Golf, real estate and the power of education

It takes time to bring about change. Think about women and the game of golf, for instance. It has taken over a century for women to earn respect and recognition in the sport. In fact, it was only a year ago that the Augusta National Golf Club allowed women to be members. That is why we think it fitting that net proceeds from NEWiRE's Annual Networking Charity Golf Tournament benefits the NEWiRE Educational Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. This year is the 17th year of the tournament and it is being held at Brae Burn Country Club on Monday, September 23rd. Each year, the NEWiRE Education Foundation awards a scholarship to a female student who is pursuing a career in the commercial real estate industry. Ironically, golf is now supporting education to further women in the commercial real estate industry. Ingenious! Established in 2009, the NEWiRE Educational Foundation Scholarship, which began awarding scholarships in 2011, is still fairly new when compared to women's endeavors in golf. However, each scholarship recipient represents a collective step in the right direction. Individual achievements become shared achievements. Just to prove a point, here are some historical highlights of women in golf: * 1867: First women's-only golf organization is formed. * 1893: Issette Miller invents the first golf handicap. * 1950: The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is formed. * 1950: Babe Didrickson-Zaharias becomes the First Lady of Golf * 1978: Nancy Lopez became the first female golfer to earn both Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year honors from the LPGA in the same season. * 1996: Karrie Webb became the first LPGA golfer to earn $1 million in a single season. * 2004: 12 year-old golf prodigy Michelle Wie became the youngest woman to qualify for an LPGA event. * 2007: St. Andrews, the club that started it all, hosted its first women's professional tournament, the Women's British Open. * 2012: Augusta allows first female members. Today, women are the fastest growing segment of new golfers according to the National Golf Foundation, and there are more than 6 million female golfers in the United States. It just goes to show how persistence, drive and ambition do pay off. Whether you are an avid golfer or a beginner, we hope you will participate in the 17th Annual Networking Charity Golf Tournament to benefit the NEWiRE Educational Foundation. For more details or to register, go to www.newire.org. What a great way to support multiple causes at once! Do you know anyone who would make a good candidate for the scholarship? Applications are now available online at www.newire.org. The scholarship, which will be awarded in May 2014, is open to any female student entering her junior or senior year of undergraduate school or entering or enrolled in a graduate program at an accredited college or university based in New England. The student must demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in the commercial real estate industry through her course studies and internships. Remember, education is essential for bringing about change. It raises awareness. It opens our eyes to new possibilities. It shapes the future. Join us on the links in September when golf and real estate come together in one fun event to benefit the NEWiRE Educational Foundation. Erin Walls of CBRE/New England is the 2013-2014 president of the NEWiRE Educational Foundation, Inc., Boston, Mass. To learn more about NEWiRE and upcoming events visit www.newire.org, find us on LinkedIn, or follow us on Twitter @NEWiREBoston.