Students in Need of the Robla School District Receive Help Through Back to School Give Away

Sacramento Businesses & Non-Profits Come Together to Serve Students of the Robla School District.

The Optimist Club approached the Morton Golf Foundation with a request to assist the families of Robla School District in their Back to School Giveaway, and we were happy to say yes. This is the second year that Morton Golf Foundation has been involved in helping these families prepare for the upcoming school year.

The Robla School District consists of six schools, and on August 5th, 2023, the six schools and volunteers gathered at Robla Main Avenue Elementary School to make a positive impact. Approximately 40% of the students in this district are either unhoused or in foster care, making the Back to School giveaway an essential event in this community.

As the families entered the multi-purpose room at Robla Main Avenue Elementary School, they received a Passport, which served as their Student ID for the day, allowing them to visit various stations set up for them. These stations covered topics such as healthcare, library resources, oral care, and backpacks, among others.

Morton Golf Foundation had numerous dedicated volunteers, and they were honored to participate in this initiative. One touching moment during the event was when a young boy around 10 years old arrived with shoes several sizes too big, and they were also mismatched. At the Back to School Giveaway, he received his first new pair of shoes, bringing him immense joy, which he shared with his mother. After getting their new PUMA shoes, the families proceeded to receive underwear and socks, completing the necessary items for their first-day school outfit.

Language barriers were handled adeptly by creative volunteers who found ways to communicate with families who did not speak English. Carson & Heather Morton from the Morton Golf Foundation used Google Translate to efficiently address the needs of these families.

The Mixed Institute of Cosmetology and Barber set up a station at the Back to School Giveaway, providing 12 stylists to help students with their hair and grooming needs, all at no cost to the students. This was aimed at giving them a positive and memorable experience as they prepared for their first day of school.

To encourage students to explore all the stations, they were entered into a raffle if they got their Passport stamped at each location. The Sacramento Police Department generously donated a FREE bicycle as a raffle prize.

Students were also educated on physical activities and fun ways to stay active throughout the year by Coach Roz from Playmakers and Coach Asley Noda from First Tee – Greater Sacramento.

The overall goal of the event was to better educate students about healthcare and prepare them adequately for the school year. The community’s compassionate leaders played a significant role in helping these families, and as students left, they were provided with a “to go” non-perishable box of food for future meals, courtesy of Food for Families.

This event showcased a remarkable collaboration among community leaders, all coming together to make a difference in the lives of these students. The support thorugh this event will continue to create an even better future for them.


How The Morton Golf Foundation Junior Development Grant Gives Local Junior Golfers Access To Critical Funds To Be Able To Play In Tournaments

Rob Siebers calls it the “make a wish for junior golfers.”

It’s the Morton Golf Foundation Junior Golf Development Grant, based out of the Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento. Last year, grants in the form of financial assistance were given to 27 juniors in the area, enabling them to play in both local and national tournaments.

Both boys and girls, ages 10 to 18, are eligible to apply for grants, providing them with the necessary assistance to play a competitive tournament schedule throughout Northern California and around the country.

“It is very, very heartwarming to do this,” said Siebers, a Morton Golf Foundation Board member and the MGF Grant Administrator. “We really stress tournament play, because the biggest battle most kids fight in a tournament is nerves. They get nervous – ‘Oh, boy, this person hits the ball further than I do. They’re going to kill me.’

“The more tournaments you play in, the more you become accustomed to it and you’re not quite as jittery. So we like to have them play in a lot of tournaments. But you don’t want to play in it too many tournaments, as you don’t want to burn out.”

Applications for grants can be submitted online and are accepted annually from October 15 to December 31, according to the organization’s website, mortongolffoundation.org. Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 season.

Grants “are only used for the appropriated purpose of reimbursement of expenses,” and grants “will only reimburse expenses that are eligible under USGA and NCAA rules,” the Morton Golf Foundation said.

The online site, mortongolffoundation.org, has information about the process of applying for a grant, details covering eligibility requirements, grant funding, and eligible junior tours. Interviews are scheduled for both eligible applicants and their parents.

The MGF Junior Golf Development Grant is defined as “financial support for families to help their children learn to compete, develop skills, enhance core values and build lasting relationships through the game of golf.”

The credit for starting the Morton Golf Foundation Junior Golf Development Grant goes to Ken Morton, Sr., said Siebers.

