As the charitable arm of the Illinois Section PGA, the Foundation looks to expand its support of Association members’ community efforts through its PGA Hometown Heroes initiative. Now in its third year, the Foundation is connecting golf professionals with local youth organizations to promote youth development through golf.

The Foundation provides financial and administrative assistance to help golf professionals offer their youth participants items such as equipment, apparel, food & beverage and course and range time. Foundation sponsored programs also have the opportunity to send participants to Aurora University’s "Character and Leadership Education Through Golf" camp. The Foundation envisions golf related internships and college scholarship opportunities eventually being added as next steps in this youth development initiative.

If you are currently working with a non-profit 501 (c) 3 youth organization and are interested in being part of the PGA Hometown Heroes program please complete the grant application below.

Download the PGA Hometown Heroes Application

Glenwood Schools - Bill Abrams, PGA Head Professional - Balmoral Woods GC, Crete, IL

Growing up in northern Pennsylvania, Bill Abrams worked every job available at the local public golf course. From kitchen duty to grounds keeping, he still finds them all intriguing.

He shares his passion with students from the residential Glenwood School for socially and economically disadvantaged children when they come to Balmoral Woods Country Club for golf lessons each spring and fall. Eight students, ages 11-13, meet Bill and assistant golf professional Brian Snell once a week for eight weeks – or as long as the weather holds out.

"Most immediately, we’re looking for a fun experience where the students can also learn some lessons in character," said Dave Jagoda, Director of Student Services at Glenwood School’s South Campus.

Bill’s program provides exactly that. And beyond the game, he enables students to visit with positive role models at the course, ranging from the retired entrepreneurs who patronize the club to the superintendent of grounds.

Like the students, the superintendent was raised in foster homes before going off to college and beginning his professional life.

"I thought it would be good for them to hear about his experience," Bill said. "No matter how much you believe in yourself, there are questions – we all have them. But here was a successful person they might be able to identify with."

At the end of their visit, one student told Bill he’d consider a career as superintendent because “it’s more like science than just mowing lawns.” That made Bill’s day.

"I can help them realize there is more than what they see on the surface, and I hope they’ll become more accepting and more sensitive to their environment," he said. "Exposing these kids to the positive things in life is my first goal. If you do it right and treat the kids with respect, they’ll respond to you. If you go into it with the right intentions, they come out having lived a better life."