Press release
United Airlines and PGA TOUR Team Up to Provide Travel Grants to 50+ HBCU Golf Programs
Each school receives $10,000 for student-athletes, coaches and equipment to fly United and compete in tournaments across the country Program addresses one of
About this update from United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Each school receives $10,000 for student-athletes, coaches and equipment to fly United and compete in tournaments across the country\n Program addresses one of the biggest barriers to golf programs' growth and success: limited access to funds for air travel\n\n\nCHICAGO, Feb. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines along with the PGA TOUR today announced that United will award 51 golf teams at Historically Black Colleges and Universities with more than half a million dollars in grants, divided equally among the schools, to fund travel for golf tournaments and recruiting efforts. The donation is part of United Airlines and the PGA TOUR's shared commitment to diversify and grow the sport and provide resources that allow HBCUs to recruit and compete at the highest levels of collegiate golf. Each school will receive $10,000 in travel credits, enabling more than 250 student-athletes, coaches and their equipment to fly United to compete in high-profile tournaments that were previously out of reach. HBCU golf coaches attribute the lack of access to air travel among the greatest barriers to developing successful golf programs. \n\"Removing barriers for HBCU students to have the same opportunities given to other collegiate athletes will open doors for countless young Black golfers to achieve their dreams and for HBCU golf programs to develop to their full potential,\" said United President Brett Hart. \"United is committed to advancing inclusion and racial equity and that begins with making meaningful mentorship and scholarship investments in the communities we serve.\"\nThese grants will allow each team the opportunity to attend more tournaments this season, including events like the prestigious PGA Works Collegiate Championship, Mardi Gras Golf Invitational and Black College Golf Coaches Association Houston National Invitational. Previously, many HBCU golf teams would not have the resources to compete at these events or would have to drive, which requires student-athletes to take multiple days away from school. \n\"The golf program at Winston-Salem State University came back to the school for the first time in 10 years last fall. This year, the United Airlines grant will impact our program's ability to travel tremendously,\" said Winston-Salem State University Head Golf Coach Charles Penny, II. \"It now allows for our program to consid...