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Val Skinner
LPGA Tour Professional, Golf Channel Analyst
Val Skinner, a veteran on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, has enjoyed a successful career winning six times. Val ranked top 15 in the world, 7 of 20 seasons on the LPGA Tour. She was a member of a victorious Solheim Cup Team and served as the 2003 US Junior Solheim Cup Captain. Val is a member of three golf halls of fame and now includes golf commentating as a specialty; she is a Golf Channel analyst. Val earned a golf scholarship to Oklahoma State University were she was named as a first team All-American, Big Eight Female Athlete of the Year, GOLF Magazine's Collegiate Player of the Year and was the first women athlete to be inducted into the Oklahoma State University Hall of Fame.
Val is a professional athlete who exudes passion for not only competition, but also for her work off of the golf course. On the golf course, her golf swing is one of power and pure natural talent. She is a fierce and determined competitor, these qualities transcend into her Philanthropy work. Val has worked tirelessly to help further various causes. Her charity work has included many grassroots "women in crisis" charities, Shelter from the Storm, Rape Crisis and The House of Hope. Her passion to create awareness about breast cancer among young women in their 20's and 30's, began when she lost a dear friend, young and rising LPGA star Heather Farr. After Heather lost her battle at the young age of 28 Val founded LIFE (LPGA Pros in the fight to eradicate breast cancer). Val collaborated with Susan G Komen for the Cure to launch a national campaign called the "Young Women's Initiative" and to date has raised $6.8 million dollars through the LIFE effort for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and The Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
Val was recognized as one of the country's most caring athletes by USA Magazine, and was named as one of the country's champions in the fight against breast cancer by Yoplait and Self Magazine. Val received the LPGA Humanitarian Award, The Susan G. Komen Award, The Good Samaritan Award and the Award of Hope from The Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Val was selected by the Golf Writers Association of America for The Charlie Bartlett Award, which is given to a professional golfer for demonstrating unselfish commitment to community service; the Metropolitan Golf Writer's presented the Winnie Palmer Award and recently Val was named Garden State Women of the Year for sports and recreation.
The American Professional Fundraisers honored the Val Skinner Foundation as Outstanding Foundation in 2010 and Sports Illustrated listed the Val Skinner Foundation as one of the top charitable foundations organized and funded by pro athletes, the Val Skinner Foundation held the No.8 spot on the list surrounded by other distinguished charities of professional athletes including Andre Agassi, Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods.
Val Skinner's peers admire her drive, passion and determination to make a difference. Her energy is contagious. Her humor, despite the seriousness of these causes, is refreshing. Her driven personality is respected. Her passion is genuine. |
