Frank Wall, a caddie-scholar from Manufacturers G&CC, has overcome a tremendous amount of personal adversity.
At a mere 19, Frank Wall, a sophomore at West Chester University studying Business Marketing, has faced more hardships than most people do in a lifetime – a disabled mother, an absent father, and a sibling with cancer, to name just a few. And yet Wall has persevered and maintained a positive outlook and solid goals for his future. The people affiliated with the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust are honored to have met him and are happy to, in the immortal words of Woody Platt, help “give him a chance."
How has the Platt Caddie Scholarship helped you achieve your goals and what has it meant to you? Without the Platt Caddie Scholarship, I would not be able to attend the school I am currently attending. I would have gone to a much cheaper school, probably a state school. I feel as though coming from Bucknell has made my medical school application look much better than if I were coming from my state school. Next year, I will be matriculating into medical school (not sure which one yet).
What would you say to a person you met at your club who was thinking about
giving to the Platt Caddie Scholarship?
Thank you for considering a donation. I am currently a Platt Scholar, and I would highly recommend participating in the program in any way possible. I have received both monetary support and career development advice from members of the Trust. I have benefited immensely from other people’s support. I can assure you that if you donate to the trust, you will be aiding a student in starting their dream career as I am. continued ...
The J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust was created in 1958 by the Golf Association of Philadelphia through the efforts of then President Walter A. Schmidt, Leo Fraser, President of the local section of Professional Golfers’ Association of America, and Albert Keeping, Golf Professional at Gulph Mills Golf Club. It was named in honor of Philadelphia’s premier golfer of the era, J. Wood Platt. Not only was Mr. Platt an accomplished player, but he was also the Scholarship’s co-founder and first contributor.
The Scholarship’s mission, which has remained constant since its inception, is to financially aid deserving caddies in their pursuit of higher education. In the last 50 years, more than 3,100 young men and women have received over $13 million in aid. In the 2008-09 academic year, 185 caddies are receiving $690,000 in scholarships.
The Scholarship is also helping to preserve one of the game’s most valued traditions, the caddie. By supporting caddies in their traditional educational pursuits, the Scholarship is also reminding golfers of the important role the caddie has played in the game’s history. In turn, this role is preserved for the game’s future.
