Meijer has announced a $25,000 donation to Kids’ Food Basket in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on behalf of Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give Champion Jennifer Kupcho.
This donation supports a tradition that started last year to support a hunger relief program of the champion’s choice. In 2021, Champion Nelly Korda also elected to give the $25,000 donation to Grand Rapids-based Kids’ Food Basket.
“It speaks volumes to the spectacular community support these players feel during tournament week that two consecutive champions would choose to keep their donation in Grand Rapids,” said Rick Keyes, president and CEO, Meijer. “Our spectators, volunteers and business partners make the tournament experience one of the best on the tour – not just for our community but clearly for the players, as well.”
Beyond the tournament’s $1.25 million donation to Simply Give, the 2022 Meijer LPGA Classic also set attendance records with more than 60,000 spectators and 1,000 volunteers throughout the week.
Included in those 60,000 spectators was the Bouwkamp family, who live near Blythefield Country Club and have hosted Kupcho and her husband in their home for the last two tournaments. Kupcho chose to support Kids’ Food Basket as a thank you to her host family, who have a tie to the organization.
“I learned about this incredible organization from the host family that I’ve stayed with during tournament week for the past two years, as my host Damon Bouwkamp works at Kids’ Food Basket,” Kupcho said. “The efforts they’re leading to increase access to healthy foods for children and foster food equity in this community are amazing and having this personal connection to the organization makes this even more special to me.”
A long-time partner of Kids’ Food Basket, Meijer donated $1 million to the children’s food equity nonprofit in March to support the expansion of Grand Rapids Public Schools’ Meijer Weekend Meal Program.
“For more than 10 years, Kids’ Food Basket has partnered with Meijer to nourish kids to reach their full potential in school and in life, while helping to break down the barriers to food equity in our community. We are so inspired by and grateful for this incredible gift from Jennifer Kupcho,” said Bridget Clark Whitney, president and founding CEO of Kids’ Food Basket.
“Through this gift, Jennifer continues to showcase how to be a role model for kids in local communities and demonstrates that we can all use our talents to work toward a greater good. This donation helps increase healthy food access for children and families in our West Michigan communities, which is needed now more than ever.”
Next year’s tournament will take place over Father’s Day weekend on June 15-18.
