DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The LPGA continues its commitment to developing female leaders through golf by launching the LPGA Leadership Academy in 2016 and today named LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame member Annika Sorenstam as Ambassador to this program.
“We are so excited about this new initiative,” said Nancy Henderson, LPGA Foundation President. “To have Annika as the Ambassador for this program is the perfect fit. When you think leadership on and off the course you think Annika.”
Sorenstam amassed 89 worldwide victories including 10 major championships. Her record-breaking achievements include eight Rolex Player of the Year awards, six Vare Trophies and she is the only female to shoot 59 in an official LPGA event. She stepped away from competitive golf at the end of the 2008 season to start a family and further establish the ANNIKA brand of businesses.
“I am honored that the LPGA asked me to be the Ambassador of the LPGA Leadership Academy, an initiative that aligns very nicely with my foundation’s “More than Golf” tagline,” said Sorenstam “Throughout my life, I’ve had numerous mentors in golf and business that I’ve turned to for advice and I’m happy to be able to do the same for teenage girls.”
The LPGA Foundation held its first pilot Leadership Academy last August at Glen Arbor Golf Club in Bedford Hills, NY, and will launch its first official year in 2016 in partnership with The AXA Foundation. Two separate academies are scheduled to be held this year, one on the east coast and one on the west coast. Girls ages 15-18 are eligible to apply and are selected to partake based on leadership potential, financial need and golf capability. Attendees are taken through a series of hands-on leadership activities applied through the game of golf over a two-day, fully-funded program.
“Through this partnership, we will be able to teach teenage girls more than the game of golf,” Henderson added. “We will teach leadership skills through golf, inspiring and developing the next generation of female leaders.”
The new LPGA Leadership Academy is a natural fit for The AXA Foundation, as the mission of their signature philanthropic scholarship program, AXA AchievementSM, is to provide access and advice to students and parents to help them succeed in college and beyond. Since its inception, AXA AchievementSM has awarded over $25 million in college scholarships to more than 6000 students, and more than half of those recipients were young women (56%). AXA female executives will participate in a leadership panel during the academies and will talk about their own roads to success, finding their own voices, and how and when to take calculated risks.
“We are so glad that the AXA Foundation is able to continue our company’s support of the LPGA Academies in 2016,” said AXA Foundation President Faith Frank. “AXA is committed to helping young women take the next step in their educational development and the skills and knowledge they gain from the LPGA Leadership Academies is essential to their future success.”
Girls and boys at ages 8-11 are developmentally similar, but as they enter adolescence, girls experience a disproportionate drop in self-esteem. As girls learn how to play golf in the LPGA Leadership Academy, they also learn how to overcome obstacles, develop relationships, and recover from setbacks to achieve their goals. These same skills contribute to professional and academic success through developing and promoting self-confidence, perseverance, self-reliance, discipline, and self-esteem.
ABOUT THE LPGA FOUNDATION
Established in 1991, The LPGA Foundation is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization committed to empowering and supporting girls and women through developmental and humanitarian golf initiatives.
Key priorities include: LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, scholarships and the Dolores Hope LPGA Financial Assistance Initiative for those in the golf industry who are experiencing severe hardship. The LPGA Foundation is supported by corporate and private donations, foundation grants and contributions from LPGA members. For more information on how to contribute to The LPGA Foundation, please contact LPGA Headquarters, 100 International Golf Drive, Daytona Beach, FL 32124, or by phone, 386.274.6200 and on the web: https://lpgafoundation.org/donate.
ABOUT THE LPGA
The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950 and headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, the association celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 2,300 members representing 30 different countries. With a Vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women’s golf, LPGA Tour Professionals compete across the globe, while dedicated LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management. The Symetra Tour consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. Follow the LPGA on its television home, Golf Channel, and on the web via: www.LPGA.com, www.facebook.com/lpga.official, www.twitter.com/lpga, and www.youtube.com/lpgavideo.
ABOUT THE AXA FOUNDATION
The AXA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of AXA US. The Foundation directs the company’s philanthropic and volunteer activities, working to improve the quality of life in communities across the United States where AXA has a presence. The AXA Foundation’s multifaceted signature program, AXA Achievement, supports the company’s strong commitment to Corporate Responsibility and our flagship theme of “Risk Research and Education,” by providing America’s youth with the access and advice to help them succeed in college and beyond. For more information, visit www.axa-achievement.com or AXA’s Facebook page.