SPECIAL OLYMPICS WISCONSIN
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for youth and adults with intellectual disabilities. This provides them with continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Special Olympics Wisconsin serves nearly 10,000 athletes with cognitive disabilities in the state of Wisconsin.
WISCONSIN PGA JUNIOR GOLF FOUNDATION/ FIRST TEE CHAPTERS
The WPGA Junior Foundation, Inc., was created in 2000 to provide opportunities for children to provide positive opportunities, enjoyment and education to junior golfers. The WPGA Junior Foundation will accomplish this through tournaments, clinics, camps, academies, scholarships, grants and other necessary vehicles to encourage and promote the game of golf.
In 2004, the WPGA Junior Foundation signed an agreement to operate all of The First Tee Chapters of Milwaukee County: Noyes Park, Bridging The Gap Learning Center, Lake and Dretzka Park. In 2005, the WPGAJF began a Golf in School program with the aim of introducing kids to the game of golf and the life skills associated with it. In total, WPGA conducts more than 85 junior tournaments per year and reaches more than 6,000 kids per year with our programming.
PERSONAL STORIES | Gabby and WPGA
Gabby Cross was the most amazing 5-year-old I have ever met. Gabby came to an Easter Seals golf program we had put together at Noyes Park. Her parents were afraid that with her being only 5, she would not be able to participate, but with one look at her there was no turning her down. Gabby spent most of her life in a hospital bed. She was born with a liver disease and soon received a transplant from part of her dad’s liver. Among many of her battles these are the ones that hit her the hardest:
Ƙȿ;# ȿ'*./ȿ! '$)"ȿ$)ȿ;*/#ȿ*!ȿ# -ȿ! /ȿ 0 ȿ/*ȿ;ȿ/0(*-ȿ*)ȿ# -ȿ.+$) Ɠȿ which could only be partially removed.
Ƙȿ;# ȿ'*./ȿ# -ȿ;$'$/4ȿ/*ȿ 2;'&ȿ;) ȿ0. ȿ/# ȿ;/#-**(ƒ
ƘȿShe had another tumor that was found higher up on her spine. This one, unfortunately,
was inoperable; radiation and chemotherapy were the only ways to try to fight it.
Gabby would come out in bet ween treatments, hit maybe 5-10 balls and go back
to the hospital. Her cancer returned and a tumor at the base of her skull was found.
Gabby and her family made the decision to stop treatment and let her live out the rest of her life in her own bed. The hardest thing I’ve ever had to listen to is Gabby telling me her cancer had come back, and there was nothing they could do.
After Gabby passed away at age 7 her mother stated that, “Gabby loved golf, Santa even brought her a golf bag for Christmas. Thank WPGA for doing what you do! Gabby lost her fight with cancer and passed away Memorial Day weekend. Golf was the most important thing in her life. She always looked forward to coming out and hitting a few more golf balls.”
THE OFFICIAL PROGRAM OF THE 2010 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP 73