MEDINA — It’s a beautiful Monday morning, frequently uncharacteristic this time of year for Northeastern Ohio, with the sun warming the day and only wispy, non-threatening clouds floating above.

It is your day off, probably your only non-workday of the week. The Honey Do list hanging on the refrigerator is up to date – there certainly isn’t any lawn to mow – and the kids are in school.

So, what do you do with this fantastic, anchor-free, gift-from-above kind of day?

If you are a member of the Northern Ohio Professional Golfers Association, you stop by the club, pick up your tools, and head to Medina Country Club for the sixth annual Smucker’s Birdies & Charity event conducted by the NOPGA Foundation.

That’s what approximately 70 NOPGA members and their teams did on Monday. They headed to Medina with some assistants or by themselves to play in what Section Executive Director David Griffith labeled as “one of our most important days of the year.”

It is important because Birdies & Charity greatly impacts what the NOPGA Foundation is all about. It’s about helping others through golf and growing the game beyond scorecards, lessons, and pro shop displays.

It’s about providing scholarships to high school seniors. It’s about awarding financial assistance to enable youngsters to play golf and supplying them with brand-new clubs, bags, and lessons. It’s about funding the Foundation’s PGA HOPE instructional programs for nearly 350 Armed Forces veterans, using the game as a compelling form of therapy.

It’s about doing something meaningful — and that’s why so many golf professionals volunteered to give up perhaps their only day off to play 72 holes (or as many as they could) to raise funds for the Foundation. For the good of the game. For the good of humanity.

“This event is so important to us and our Foundation because it enables us to raise vital funds for so many who need it,” said Griffith. “This event has quickly become one of the most meaningful traditions on our calendar, not for how many birdies we make, but for the lives we might be able to change because of our support.”

The pros secured pledge donations from their respective club members for every birdie their teams made. Other clubs simply donated a flat sum, birdies or no birdies.

While a final tally has not been determined, at least $140,000 will be added to the $700,000 raised in the previous five Birdies & Charity events.

All proceeds will help provide:

  • Scholarships: Over $30,000 has been awarded to high school seniors for academics, leadership, and financial need.

  • Junior Tour Financial Assistance: More than $10,000 distributed to junior golfers in need, ensuring their opportunity to participate in NOPGA Junior Tour tournaments.

  • Clubs Fore Kids: 135 full sets of clubs provided — with instruction — to juniors and high school teams across Northern Ohio. Contributions led to the creation of a new high school team and the revival of Warren G. Harding’s program after a seven-year absence.

  • PGA HOPE: Support for 22 programs across the Section, serving more than 320 Armed Forces veterans, using golf as a powerful form of therapy and connection.

“I am playing because I strongly believe in the NOPGA Foundation and its causes,” said Kevin Sullivan, Director of Player Development at Quail Hollow CC, who has played in five of the six editions. “Plenty of thanks to the Quail Hollow members for supporting us. They have been terrific.”

Adam Lewicki, Head Professional at Portage CC, who once played an extra 28 holes to increase his contribution, added:
“This is an important charity, and the amount of money we have raised over the last five years shows the support our Section members and their clubs have for the Foundation. Our members trust what we invest in — and as golf professionals, we know where those investments can make the biggest impact.”

Highlights from the Day

  • Kirtland CC’s Mark Bixler and Assistant Noah Schroeder led the field by raising $22,600, adding to the $100,000+ they’ve raised previously.

  • Firestone CC’s Dale Davis led a team of Matt Grochala, Adam Seib, and Steve Parker to raise $8,830.

  • Westwood CC’s John Sico and team raised $8,304, with Sico celebrating each birdie by blasting an air horn.

  • Glenmoor CC’s Meghann Glass-Stem and Kayla Hardesty raised $8,100 with just two players.

  • Barrington GC’s Todd Ekstrand made 30 birdies, more than anyone else, leading to $7,990 in pledges.

  • Westbrook CC’s Ben Olewiler made 29 birdies, while Westwood’s Matt Kiehl tallied 28.

More pledges and donations are still being collected, including from the Toledo Chapter’s separate Birdies & Charity event.

But one thing is certain: the $140,000 raised this week will have an impact. It will support the mission of the NOPGA Foundation. It will give help where help is needed.

And in reality, that’s what Birdies & Charity is all about.