PGA TOUR Champions announced today that Akron’s Tiretown Golf Charities, a charity beneficiary of the Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone Country Club, has been named the Tour’s 2024 Charity of the Year.
“We are thrilled to recognize Tiretown Golf Charities as the 2024 PGA TOUR Champions Charity of the Year,” said PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady. “The organization’s commitment to the Northeast Ohio community is unmatched, including the numerous Tiretown volunteers working at the Kaulig Companies Championship each year. Tiretown’s dedication to supporting Akron youth – from scholarship programs to partnerships with local schools – exemplifies the PGA TOUR Champions ethos of making a difference in communities where we play. We are proud to support their mission and look forward to seeing the continued growth and success of their initiatives.”
As the Charity of the Year recipient, Tiretown Golf Charities received a $30,000 donation from PGA TOUR Champions. The funds will be reinvested back into the community by supporting the golf programs at local Akron high schools, providing essential support in the form of uniforms, transportation to matches, and equipment for these new teams. Being able to provide these opportunities furthers Tiretown Golf Charities’ mission of making golf accessible to all and empowering the next generation of athletes in the Akron community.
“The nearly 200 members of Tiretown Golf Club are thrilled to be recognized by PGA TOUR Champions for our commitment to the young men and women in the Greater Akron community,” said Tiretown President Ralph N. Paulk. “As the largest Black golf club in the country, we envision a future in which there are no barriers for young people of color to succeed if they are willing to invest the time and effort. We appreciate this honor and recognize our mission is ongoing – that the challenges ahead are daunting, but not insurmountable. Our successes are supported through partnerships and commitment of donors and businesses that share our vision. We greatly appreciate First Tee of Greater Akron and Northern Ohio Golf Charities, who are invaluable partners. As we celebrate our 75th anniversary, Tiretown has even greater aspirations of helping to build a future for those who depend on our members’ tireless efforts.”
The Charity of the Year award celebrates Tiretown Golf Charities’ mission to impact the community through academic scholarships, young adult enrichment programs and volunteerism on multiple fronts. In 2024, Tiretown Golf Charities provided over 60 volunteers to Northern Ohio Golf Charities to support the Kaulig Companies Championship, as part of the organization’s commitment to community service and promoting golf in the region – the third consecutive year providing volunteers.
“The Kaulig Companies Championship is proud to support Tiretown Golf Charities and all the amazing work they have done to support this community for over seven decades,” said Kaulig Companies Championship Executive Director Don Padgett III. “Congratulations on Tiretown celebrating its 75th anniversary this year and on being named the 2024 PGA TOUR Champions Charity of the Year.”
Established in 1950, Tiretown Golf Club has served as a beacon of opportunity in the golf space, especially within the African-American community. As the largest predominantly African American golf club in the country, it has made significant strides in promoting the sport and fostering a legacy rooted in scholarship, fellowship, and service. The club’s scholarship program has provided essential funding for five years of college to qualified high school seniors from members’ families and local students in the Greater Akron area. Tiretown has also revived the golf program at Buchtel High School and partnered with the First Tee of Greater Akron, helping make golf accessible to those who might not have otherwise had opportunity. Tiretown Golf Club not only champions the game of golf but also plays a vital role in uplifting and supporting the community.