Ken Morton, Sr., is a PGA Master Professional and the Chief Executive Officer for Morton Golf LLC. He was inducted into the National PGA Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Northern California Section of the PGA Hall of Fame in 2019. He was named as the National PGA Professional of the Year in 1998 and has been the recipient of the National PGA Junior Golf Leader Award, National PGA Horton Smith Award for PGA Education, and the California Golf Writers Golf Person of the Year Award.

“He doesn’t like to get credit for stuff. But this was his idea,” said Siebers. “Under his guidance, we started this program. It started out small, as we had five kids the first year. And then each year it seemed to double. We’ve raised more money and we’re giving back.

“If you know Ken well enough, he says, ‘We’re going to make this happen.’ And it happened. He doesn’t like his name mentioned. He doesn’t want to take credit. But a lot of good things spring from his mind.

“As far as I’m concerned, he gets the credit.”

Those eligible must be 18 years old or younger and not having entered college.

Additional requirements, according to mortongolffoundation.org:

  • Families must be residents of the greater Sacramento area, defined within a 50-mile radius of Haggin Oaks Golf Complex, located at 3645 Fulton Ave., Sacramento, CA.
  • Families must be “in need” of financial support to participate in junior golf tournaments and activities.
  • A junior golfer must have a history of actively participating in golf.

Each grant is based upon individual needs.

Eligible families are reimbursed, as determined by an “agreed-upon golf plan,” for the following expenses, according to mortongolffoundation.org:

  • Tournament registration fees.
  • Transportation to and from travel tournaments for the junior player only.
  • Lodging and meal costs for the junior player only in travel tournaments.
  • Golf equipment.
  • Golf lessons.

A minimum of 50 percent of each Morton Golf Foundation Junior Golf Development Grant must be spent on junior tournaments.

There are several junior tours that golfers can play in. This includes The First Tee of Greater Sacramento Junior Tour, Sacramento Golf Council Tournaments, Junior Golf Association of Northern California, Junior Tour of Northern California, Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, Future Champions World Tour, US Kids Tour, International Junior Golf Tour, U.S. Golf Association and American Junior Golf Association events.

“We put it out to the general public,” said Siebers, a former member at Rancho Murieta Country Club who now plays out of Haggin Oaks. “Families that have junior golfers can fill out an application to receive a grant. The first thing we emphasize is that it’s not a subsidy, but it’s an enhancement.

“We pride ourselves in trying to define what’s the best thing for the kid.”

Last year, organizers of the Morton Golf Foundation Junior Golf Development Grant interviewed 34 applicants.

There are so many lessons that can be learned from playing golf and being around the game, said Siebers.

“Golf is kind of the game of life,” said Siebers. “It teaches you etiquette. It teaches you perseverance, responsibility and fairness. You can tell a lot about a person from how they conduct themselves on a golf course.”

Siebers’ wife, Jane Siebers, is the executive director of the Morton Golf Foundation, which is now in its eighth year.

“Once we give a grant, we don’t forget about them. Jane and I go out and watch the kids playing in the tournaments,” said Rob Siebers, who retired as president of Sacramento Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Inc. “We enjoy meeting the families and getting to know the kids.

“We just want to make sure that we’re spending our money where the need is, where the opportunity is, and where the potential is. The one thing we do insist upon, is that if you’re going to buy equipment, that you get professionally fitted (for clubs).”

The interview committee takes time to talk to each of the junior players about “core value” and what extracurricular activities they are involved in, said Siebers.

“What else are you doing besides golf? Because you can’t just do golf,” said Siebers. “You’re a young person. You should be playing other sports or playing in the band or doing drama. You should have more than one interest.

“If you get to be 16, 17 years old, and you’re really interested in golf and trying to get a college scholarship and all that, then you maybe narrow your focus to golf. But as young people, you’ve got to widen and broaden your experience, broaden your activities. It will make you a better athlete, which will make you a better golfer.

“And so, we really strive giving back. We want to see these kids volunteering, whether it’s for us, or for other things. We stress how important giving back to your community is and giving back to the game of golf.”

Cameron Champ of Sacramento, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, was the first recipient of a grant from the Morton Golf Foundation when he was playing junior golf. Champ won the Safeway Open at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa in 2019 and is currently No. 77 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Champ got his start in golf at Haggin Oaks, as he was introduced to the game by his grandfather, Mack Ray Champ. Cameron was with the First Tee of Greater Sacramento and as a junior played at Morgan Creek Golf Course in Roseville and Whitney Oaks Golf Course in Rocklin.

