PGA REACH, PGA REACH Carolinas Name PGA WORKS Fellowship After Sara “Sunny” Harris Hutchinson
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2018-07-04
By PGA OF AMERICA
GREENSBORO, North Carolina — PGA REACH, the 501(c)(3) foundation of the PGA of America, will honor the legacy of Sara “Sunny” Harris Hutchinson by naming the PGA REACH Carolinas PGA WORKS Fellowship, The Sunny Harris Hutchinson PGA WORKS Fellowship.
The Sunny Harris Hutchinson PGA WORKS Fellowship will go on in perpetuity in the Carolinas PGA Section and will continue to help evolve the changing demographic composition of the golf industry workforce, so that it reflects the demographic composition of modern-day America.
A devoted mother, wife, sister and daughter, as well as a graduate of Charlotte Latin and Davidson College, Sara went by her popular nickname of “Sunny.” She was a project interior designer and commercial broker at Lincoln Harris, the firm started by her father, Charlotte real estate developer and Quail Hollow Club President Johnny Harris. Sunny had a true passion for the game of golf and was largely involved with the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club and the Wells Fargo Championship. Sunny passed away suddenly in February, at the age of 43. The Fellowship serves as a lasting tribute to her loving memory, as well as her admiration for the game of golf.
“PGA REACH will proudly pay tribute to the legacy of Sunny Harris Hutchinson and her incredible passion for the game, by naming one of the most significant and inspirational programs of PGA REACH in the Carolinas in her memory,” said PGA of America CEO Pete Bevacqua. “Designed with a focus on foundation programming, the Fellowship will also positively impact lives through golf for years to come.”
The PGA WORKS Fellowship is a national PGA REACH program executed locally within PGA Section offices. With the launch of the PGA WORKS Fellowship, PGA REACH has taken a leadership role in the efforts to diversify the workforce in the golf industry, in order to assist in establishing a deep bench of diverse talent to ascend into key employment positions in the game and business of golf.
“We’re proud to carry on Sunny’s love of the game of golf through this program for generations to come,” said Carolinas PGA Section Executive Director Jeff Abbot.
Telvin Walker has been named as the first Sunny Harris Hutchinson PGA Works Fellow. Walker is native of Washington, D.C., and a recent graduate of Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina. He started his yearlong fellowship in May, after spending the past year working at the East Potomac Golf Course in Washington, D.C. The focus of Walker’s work will be on delivering program services for PGA REACH Carolinas and positively impacting lives through golf.
“I’m delighted to start my career in golf through the Sunny Harris Hutchinson Fellowship,” said Walker. “I would like to help PGA REACH grow the game by making it more accessible for juniors, as they are the future of this great game.”
The PGA WORKS Fellowship is intended to engage a diverse group of participants. Collectively, they represent a wide array of demographics—including various genders, ages, races/colors, national origin/ancestries, sexual orientation, disabilities and Veterans status—although all are welcome to apply.
Including the launch of the Sunny Harris Hutchison PGA WORKS Fellowship in the Carolinas PGA Section, the PGA WORKS Fellowship will host 10 fellows across the country this year in the Connecticut, Gateway, Michigan, Middle Atlantic, Metropolitan, New Jersey, Northern Ohio, Southern Ohio and South Florida PGA Sections. The long-term goal of the program is to have fellows in all 41 PGA Sections nationwide.
Sunny Harris Hutchinson PGA WORKS Fellowship participants receive a salary, benefits, and housing during their time in the program. PGA REACH Carolinas has a goal of raising $300,000 to cover ongoing program expenses for the next 10 years.
To begin the fundraising effort, PGA REACH and PGA REACH Carolinas are contributing $10,000 each. To join the effort, please click here.
About PGA REACH
PGA REACH is the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America. The mission of PGA REACH is to positively impact the lives of youth, military and diverse populations by enabling access to PGA Professionals, PGA Sections and the game of golf. For more information on PGA REACH, visit pgareach.org.
About PGA REACH Carolinas
PGA REACH Carolinas is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation and the philanthropic arm of the Carolinas PGA Section, the largest of the 41 Sections in the PGA of America. Our 2,000 PGA Professionals across North and South Carolina are committed to serving our communities and growing the game of golf through our three pillars: Youth, Military, and Diversity & Inclusion.
About the PGA of America
The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of PGA
Professionals who daily work to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. For more information about the PGA, visit PGA.org, follow @PGA on Twitter, and find us on Facebook.