With Leona Maguire being the face of women’s golf in Ireland, it’s clear the impact she has on many rising golf stars. Those young golfers mean so much to Maguire because she did not have any women golfers to look up to when she was young, so she is taking every opportunity to embrace her role.
"I would love to have the same impact on young girls today and act as a role model for them. When we see our heroes compete, we strive to emulate their success, their habits and their style. I want to have more events at home where young girls would have the opportunity to see golfers that “look” like them and “swing” like them.”
Just like the KPMG Irish Open last weekend, Maguire loves events where the kids can come and watch to get a glimpse of what they could be when they’re older. Maguire played an incredible game and finished tied for fourth.
Because of her participation with this event, the decorated Irish golfer has presented 20,000 grants to four schools in the area. The schools receiving the grants are Scoil na Maighne Mhuire, Ballycar National School, Stonehall National School, and Clonmoney National School.
While down in Clare this past week, I was delighted to make a donation of $20,000 alongside the @Irishaporg to four local schools.
I hope these grants will continue to help support & inspire the next generation. pic.twitter.com/k7arvQTJBv— Leona Maguire (@leona_maguire) September 26, 2022
The Irish American Partnership is “committed to supporting young people across Ireland’s education pathway and look forward to doing all that we can to support more schools in the near future” The grant money will be used to purchase resources for the schools.
Maguire teed off her Irish American Partnership ambassadorship last month in Cavan. The basis of the partnership was to empower the next generation of Irish leaders through their education. She supports their mission by making sure the schools across the island have adequate resources for their students to have a proper education.
“I would like to think that I can now use my platform as an athlete competing on a professional stage to share my journey with the next generation of young people and young athletes, showing them what can be achieved if you dedicate yourself and stick with it.”
So far seventy-five schools have been affected by Partnership’s 2022 grants. In addition to the four schools announced last weekend, there was a total of 290,000 in grant money given to the schools. With their committed donors on both sides of the Atlantic, the irish American Partnership and Leona Maguire is committed to providing $1 million for schools across Ireland in the next four years
The collaboration with Maguire intends to build on previously successful initiatives. These include education centers for homeless youth, an outdoor Play and Learning Program by professional golfer Padraig Harrington, nationwide university scholarships, empathy education in secondary schools, STEM resources for primary schools, and even technology apprenticeships as a gateway to employment
