Gary Player Foundation

Mission:

The Gary Player Foundation is a registered non-profit, 501 (c) 3 organization, with a mission to provide quality education and a future to underprivileged children, globally. In 1983, professional golfer, Gary Player, created his eponymous namesake foundation originally to address the education crisis in his home country of South Africa. The Player family soon realized the need for quality education far extended the countryside of Johannesburg, to numerous countries around the world. What began as a small local vision, developed into a goal to provide for less fortunate children globally. Programs include the following:

PLEASANT CITY ELEMENTARY, PALM BEACH
It is startling to think on the doorstep of one of the most affluent societies in the world, Palm Beach, there exists a community lacking basic necessities. When thinking of children that are living in poverty and drug-infested homes, with no where to go for a wholesome meal and basic education, many often think firstly of third world countries. The reality is that these same conditions exist right here in Florida.

The Gary Player Foundation recently adopted Pleasant City Elementary, located in downtown, West Palm Beach. We selected this school due to the history of the area, the true dedication of the school's staff to reunite the once flourishing community, and the similarities in needs with our first school located in South Africa. Pleasant City is the oldest African American community in Palm Beach County. Once a beautiful neighborhood, devoted to families and thriving businesses, Pleasant City has become a depressed, violence-infested community with a stigma of crime.

Under the leadership of a remarkable Principal, Andrea Peppers, Pleasant City Elementary was built three years ago to reunite and rejuvenate the community. Children attend classes in their own neighborhood for the first time since 1965. Prior to this, students from this community were bussed to 14 different schools, further breaking up the neighborhood by spreading its children throughout the city. Pleasant City Elementary provides each child with quality education, a 24-hour safe haven, a sense of community, self-esteem, guidance, nutrition and most importantly, love. Ultimately, the goal is to provide a solid foundation for these children to grow.

BLAIR ATHOLL PRIMARY SCHOOL, JOHANNESBURG
As its first project, the Player Foundation built a Primary School on the Blair Atholl Estate. Today, this school has an enrollment of almost 500 children from Grades 1-7. It is the school's policy that education moves beyond the four walls of the classroom; therefore, the school provides a variety of activities in which these future scholars can participate. These include sports, drama, dance, choir, music and practical agriculture.

BLAIR ATHOLL NURSERY SCHOOL
The Blair Atholl Nursery School, established in a refurbished farm building, accommodates over 80 children between the ages of three and seven who all participate in an extensive early-learning program.

BLAIR ATHOLL RESOURCE CENTERS
The Blair Atholl Resource Center plays a major role in the daily school activities, which include:

A computer laboratory that provides the children, teachers and adults with an opportunity to encounter educational programs designed specifically to upgrade mathematics, literacy and life skills
Use of a conventional library facility with both fiction and nonfiction reading materials
A teacher reference and resource library
A small toy library

All these educational facilities and activities are managed by a number of role players, including the teachers, parents, Gauteng Educational Department, The Player Foundation, and private enterprises.

FEEDING SCHEME
Due to poor conditions in which many of the pupils live, a number of them suffer from severe malnutrition. The Player Foundation, therefore, has undertaken a feeding scheme that provides the pre-primary children with one meal a day. Together with the Provincial Education Authorities, breakfast is provided for the pupils who attend the primary school.

MEDICAL & DENTAL
Regular medical and dental check-ups, with treatment, are provided to the many children suffering from common community diseases as a result of malnutrition and poor health standards.

TRANSPORT SERVICES
The Player Foundation provides daily transport for more than 100 children to and from school. Without this provision, this schooling opportunity would not possible for them.

BASIC ADULT EDUCATION AND TRAINING
For many of the adults in the rural areas, education was unheard of in their youth. In conjunction with the Optimus Foundation, the Player Foundation assists in a training program that provides many adults with basic educational skills.

SPORTS & RECREATION
Recreational facilities, which include a running track, netball court and soccer field, are available to the entire local community, encouraging greater interaction between members of the community.

Grantmaking Objectives:

While the mission of the Gary Player Foundation is to provide quality education for underprivileged children worldwide, we do contribute monetary and memorabilia donations to many additional causes in the United States and globally. If you are interested in requesting a grant, donation, or piece of memorabilia for an upcoming silent auction, please send a letter of inquiry on your charities letterhead to the address below. Please include a short summary on your cause, the date of the event should this be necessary, and complete contact information.

Geographic Areas Served:	International - see above
Revenues:	$250,643
Grants Disbursed:	$121,257
Net Assets:	$207,314

Gary Player Foundation Website

Back to the SPP Sports Foundations Directory

printer friendly