Champ is a 2018 graduate of the Korn Ferry Tour and joined the PGA Tour in 2019.

The Morton Golf Foundation, founded in 2010, “funds programs offering a healthy outdoor recreational environment that stresses the building of lasting personal relationships while seamlessly instilling life’s core values for the youth, disabled, and under-served communities of Sacramento,” according to mortongolffoundation.org.

“Today, the Morton Golf Foundation is helping better the lives of several kids programs, disabled programs and hundreds of underserved individuals each and every year,” the organization said.

There is an upcoming fundraiser for the Morton Golf Foundation Junior Golf Development Grant. It’s the “Kids’ 100 holes of golf fundraiser,” a team event that is scheduled for Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to about 12:30 p.m., at Bing Maloney Golf Course’s Express 9 in Sacramento. It’s a nine-hole executive course.

“We want the kids to get together and have fun,” said Rob Siebers. “The tournament has really two purposes. It’s an opportunity for all the families in the Morton Golf Foundation to get together and talk. The other is an opportunity for the kids to go out and raise money and give back to their own cause. It’s a way for these kids to raise money and give back to golf, because we take that money and then we spend it back on the kids in the form of grants.” For more information, contact Rob Siebers, MGF Grant Administrator, at rjjsiebers@gmail.com; or go to www.MortonGolfFoundation.org; or contact Morton Golf Foundation at 3645 Fulton Avenue, Sacramento, CA, or at (916) 808-0969.

Marty James is a freelance writer who makes his home in Napa. He retired on June 4, 2019, after spending 40 years as a sports writer, sports editor and executive sports editor for the Napa Valley Register, a daily newspaper in Napa County. He is a 1979 graduate of Sacramento State and a member of the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Association. He was inducted into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in 2016.


2nd Annual “Capital Golf Challenge” Supporting The Morton Golf Foundation Held At William Land Golf Course!

Under the beautiful Sacramento sunny sky on Friday, 9/25/2020 the 2nd Annual Capital Golf Challenge was held at William Land Golf Course.

There were 8 City Elected Officials wearing orange playing a 2-person golf match between 8 County Elected Officials wearing green.

Competition was high spirited, the golf with interesting, and a great time was had by all!

The winning team again this year was the City Team.

The City of Sacramento TEAM name was added to the perpetual trophy that can be seen at City Hall.

CITY TEAM

  • Mayor Darrell Steinberg
  • Assemblymember Kevin McCarty
  • Councilmember Rob Fong, Ret.
  • Councilmember Eric Guerra
  • Councilmember Lauren Hammond, Ret.
  • Councilmember Rick Jennings
  • Councilmember Jay Schenirer
  • Councilmember Steve Cohn, Ret.

COUNTY TEAM

  • Supervisor Patrick Kennedy
  • Supervisor Sue Frost
  • SMUD Board Director Gregg Fishman
  • SMUD Board Director Nancy Bui-Thompson
  • SCOE, Brian Cooley, Ret.
  • SJUSD, Richard Launey, Ret.
  • Elk Grove Councilmember Stephanie Nguyen
  • Sac City School Boardmember Darrell Woo

The dollars raised for the past 2 years go toward the construction of a Life and Golf Skills Academy at Hiram Johnson High School. The Community Services Project funds raised will be

Used for the construction project installing Phase 1 of the Stadium Concept which will benefit all students in the Hiram Johnson neighborhood. The Hiram Johnson community will have the opportunity to participate not only in after school golf programs but also throughout the summer months.

The goal is to start construction on Phase 1 in early 2021.

Please take a moment and watch the video at https://youtu.be/OxR4uStkpSE

The 2021 dates secured for next year’s annual fundraiser to help maintain and staff the facility will be on Friday, August 20th at William Land Golf Course.

Hope to see you there!


Morton Golf Foundation 2020 Scholarship Winners

The Morton Golf Foundation along with Golf and Guitars and Air Force One Golf is incredibly pleased to announce our 2020 Educational Scholarship Award Winners.

This year we raised over $48,000 towards Educational Scholarships for area high school seniors. We want to recognize these exceptional students for their hard work and dedication to their education.
Our eligibility requirements have each student ranking in the upper part of their class scholastically, with a 3.0 or better GPA. Each of the winners have must have outstanding personal character, sportsmanship, and leadership qualities, and participated in
any NCGA, TFTGS, or high school golf program for at least one event, program, or membership year or worked at a golf facility.

