Special Olympics To Receive Funds from ‘Make Golf Your Thing'

Special Olympics Connecticut 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., Special Olympics Connecticut was chosen for its efforts to increase golf participation among underrepresented populations of the sport.

Golf will be one of the sports featured during the organization's Unified Sports® Fall Festival. The event will bring athletes of all abilities from around the state together to compete in sports that include golf. Special Olympics golfers will compete in skills, alternate shot and individual stroke at Sleeping Giant Golf Course in Hamden on Sunday, September 11th as part of the annual Fall Festival.

Initially introduced in 2021, the grant program – through its latest round of funding – has now issued 155 grants to 111 unique organizations overall, totaling more than $1 million to-date.

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.

About Special Olympics Connecticut
Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for more than 10,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports® partners - their teammates without disabilities. Through the joy of sport, the Special Olympics movement transforms lives and communities throughout the state and in 170 countries around the world by promoting good health and fitness and inspiring inclusion and respect for people of all abilities, on and off the playing field.

Partner Sponsors: Bozzuto's Inc., the Connecticut Elks Association, Enterprise, ESPN, Eversource, The Hometown Foundation, Law Enforcement Torch Run, NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut, Webster Bank, Pratt & Whitney and WWE. Year-Round Suppliers: Adams Hometown Markets/IGA Hometown Supermarkets, Bozzuto's Inc., Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Marcus Communications, N&D Sports, Pepperidge Farm, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Community Service and WORX.

About Make Golf Your Thing
Formally launched in May 2021, Make Golf Your Thing is the industry’s movement to make golf accessible to individuals from all backgrounds. Led by six cross-industry work groups, the initiative is specifically focused on: education & skill development, talent acquisition, procurement, human resources, youth & adult player development, and marketing/communications.

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.

For more information about Special Olympics Connecticut, visit soct.org and follow Special Olympics Connecticut on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin.

For more information on Make Golf Your Thing, visit https://makegolfyourthing.org/.

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