Green Coat Gala raises record $8.4 million for caddies

More than 300 supporters attend black-tie affair in downtown Chicago

GLENVIEW, Ill. — The Western Golf Association (WGA) hosted its 12th annual Green Coat Gala on Friday, Nov. 3, raising a record $8.4 million to help send deserving caddies to college through the Evans Scholars Foundation (ESF).

More than 300 supporters attended the black-tie affair at The Peninsula Chicago and virtually via livestream. All proceeds will support youth caddies and the Evans Scholarship, a prestigious full housing and tuition college grant offered to golf caddies.

In addition to a record $1.1 million raised through the event, ESF leaders announced that a group of friends and supporters made gifts totaling more than $7.3 million in honor of philanthropists Mike and Lindy Keiser for their longstanding dedication to the Evans Scholars Foundation and the Keiser Family Caddie Scholarship.

The Keisers were also named the inaugural recipients of The Keiser Leadership Award, a new WGA award established in their honor. Moving forward, The Keiser Leadership Award will serve to forever recognize those who have shown outstanding leadership in supporting the organization’s mission of sending youth caddies to college.

“Lindy and I are overwhelmed by the generosity of so many people in support of youth caddies and the Evans Scholarship,” Mike Keiser said. “These wonderful gifts will make a difference in the lives of youth caddies, and we are thankful to all who continue to support young men and women in their pursuit of a high-quality education.”

After caddying as a youth, Mike Keiser went on to develop golf’s preeminent destinations in Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Sand Valley Golf Resort and Cabot Cape Breton. A WGA Director since 2007, Mike Keiser has served as honorary chairman of the Match Play Challenge for 13 years. He and Lindy were among the first to get involved in The Promise Campaign, serving as co-chairs of the Evans Scholars Foundation’s $370 million fundraising effort.

“Mike and Lindy have always challenged us to think bigger and seek ways to provide more scholarships for deserving caddies,” said Bill Kingore, WGA executive vice president. “Simply put, their vision has always been to ‘leave no deserving caddie behind.’ Their leadership has enabled us to change thousands of lives.”

Keiser joined globally renowned golf course designers Bill Coore and David McLay Kidd for a fireside chat emceed by longtime Golf Digest editor-in-chief Jerry Tarde during the Gala, entertaining guests with stories of the development of Keiser’s Dream Golf properties and their highly acclaimed golf courses.

The evening also included the induction of investment icons and philanthropists Richard F. “Dick” Connolly, Jr. and Peter Lynch into the Caddie Hall of Fame, recognizing their use of caddying as a steppingstone to professional success and support of youth caddying.

A native of Woburn, Massachusetts, Connolly caddied at Woburn Country Club before going on to manage investment portfolios for more than 50 years. Connolly has also supported youth caddies for over 40 years as a Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund director, trustee and former president.

Lynch – considered one of the most successful money managers in Wall Street history after managing the highest performing fund in the world from 1997 to 1990 – caddied at Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton, Massachusetts. Lynch and his wife established the Lynch Foundation in 1988, creating an endowed scholarship for inner-city Boston Ouimet Scholars.

Guests also heard from featured Evans Scholar Joe Noeske, a senior biology major who serves as the chapter president of the University of Wisconsin Evans Scholarship House. Joe caddied at Blue Mound Golf and Country Club in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He shared how the Evans Scholars Program helped support him when he lost both of his parents during his sophomore year at Wisconsin.

“Some of us will be lucky enough to have a lifelong community of people who see our potential, believe in us and don’t hesitate to help pick us up when we’ve been knocked down,” he said. “The Evans Scholars Program has been that community for me. So many people were there to support me through the darkest time of my life.”

Currently, a record 1,130 Evans Scholars are enrolled at 24 leading universities across the country, and more than 12,000 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.

“In a time where access to higher education is paramount, the significance of our mission to send deserving caddies, like Joe, to college has never been more profound,” said WGA Chairman Joe Desch. “With unwavering support from our generous backers, the remarkable achievements of this year’s Gala will create transformative opportunities for Evans Scholars nationwide.”

The 2023 Green Coat Gala event co-chairs were Tim and Stacey Cavanagh, Mike and Sharyl Mackey, Terry and Eileen McCann, and Mick and Karen O’Rourke. The 2023 Keiser Campaign co-chairs were Joe Desch, Rod Goldstein, Andy Langan and Steve Skinner.