Black-tie event raises money for caddie scholarships
Chicago, IL – Golf great Mark O'Meara was the featured guest Friday, Nov. 2 at the Western Golf Association’s seventh annual Green Coat Gala, one of the largest annual fundraisers for the Evans Scholars Foundation.
More than 350 supporters attended the black-tie affair at The Peninsula Chicago, which was headlined by O'Meara, a two-time major champion and member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. All proceeds benefit the ESF, a nonprofit administered by the WGA, which provides full college tuition and housing scholarships to caddies. Currently, a record 985 Evans Scholars are attending 18 universities nationwide.
At the Gala, veteran NBC/Golf Channel commentator and emcee Mark Rolfing held a “fireside chat” with O'Meara, where they touched on topics including the importance of caddies to the game of golf, the Ryder Cup and the game’s young stars.
The event also featured a speech by Nick (Ohio State '19) and Ellyn (Notre Dame '22) Jarrell who spoke about overcoming family tragedy to caddie and earn the Evans Scholarship.
The funds raised from the 2018 event will help send caddies to college – at a time when a record number of applicants are applying for the Evans Scholarship. The Evans Scholars Program is expanding from coast to coast, with leaders planning to have 1,000 caddies in school by the year 2020.