Michigan Golf Journal May 2019

Brittany Lang, the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open champion and a regular competitor in the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, was nothing short of very impressed on a tour of North Kent Connect, a food and clothing pantry for people in financial need. It is one of the hundreds of food banks in the Midwest supported by the Meijer Simply Give program, the charity benefactor of the golf tournament. “We get fantastic community support here in Grand Rapids,” Lang said. “We don’t always get the big crowds everywhere we go (at other LPGA stops), so it’s nice that in this community we get them. It’s really great to be partnered with Meijer, to see their charity work, to see their impact but also just them supporting the LPGA. “It’s great being a golfer, traveling to other cities and helping the community, helping the charities,” Lang continued. “But the Meijer Simply Give, you can see right away the food going to families in need, people in need. And to see the impact is wonderful.” Simply Give , which has three seasonal campaigns each year, has collected nearly $48 million since its inception more than 10 years ago. The first five golf tournaments’ proceeds have produced $4.2 million, but much of Simply Give’s rapid growth is attributable to the public exposure the golf tournament has given to expand the cause as well. “Our pantry, our market, couldn’t have the fresh fruits and vegetables, or the dairy (products) without Meijer,” said Claire Guisfredi of North Kent Connect. “To actually be able to give out carrots and tomatoes and zucchini, and yogurt and cottage cheese, meats, those rich protein sources that are so important for families, the nutrition they are getting, the healthier foods… this is so important to the families we serve.” Rick Keyes, President and CEO of Meijer added: “We have a very simple mission and it is feeding our neighbors through Simply Give . The Meijer LPGA Classic is not just a great golf event, this is an event that really makes a difference for our neighbors in the community.” Feeding those in need through Simply Give: Michigan Golf Journal eijer LP A Classic