Spirit Golf Association
The Spirit Golf Association (SGA) along with PGA Professionals at golf clubs nationwide are joining forces to raise funds for The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation. Based in Houston, The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation, founded in 2014, raises funds to support research aimed at understanding the causes and finding a cure for debilitating headaches, including migraines and cluster headaches. The Foundation was created to honor the memory of Will Erwin, whose story as well as additional information about the Foundation, may be found at www.cureheadaches.org.
“The Spirit Golf Association invites clubs, PGA Professionals, and golfers across the country to join us in supporting this cause,” said Charlie Epps, President, SGA. “While Will Erwin’s story emphasizes the devastating impact of debilitating headaches, it also underscores the prevalence of these disorders. More than 39 million Americans (12 percent of the U.S. population) suffer from debilitating headaches. That translates to more than one billion people worldwide. Together, golfers can ban together to raise the funds needed to help find a cure.”
The partnership will allow golf clubs around the country to dedicate proceeds from local tournaments to The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation. Any PGA Professional or club/facility can host an event.
The SGA has raised more than $13 million for education, health, and community impact causes in Texas since 2000. The organization now turns its focus to supporting a local nonprofit organization that has a worldwide impact, with a goal of raising the funds needed for this meaningful, life-changing research.
“It is our commitment to helping as many people as possible avoid the painful experience that Will endured,” said Jimmy Erwin, President, and Founder of The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation. “We are excited to partner with the Spirit Golf Association to harness the power for good often exhibited by the golf community.”
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation has partnered with the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System and The University of Texas Health Science Center at the McGovern Medical School in Houston. The Foundation has provided the funding to establish The Will Erwin Headache Research Center, a first-of-its-kind national research center that opened in February 2016.
The Spirit Golf Association, 501(c)(3), serves as the host for The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship. Contributors to the Spirit Golf Association, 501(c)(3), receive playing privileges at Whispering Pines Golf Club. In addition, SGA also hosts the Spirit Charity Challenge featuring Spirit alumni and Spirit Hall of Fame Game, which features local sports Hall of Famers and celebrities. Charlie Epps, PGA, serves as president and has been associated with the SGA since it was created in 1999. Mark Steinbauer, PGA, is vice-president.
The Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization founded in 2014. The Foundation was created with the goal of finding a cure for debilitating headaches including migraine and cluster headaches. The Erwin Headache Research Center is dedicated to leading the way in research to find a cure for these neurological disorders and to bring an end to the pain experienced by so many.
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