PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (May 10, 2022) – PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America, today announced that 12 teams consisting of four military veterans and one PGA Professional will compete in the 2022 PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup on Monday, May 16 at the Club at Indian Springs in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The Secretary’s Cup is a spirited nine-hole golf competition that kicks off PGA Championship week and features military veterans who have participated in the PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) program hosted by their local PGA Section. 

PGA HOPE, the flagship military program of PGA REACH, introduces golf to veterans to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. 

Members of PGA HOPE Philadelphia:

• Gerry Ortiz
  United States Army
  (Served 22 years)
  PGA HOPE Philadelphia Ambassador
• George Vasiloff
  United States Air Force
  (Served 30 years)
• Scottie Cuff
  United States Army
  (Served 3 years)
• Roann Leatz
  United States Air Force
  (Served 22 years)
• Jeffrey Breiner, PGA
  Lead Professional PGA HOPE Harrisburg
  Head Professional Country Club of Harrisburg

The Philadelphia Team will be led by PGA Professional Jeffrey Breiner, the PGA Head Professional at the Country Club of Harrisburg. Breiner has been teaching the PGA HOPE program for the past three years.

“We’re thrilled that four of our PGA HOPE Philadelphia veterans have the opportunity to travel to Oklahoma and participate in such a great event,” said PGA REACH Philadelphia Director Courtney Curcio. “The veterans from our Section will not only be able to tee it up in a fun golf tournament, but they will also be able to network with other veterans from around the country.”

All teams arrive in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 14. They will participate in practice rounds on May 15, and will have an opportunity to attend a PGA Championship practice round at Southern Hills Country Club on May 17.

“PGA HOPE is enhancing, changing and saving lives, and when you hear that message directly from the family members of participating veterans, it’s very powerful,” said Jim Richerson, President, PGA of America. “Veterans have sacrificed so much, and the work that our PGA Professionals are doing is truly making a difference. I’m so proud to be part of this program, and of the PGA’s commitment to grow PGA HOPE.”

Led by PGA Professionals, PGA HOPE has helped thousands of veterans. Programs are currently being offered at more than 210  locations in the U.S. today, across 47 States and 40 PGA Sections, to serve 7,500 Veterans in 2022. It is the only adaptive golf program that has an MOU with the Department of Veterans Affairs, which enables VA Facilities to refer Veterans to the PGA HOPE program as a form of therapy.

About PGA REACH
PGA Foundation, Inc. d/b/a PGA REACH is the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America. The mission of PGA REACH is to Impact Lives Through Golf. For more information, visit PGAREACH.org and follow @PGAREACH on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.

About the Philadelphia PGA Section
The Philadelphia PGA Section, covering eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, is one of 41 geographical managing entities of the PGA of America. This Section manages nearly 900 PGA Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

About PGA REACH Philadelphia
PGA REACH Philadelphia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2018 as the charitable arm of the Philadelphia PGA Section, one of the 41 Sections within the PGA of America. PGA REACH Philadelphia is committed to serving our communities and growing the game of golf through our three pillars: Youth, Military, and Diversity. Visit PGAREACHPhiladelphia.com to learn more. To donate to PGA REACH Philadelphia, please click here. 

Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com