” Elliott explained. “Product donations – whether it’s clubs, balls, apparel, training equipment, launch monitors, or access to instruction – can make an immediate, tangible difference in these athletes’ preparation and performance.”
In-kind contributions allow companies to support junior golf development while managing their charitable giving in ways that align with their business models. Product donations provide tax benefits similar to cash contributions while directly equipping young golfers with the tools they need to compete.
The organization welcomes contributions of all types, including:
- Golf equipment (clubs, balls, bags, accessories)
- Performance apparel and footwear
- Training aids and technology
- Access to instruction or coaching programs
- Tournament entry fee sponsorships
- Travel and accommodation support
- Fitness and nutrition products
- Mental performance coaching services
MEMBER FOR A DAY AUCTION: MARCH 28 – APRIL 2, 2026
A centerpiece of the 2026 fundraising campaign is the highly anticipated Member For a Day Auction, scheduled for March 28 through April 2, 2026. This online auction has raised significant funds in its previous two editions and offers golf enthusiasts the opportunity to experience some of the finest private clubs in the country.
Breakthrough Golf Alliance is issuing a special call to private golf clubs and their members to donate three- or four-some playing opportunities for the auction.
“The Member For a Day Auction creates a win-win scenario,” Elliott noted. “Golf enthusiasts get to experience world-class private clubs they might never otherwise access, while these donations directly fund scholarships for deserving junior golfers. It’s a chance for private clubs to give back to the game and invest in its future.”
Private clubs or individual members interested in donating a playing opportunity can contact the organization directly. Donations are tax-deductible, and clubs receive recognition throughout the auction period and in all related marketing materials.
The auction format allows donors from across the country to participate, with playing opportunities available at various locations and price points. Previous auctions have featured rounds at prestigious clubs and generated substantial support for junior golf development.
MEET THE 2026 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Ava Saavedra (Class of 2027) is a two-time Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship winner and member of the Puerto Rico Junior National Team. She competes on the FJT, AJGA, and HJGT tours and is a member of the Underrated Golf Tour by Stephen Curry. Beyond competition, Ava runs “Ava Talks Golf” on Instagram, where she conducts interviews and shares insights about the game, pursuing her dream of becoming a golf broadcaster and journalist.
Brevin Bennett (Class of 2030), at just 14 years old, has already made history as the youngest player ever to win his home course’s open division member guest and the youngest winner of the Nick Dinuzione Memorial Junior. A two-time Section 4 Class B Champion and two-time U.S. Kids Golf World Championship competitor, Brevin is also at the top of his class academically. His 2026 goals include gaining 20+ AJGA stars and becoming the #1 golfer in New York’s Class of 2030.
Luz Melendez-Gonzalez, born in Augusta, Georgia (home of the Masters), discovered golf as a toddler and began formal training at age 7 through the First Tee program. She won her high school district tournament in 2025 and qualified for the Hurricane Cup. Known for her exceptional short game and bilingual abilities, Luz aims to make the Florida High School Golf State Championship and play college golf in the South while earning a bachelor’s degree in Marketing.
Keishlyan Vega is a two-time Puerto Rico High School Golf League Champion (2023, 2025) and two-time Player of the Year on the Puerto Rico Junior Tour (2024, 2025). With a 2.7 handicap, she has represented Puerto Rico at the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship, U.S. Kids World Championships, and Under Armour World Championships. A National Honor Society member and College Board National Recognition Program Award recipient, Keishlyan dreams of winning Puerto Rico’s first Olympic medal in golf while pursuing degrees in software engineering and law.
The Winter Park Boys Golf Team, led by Head Coach Rob Robison, is one of Florida’s premier high school golf programs. The Wildcats have achieved 31 team event wins in the last decade, including a State Championship in 2018 and runner-up finishes in 2019 and 2020. The program has sent 14 student-athletes to play collegiately, including five at the Division I level.
ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH GOLF ALLIANCE
Founded in 2010 as the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development, Breakthrough Golf Alliance became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit in early 2025. The organization is dedicated to providing financial support, mentorship, and opportunities to talented junior golfers aged 13 and above who have demonstrated exceptional promise but face the significant financial burden of competing at elite levels – costs that can be prohibitive for families regardless of their overall financial circumstances.
Throughout its history, the organization has received support from golf legends including Jack Nicklaus and PGA Tour champion Keegan Bradley, as well as organizations such as the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation.
HOW TO SUPPORT
Each scholarship recipient has a dedicated fundraising page where supporters can make direct contributions:
Keishlyan Vega Scholarship Fund
https://events.golfstatus.com/event/keishlyan-vega-fundraising-page
Luz Melendez Gonzalez Scholarship Fund
https://events.golfstatus.com/event/luz-melendez-gonzalez-scholarship-fund
Ava Saavedra Scholarship Fund
https://events.golfstatus.com/event/ava-saavedra-scholarship-fund
Brevin Bennett Scholarship Fund
https://events.golfstatus.com/event/brevin-bennett-scholarship-fund
Winter Park Boys Golf Fundraising Page
https://events.golfstatus.com/event/WinterParkBoysGolf-2026-scholarship-fundraising-page
For information about in-kind donations, Member For a Day Auction contributions, or general inquiries, contact:
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA
brendonelliott@pga.com
Breakthrough Golf Alliance firmly believes that talent, dedication, and passion – rather than a family’s ability to afford the extraordinarily high costs of elite-level competitive golf – should determine a young golfer’s potential for success.