Our 2020 Scholarship Winners:

“Dusel Family Scholarship” $5000 Award Winner – Carly Krause

“Pat Mailey Memorial Scholarship” $4000 Award Winner – Benjamin Ainsley-Zoll

$4000 Scholarship Award Winners – Amand Siy

$3,500.00 Scholarship Award Winner

“Jane & Rob Siebers Community Service Award” -Ashley Knepshield

$2,500.00 Scholarship Award Winners –

Alyssa Yee

Jared Tungol

McKenna Schinderle

“Kevin Sharp Memorial Scholarship” $2500 Award Winner – Hannah Lee

“Governor’s Cup Foundation Scholarship” – $1500 Award Winner – Grayce Honsa

“Governor’s Cup Foundation Scholarship” – $1500 Award Winner – Carter Wilson

“Governor’s Cup Foundation Scholarship” – $1500 Award Winner – Emma Frank

“Governor’s Cup Foundation Scholarship” – $1500 Award Winner – Gabriel Silveira

“Governor’s Cup Foundation Scholarship” – $1500 Award Winner – Damon Bartells

“Governor’s Cup Foundation Scholarship” – $1500 Award Winner – Michael Wicks

“Governor’s Cup Foundation Scholarship” – $1500 Award Winner – Sydney Becker

“Governor’s Cup Foundation Scholarship” – $1500 Award Winner – Mikaela Paracuelles
Mikaela Paracuelles $1,500.00 Vista del Lago UC Santa Cruz

$1500 Scholarship Award – Amy Whelan

$1,000.00 Award Winners –

Collin Yee
Yusuf Ahmed
Arturo Zavala
Macy Anderson

“Governor’s Cup Foundation Scholarship” $1000 Award Winners Mia Gribskov

“Governor’s Cup Foundation Scholarship” $1000 Award Winner – Mason Mancasola

“Governor’s Cup Foundation Scholarship” $1000 Award Winner – Sid Brown

“Bosley Electric Scholarship” – $1000 Award Winner – Birdie Brown

Morton Golf Foundation is proud of all of our scholarship winners and wish them all the best as they move onto college.

The Morton Golf Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit corporation established and operated exclusively for charitable purposes. The Morton Golf Foundation vision is to enrich the lives of the less fortunate through the great game of golf.

About Morton Golf Foundation:
Our Mission is to provide funds to programs offering a healthy outdoor recreational environment that stresses the building of lasting personal relationships while seamlessly instilling life’s core values for the youth, disabled and underserved communities of Sacramento. If you have any question, please direct them to Jane Siebers at jsiebers@hagginoaks.com


Support the Special Olympics Polar Plunge

specialolympicsThe Special Olympics Northern California is partnering with Morton Golf Foundation to support the Special Olympics Polar Plunge at ‘Taste of Tuscany’ Italian Restaurant

Torch run Spec Oly JonathonEach year Jonathan Sparks, Morton Golf Foundation’s very own Special Olympian and 2015 World Summer Games Torch Bearer raises money to give back to support a cause that is near and dear to his heart: Special Olympics Northern California. This year, Taste of Tuscany is supporting Jonathan by donating 20% of the food bills for all tables that come in to support Jonathan on the following dates:

Monday evening (August 15) from 11:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday evening (August 16) from 11:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday evening (August 17) from 11:00am – 5:00pm

The donation will be given directly to Special Olympics Northern California Polar Plunge Fundraiser in care of Jonathan Sparks.

tasteoftuscanyMeet Jonathan at Taste of Tuscany on Monday, August 15 at 5:00pm. If you cannot attend on Monday, August 15, come out on Tuesday, August 16 or Wednesday, August 17 for dinner to have 20% of your dinner bill still donated to this worthy cause.

We hope to see you there!

Taste of Tuscany Italian Restaurant is located at 7753 Roseville Road, Suite #A in Sacramento, CA 95842.

logoAbout the Morton Golf Foundation
The Morton Golf Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit corporation established and operated exclusively for charitable purposes. The Morton Golf Foundation vision is to enrich the lives of the less fortunate through the great game of golf. To learn more about how you can help, contact Jane Siebers at jsiebers@hagginoaks.com