Ohio Girls Golf Foundation one of 81 Organizations Across the U.S.A. to Receive DEI Initiative Grant
The Ohio Girls Golf Foundation (OGGF) has been selected to receive funding through a dedicated grant program operated by the golf industry’s DEI campaign, Make Golf Your Thing. As one of 81 designated organizations across the U.S., the Ohio Girls Golf Foundation was chosen for its efforts to increase golf participation among underrepresented populations of the sport.
Founded in 1994, when there was no high school girls golf teams in northern Ohio, the Ohio Girls Golf Foundation became a catalyst to grow the game for girls, as today there are more than 300 high school girls golf teams in Ohio. OGGF’s mission is to encourage, sponsor and support the game of golf for girls by providing college scholarships, golf training programs and financial assistance to attend designated golf tournaments.
“Receiving this grant is a testament to our dedication to fostering inclusivity and providing opportunities for girls in golf,” said Lynne Plaisance, executive director of the Ohio Girls Golf Foundation. “We are excited to be able to expand our programming by conducting Girls Golf Series Clinics throughout the year, to bring more awareness to young girls from diverse backgrounds about golf and how it can benefit them on and off the course.”
The grant program was established to support organizations or programs dedicated to increasing golf participation among underrepresented populations in the sport (i.e., Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous communities, as well as women, LGBTQI+ individuals, veterans, and individuals with disabilities). The program is being financially supported by industry partners committed to helping make the game more welcoming and inclusive for all.
Formally launched in May 2021, Make Golf Your Thing is an industry-wide movement to accelerate golf’s evolution, strengthening its inclusion of people from all backgrounds. The movement is organized into three strategic focus areas for increasing diversity: Make Golf Your Game (participants), Make Golf Your Career (industry employees), and Make Golf Your Business (industry suppliers).
The grant program is being administered by the American Golf Industry Coalition, a partnership among golf’s leading organizations to promote and advocate for the collective interests of the sport. Funding for the program is led by a contingent of industry supporters committed to making the sport more welcoming and inclusive for all.
