Whirlpool and the PGA of America have announced continued support for the Jack and Barbara Nicklaus KitchenAid Senior PGA Champions for Change Scholarship Program through 2029.

At the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship Host Communities Breakfast Wednesday, the two announced they’ll continue backing a Lake Michigan College student’s ongoing education with another $150,000 donation to the fund, even though this is the championship’s last year in Benton Harbor.

Whirlpool’s Deb O’Connor tells us they know people are disappointed the championship isn’t coming back, so Whirlpool and the PGA wanted to make a lasting impact.

“Being the last event, we said that we were going to make everything bigger and better, so we wanted to add to that scholarship fund,” O’Connor said.

With the scholarship, one LMC grad from Benton Harbor heading off to a four-year institution each year will get $25,000 per year to finish their degree. O’Connor says it’s made a difference since starting in 2018.

“Each year, the recipient has gone on to do amazing things. I know one became a nurse. There was a gentleman this morning who spoke at the breakfast, and he’s in his last year at Western, and so he will graduate. It does really make a difference. It’s not easy to pay for those extra two years after getting out of LMC.”

O’Connor says the PGA also announced a $10,000 donation to First Tee of Benton Harbor at the breakfast. She says the continued support of the Champions for Change Scholarship will help shape future leaders of Benton Harbor and the surrounding community.