How two school districts partnership with the Meijer LPGA Classic benefits students

BELMONT, MI – As golfers tee off for Simply Give in the final round of the Meijer LPGA Classic, local school principals are considering partnering with the event, which supports student programs.

Rockford and Northview School Districts continue to contribute to the success of the event at Blythefield Country Club by providing parking and other services.

Cathy Cooper, Managing Director of Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, said the four-day competition, which will crown a winner on Sunday June 20th, has a longstanding relationship with nearby schools.

Related: Four sit at the top of the Meijer LPGA Classic leaderboard in Grand Rapids

“It’s great when you volunteer,” she said. “It is really important. We need them out here, we need the help. “

This comes in the form of members of high school sports teams who do prep work like staking out the golf course or announcing golfers. Outside of the course, students and parents of the development association take on a role in managing the parking spaces in the high school parking lots and the shuttle systems to the country club.

Rockford Superintendent Michael Shibler said working with Meijer, the LGPA and Blythefield Country Club over the past few years has been positive for the community, including the revenue generated to support the student program.

“I think it’s very substantial, and I think it creates an attitude of pride for our community,” he said.

Until the COVID-19 pandemic broke out last year, Shibler said the district organized the 5k run that was run in conjunction with the golf tournament. He said it had to be postponed for the second year in a row but would return in 2022.

He said the district had channeled revenues from parking and other services provided to the LPGA and the run into middle and high school programs.

Cooper said parking will be free this year to make the event as accessible as possible to guests who may have been battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials at Rockford prior to the pandemic previously said $ 20,000 of the roughly $ 25,000 their attendance at the event generates annually came from parking and the rest from facility rentals.

Without this direct source of income this year, Meijer will make a donation to Rockford this year after the event. The amount donated has not yet been determined and is not public, but Cooper said it was a “fair and generous” amount.

Most of the money has gone to sports programs in both Rockford and Northview over the past few years. In 2018, Northview was able to distribute around US $ 6,000 to a dozen sports teams.

Northview Assistant Operations Manager Liz Cotter said the ability for multiple members of their sports teams to volunteer at the event and develop relationships with the LPGA not only adds funding to the student experience, but also motivates them served.

“Having a partnership with something like the LPGA – where such high-profile athletes compete against each other here in West Michigan – is really something,” said Cotter. “The opportunity to work with our student athletes gives them something to see and see, the opportunities they have, and motivates them to work hard. So it’s a really nice and unique partnership for which we are very grateful. “

Shibler added that the event is a reminder of the importance of giving back to the surrounding community.

The proceeds from the golf tournament continue to help fill pantry shelves in the Midwest. Meijer LPGA Classic generated more than $ 6.3 million for the Meijer Simply Give program.

“It’s a really positive event on many levels,” he said. “A lot of people, lots of groups, really benefit from this. This is something I think we obviously need to do more. And now in this world where we live with COVID, I think it’s even more important. “

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