LPGA Launches LPGA VendorMatch Program to Advance Supplier Diversity and Inclusion
Partnership with Radius Sports Group will source local and diverse suppliers
for 2023 Cognizant Founders Cup, 2024 Solheim Cup, and LPGA Headquarters
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 1, 2022) –The LPGA has launched a new program to advance inclusion of diverse-owned businesses in procurement opportunities at LPGA Headquarters in Daytona Beach, Fla. and for the following LPGA events:
2023 Cognizant Founders Cup - Upper Montclair C.C., Clifton, NJ (May 11-14, 2023)
2024 Solheim Cup - Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Gainesville, VA (Sept. 2024)
The LPGA has partnered with Radius Sports Group, a sports and sustainability firm, to work with the LPGA to actively recruit minority, women, LGBTQIA+, disabled, veteran and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses to participate in tournament and headquarters sourcing opportunities. Companies can register at https://www.vraconnect.org/vm-landing-page-lpga through August 29, 2022, to potentially interview with the LPGA and larger LPGA vendors for procurement opportunities.
“The LPGA is committed to advancing supplier inclusion within our purchasing operations and Radius Sports Group has demonstrable success in this important business area,” said LPGA Chief Financial Officer Kathy Milthorpe. “Our association was built on the foundation of diversity, equity and inclusion, and the establishment of the LPGA VendorMatch initiative will further our mission by expanding opportunities for diverse suppliers with the LPGA and within golf’s $84 billion industry.”
“The LPGA’s core principle is to ‘Act Like a Founder’. This principle guides every facet of their operations,” said Radius Sports Group President Gina Rizzi. “As a founder myself, I believe the LPGA’s commitment to this program demonstrates the importance of inclusion, diversity, and innovation within the supply chain in order to build a sustainable future. A goal that generally every founder desires.”
LPGA tournaments drive significant entertainment and tourism dollars within host cities and surrounding areas, and the LPGA VendorMatch program will expand this community impact by utilizing local and diverse businesses.
LPGA VendorMatch registration is open through August 29, 2022. Prospective suppliers may apply to provide a variety of goods and services to the LPGA such as food products, catering, florals, signage, labor, professional services and more. A full list and registration information is available at https://cm.lpga.com/diverse-supplier-opportunity.
LPGA VendorMatch program registrants also receive instant access to the broader golf industry, including major governing associations, via the diverse supplier portal and database, VRA Connect, hosted by the Vendor Resources Administration. Utilization of the database is part of the industry’s “Make Golf Your Thing” movement toward greater diversity, equity, and inclusion.
About the LPGA
The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women, with a goal to change the face of golf by making the sport more accessible and inclusive.
Created in 1950 by 13 Founders, the Association celebrates a diverse and storied history. The LPGA Tour competes across the globe, reaching television audiences in more than 220 countries. The Epson Tour, the LPGA’s official qualifying tour, consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. The LPGA also holds a joint-venture collaboration with the Ladies European Tour (LET), increasing playing opportunities for female golfers in Europe. Across the Tours, the LPGA represents players in more than 60 countries.
Additionally, the LPGA Foundation has empowered and supported girls and women since 1991, most notably through LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, the only national program of its kind, which annually engages with nearly 100,000 girls. The LPGA Amateur Golf Association and LPGA Women’s Network provide virtual and in-person connections to female golfers around the world, while LPGA Professionals are educators, business leaders and gamechangers dedicated to growing the game of golf for everyone.
Follow the LPGA on its U.S. television home, Golf Channel, online at www.LPGA.com and on its mobile apps. Join the social conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About Radius Sports Group
Radius Sports Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of ARCUS Marketing Group, LLC., is a sustainability consulting firm based in Reno, Nevada focused on connecting sustainability and sports. It drives environmental, social, and economic impacts through engaging sports franchises, facilities, golf courses, management companies, industry suppliers, and governing bodies, to promote sustainable operations, while positively impacting society and the environment. https://www.radiussportsgroup.com/