CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Professional golfer Michelle Wie, in partnership with Kia Motors America, presented the Armed Services YMCA of Camp Pendleton with a $50,000 donation during the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour at La Costa Resort and Spa, March 22.
The donation will go toward the ASYMCA’s Operation Hero program, which provides after-school mentoring and tutoring to elementary school-aged children free of charge.
“We are most grateful to Michelle Wie and Kia for giving such a generous donation,” said George Brown, executive director of the Camp Pendleton ASYMCA. “Operation Hero is a critical program, and this donation will go a long way to ensuring its success.”
For Tom Loveless, vice president of sales for Kia Motors America, the donation presented a way for the company to have a part in giving back to a worthy cause.
“Our headquarters is located in Irvine, so we consider Camp Pendleton our community,” said Loveless. “We just wanted to show that we appreciate the sacrifices service members and their families make each day. It’s a stance we share with Michelle, so partnering up on this venture was very meaningful to us.”
The opportunity to give back meant a lot personally to Wie, who attended the YMCA as a child.
“I’m a big advocate of educational empowerment and showing gratitude for those who selflessly serve our country, so this moment is close to my heart,” said Wie. “I want these children to know that even though they may go through hard times, they must stick with their schooling and persevere. No dream is too big to accomplish.”
Employees and children from the Operation Hero program were on hand to witness the donation.
“It was very nice of Michelle Wie and Kia to give us a donation because some of the activities we do cost money, and now we can continue to do them without worrying about running out of money,” said Ashley Verhasselt, 10, who participates in Operation Hero. “This is really going to help so many kids.”
Some of the children present already had ideas at to what they think the money should go toward.
“I hope we use the money to get more materials for arts and crafts,” said Emily Verhasselt, 7, also a member of Operation Hero. “We could have a bunch of pizza parties too.”