In 2005 the MGA Foundation began the public phase of a major capital campaign with the goal to raise $5 million for a variety of junior golf and educational programs aimed at attracting new players to the game. Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani helped to launch the initiative at a Reception at The Sky Club on May 13th, 2005 that was attended by 200 club and community leaders including former USGA Executive Director David Fay, Donald Trump and former New York State Governor Hugh Carey. During his keynote speech, Giuliani stressed the importance of bringing the values and traditions of golf to a wider and more diverse audience and praised the Foundation’s innovative programs aimed at attracting more inner-city youth to the game.

This is the MGA’s first major Capital Campaign in 109 years and close to three million of the five million dollar goal has already been raised or pledged from private donors. The club phase will reach out to the MGA’s more than 500 private and public golf clubs and to individual area golfers for their support many of whom have already been extremely generous in their support.

Former MGA Foundation Chairman Paul Dillon has identified the “Golf Grows Here” campaign as the most significant venture the Association has ever undertaken and feels that its success will be vital to the continued growth and well-being of golf in the Met Area. “All of us who have benefited so much from this game have a responsibility to give something back so that future generations will be able to experience all the values and enjoyment that golf can offer.”

For more information please contact Jeanne McCooey at (914) 347-4653 or jmccooey@mgagolf.org.