St. Louis, MO - The Golf Foundation of Missouri (GFM) is pleased to announce the awarding of its first ever Larry L. Deskins, Sr. Scholarship to golf camp alumnus, Grant Coleman. The ceremony was held at the Lewis Rice corporate office (600 Washington Ave. Suite 2500, St. Louis, MO 63101) on July 23.
The 2021 graduate of Metro Academic and Classical High School will join the class of 2025 at Loyola University Chicago this fall to study Environmental Science. Speaking about his future degree, Grant told GFM he wants to make an impact in his hometown, St. Louis:
"I want to eliminate food deserts in the poorer socioeconomic areas in St. Louis and improve the quality and availability of food for people who need it... Moreover, I want to work with St. Louis architects and combine efforts to plan towards more sustainable, energy efficient, and fashionable architecture. I also want to work with ecologists and help preserve biodiversity in places in St. Louis and beyond."
Grant had attended the The Golf Foundation's annual summer golf camps when he was younger, where he was introduced to the game and what he says will be a life-long connection to the sport. Grant continues:
"Through golf, I have reconnected with many of my extended family and made new connections through the sport. Not only that, but golf has given me the drive to be competitive and the best I can be, which has helped me academically and in other sports."
The Larry L. Deskins, Sr. Scholarship for Underprivileged Youth was founded in late 2020 to honor the late Larry L. Deskins and to recognize the impact he had on the lives of those around him. The scholarship awards up to $4,000 a year to 1-2 finalists to support alumni campers continue their education in college, trade or vocational schools.
Larry was widely recognized for his work counseling banking institutions, public school districts, business entrepreneurs and more. He was the first African-American to be elevated to partner by a major St. Louis law firm. An avid golfer, Larry was also a GFM board member and served as a mentor to local underprivileged children.
Larry believed in giving back to the community, developing young minds and that education and hard work are the key to success. He mentored and inspired young African American men and women on the importance of these principles and helped them to expand their minds and pursue their dreams—impactful dreams like those of Grant Coleman.
Questions about the scholarship and upcoming award ceremony may be emailed to Board Member Patricia Hernandez (pkt1hernandez@gmail.com).
About the Golf Foundation of Missouri
The Golf Foundation of Missouri is a nonprofit organization founded in 2003 whose mission is to “instill life’s lessons and values in St. Louis City youth through the game of golf.” In the 17 years of existence, The Golf Foundation of Missouri has raised more than $1.3 million, served 18,900 free lunches, offered camp to more than 2,500 youth at no cost to the family, donated more than 210 sets of new clubs to deserving youth, changed the lives of hundreds, and the smiles shared are a million and counting.