Campaign elevates opportunities for deserving caddies nationwide
GLENVIEW, IL – The Evans Scholars Foundation has launched the 2024 Match Play Challenge, the major gifts initiative of its annual Par Club campaign. Now in its 14th year, the initiative is already off to a strong start thanks to the generous support of 61 Match Play Partners who have made gifts of $50,000 or greater.
Last year, the Match Play Challenge raised more than $28 million to help offset annual program costs that reached $29 million. These critical funds were used to provide housing and tuition, along with community living and career services support, to the record 1,130 Evans Scholars attending 24 leading universities nationwide during the 2023-24 academic year.
“As we pursue the 2030 Ambitions and our long-range plan, we are facing today’s challenges head-on and creating more youth caddie opportunities for young men and women,” WGA Chairman Steve Colnitis said. “We are determined to award more Evans Scholarships every year, and contributions to the Match Play Challenge are a vital part of supporting more caddies in their pursuit of a high-quality college degree.”
The Match Play Challenge works by pooling leadership gifts from Match Play Partners and using them to match gifts of $2,500 and greater. Since its inception in 2011, the Match Play Challenge has raised more than $200 million in support of youth caddies and the Evans Scholars Program.
WGA Director Mike Keiser, who helped lead the development of the Match Play Challenge in 2011, once again is serving as the campaign’s Honorary Chairman in 2024, while supporting the initiative as a Match Play Partner.
The sustained success of this initiative will enable the Foundation to increase the number of Evans Scholars in school, establish new Evans Scholars chapters and create new youth caddie programs from coast to coast.
“We are so thankful to our Match Play Partners for their leadership and the lasting impact on our students in every step of their journey from caddie to college to career,” Executive Vice President Bill Kingore said. “Their generous support truly makes a difference.”
For more information on the Match Play Challenge, please contact Bill Kingore at (224) 260-3712 or
2024 Match Play Partners
as of May 28, 2024
Anonymous (2)
John H. Barrow
The Binzer Family
Paul Broder
Kenneth and Jacqueline Brody
The A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation
Glenda and Fritz Corrigan
Curcio Family Foundation
Armond and Kitty Dinverno
Mr. and Mrs. Mark R. Dodson
The Edelweiss Foundation
Dr. and Mrs. Eugene F. Fama
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene T. Faut
Mr. and Mrs. Blake Fisher
Foglia Family Foundation
John E. and Barbara C. Gallina
John and Carolyn Gehring
Francis Gesualdo
Ralph and Mary Gesualdo
Regina Griffus Memorial Fund
Dan and Kathy Harmon
Dan and Pam Hay
Frank G. Heitker
Jack Holland
Martin P. and Julie Hughes
Douglas and Brittney Hurt
Mark and Mary Ann Kaufman
Mike and Lindy Keiser
Dennis and Maureen Kerber
Jason and Peggy Kinander
Robert E. and Graham O. King
Jerry and Ann Kulig
J Andrew and Susan Langan
Josh Lesnik
Ronald and Lucille Matricaria
Gary and Carol Matula
Jack and Susan McCabe
Patrick and Meredith McCormack
Dennis and Margaret Mickey
Jordan Milanowski
Eric and Allison Miller
Mr. and Mrs. W. Vaughn Moore
Tom and Susan Moran
Mr. and Mrs. James W. O’Neill
Jim and Molly Perry
Bruce and Deborah Pfaff
The Frank Polizzi Family
John and Merry Ann Pratt
John and Kathy Schreiber
James and Kathleen Skinner
W. Fritz and Tracy Souder
Mr. and Mrs. Yancey Spruill
Joe and Margie Stigler
The Stroiman Family
The Unnewehr Foundation
Dan and Clea Van Voorhis
Jerry Warner