Driving Change (And Business Too!)

The benefits of charitable support in your community don’t stop with public relations. They extend all the way to internal relations. Corporate philanthropy can work as a great morale boost for employees and help recruit talent. In a 2021 global survey by IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV), more than two-thirds of respondents said they are more likely to apply for and accept jobs with environmentally and socially responsible organizations. Nearly half would accept a lower salary to work for these companies.

“I always give the people who donate kudos, but it just brings joy to know that you’re helping somebody,” Rector said. “That act of helping others is just so powerful. It can totally turn around my day.”

To answer the million-dollar question, starting charitable drives and donations can be impactful for mortgage lenders by bolstering their public image and raising employees’ pride in their workplace. Answering one question normally brings about another, though. How can a mortgage lender start their own PGA HOPE donation drive? Delmar Mortgage is a family-run mortgage lender licensed in 39 states, but they started small with their collection.

“Community engagement has consistently been a core value at Delmar Mortgage, and we’re thrilled to announce our partnership with PGA Hope as part of our commitment to supporting veterans,” said Scott Cange, Chief Marketing Officer at Delmar Mortgage. “When Lillie Danzer, our Homes for Heroes Program Director, learned about PGA HOPE’s need for golf clubs, she quickly reached out and initiated a drive. Our dedicated staff wholeheartedly rallied behind the project without delay.”

What is PGA HOPE?

Before understanding the mission of PGA HOPE and how you can contribute to their cause, it’s important to understand its parent organization, PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. The PGA of America isn’t the organization representing the golfers you watch on TV. They represent local golf professionals and instructors across the country.

“Within the PGA of America there are 41 sections in the United States. The PGA REACH Gateway Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Gateway PGA of America section,” said Rector. “The PGA of America is not about the professional golfers out there on the weekends that we love to watch. The PGA of America is about supporting the local golf professionals that are out there growing and teaching the game.”

PGA REACH consists of three programs. PGA Jr. League provides an opportunity for boys and girls to learn and enjoy the game of golf. PGA WORKS is designed to diversify the golf industry’s workforce. PGA HOPE, however, is the flagship military program of PGA REACH. They introduce golf to veterans and active-duty military through monetary and golf club donations.

“Our programs are six- to eight-week golf development programs,” said Rector. “They’re taught by our PGA professionals that are specifically trained in adaptive golf techniques.”

Veterans participating in these programs are sometimes disabled. While swinging a golf club ordinarily requires the use of your entire body, utilizing adaptive golf techniques allows disabled veterans to learn how to swing.

“The PGA of America will send a specific trainer that knows all about working with individuals who have some form of physical or mental challenges,” said Rector. “In order to conduct a PGA HOPE clinic, you must to attend one of these trainings.”

Teaching veterans the game of golf is great, but Rector notes that it’s not the most rewarding part of the program.

“We love this about our PGA HOPE clinics because they’re not just about teaching golf,” Rector continues. “These gatherings of veterans and active-duty military become a network of friends. Looking at the whole picture of a person, we want to use these clinics to enhance their mental, social and emotional well-being. We’ve had veterans tell us that this program not only changed their lives, but it saved their lives. They’ve told us they had no reason to leave their house, but this program has introduced them to other veterans inviting them out. This program has given a lot of veterans a purpose.”

How To Contribute

Rector knows that most people don’t have a great understanding of the PGA of America and all that it does, but she has advice for those people that are still looking to contribute.

“I would start by contacting the national PGA REACH Foundation of PGA of America. You need to first find out if there’s a PGA HOPE program in your area,” Rector said. “It doesn’t necessarily need to be complicated with the different layers of the PGA REACH Foundation. There may not be a PGA HOPE clinic in your area as we’re still working on branching out, but we often need to know where the need is before we start a clinic in a new area.”

Instead of waiting for interest rates to drop to spark new business, start raising interest in your business today though charitable drives and donations in your community. It’s evident that some mortgage lenders are already discovering the power of working with charitable organizations like PGA HOPE.

Remember: Just as a golfer’s swing can improve with each stroke, so too can a lender’s reputation when they support powerful charitable causes. Reach out to your local PGA REACH Foundation section to learn about how you can start a donation drive and make your community better, one swing at a time!