GLENVIEW, IL — The Evans Scholars Foundation has a long history of helping golf caddies further their education. According to the Glenview-based non-profit, a record 1,130 Evans Scholars currently attend 24 universities nationwide. That number will grow next year, as well as other program at ESF, thanks to a generous donation.
Chicago-area philanthropists John and Kathy Schrieber recently gifted $7.05 million to ESF, a donation the organization said is one of the largest they’ve ever received.
“The donation from the Schreiber family is a transformational gift for the Western Golf Association and the Evans Scholars Foundation,” Amy Fuller, vice president of communications for WGA and ESF, recently told Patch. “Thanks to the generosity of the Schreiber family, more students can pursue caddying to earn money, gain valuable life skills, and participate in the WGA’s Caddie Academy program, a seven-week summer program.”
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Fuller said in a typical summer, students from across the country attend one of the program’s six chapters to caddie while living together under the guidance of current Evans Scholars.
“Participants are chosen to take part during their freshman year of high school based on outstanding academics, leadership, and character,” Fuller said. “The carefully structured program enables students to earn money, meet role models, and learn invaluable life lessons.”
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When a caddie finishes three summers, they become eligible to apply for the Evans Scholarship. Caddie Academy locations include Seattle; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; and Philadelphia. Fuller said the pledge from the Schreiber family will expand the Chicago chapter while also establishing a new one in the Washington, D.C. area.
Since starting with a dozen participants in 2012, the summer program now serves more than 150 participants across six chapters nationwide.
Fuller said the donation also will allow more student-caddies to earn a “life-changing” scholarship worth more than $125,000 over four years to attend one of 24 “leading” universities nationwide.
For nearly 100 years, ESF has been providing full housing and tuition scholarships to high-achieving caddies across the country. Since the program’s inception in 1930, more than 11,815 caddies nationwide have graduated as Evans Scholars.
“Our organization has continued to break records in the number of caddies awarded the Evans Scholarship, allowing us to further our mission of sending more deserving caddies across the country to college,” Fuller said.
According to Fuller, to qualify for the Evans Scholarship, caddies must meet the requirements of having a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need, and outstanding character. Scholarship applications are accepted at the beginning of an applicant’s senior year of high school, as well as from first-year college students. Scholarship requirements include:
“Each year, the WGA is proud to award a record-breaking number of Evans Scholarships to high-achieving youth caddies nationwide,” Fuller said. “We expect the number of applications to continue growing annually, and this transformational pledge from the Schreiber family will allow us to help meet this need.”
Applicants interested in learning more can do so by visiting here.
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