Math in the Mail Takes Home Additional Program Funding From Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational LPGA Tournament

MIDLAND, MICHIGAN – Hundreds of charities teamed up with LPGA players this past week at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational (GLBI) LPGA Tournament to provide support and earn additional program funding. Math in the Mail benefited from several of those opportunities and took home an additional $18,000 to help fund and deliver more free math kits to 3-year-olds in the Great Lakes Bay Region.

Math in the Mail prepares young learners for K-12 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) experiences and careers in the Great Lakes Bay Region of Michigan. Six free kits containing a book, manipulatives, and ideas for play are mailed to qualifying three-year-olds over the course of a year. It is free for families living in Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland or Saginaw counties with household incomes at or below 250% of the federal poverty guideline, and low-cost for others by subscription. The tournament funds awarded will be put towards delivering more free math kits throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region.

Lindsay Bryce, Math in the Mail Coordinator, stated, “An additional $18,000 means 250 more children in the Great Lakes Bay Region can receive Math in the Mail for free! We were lucky enough to win closest to the pin thanks to Dow Ambassador Suzann Pettersen! Then, to turn around and take home the grand prize with tournament winners Jasmine Suwannapura and Cydney Clanton is unbelievable. These donations go to strengthening math skills in young learners throughout the region.”

Dow GLBI funding opportunities included teaming up with tournament winners, volunteering at concessions, a closest to the hole contest, and Cisco’s team spirit award. Participating charities received $4,000 just for teaming up. Monday evening at the Dow Diamond Pairings Event, the Math in the Mail golf ball was hit by Dow Ambassador Suzann Pettersen and landed closest to the hole. This awarded Math in the Mail an additional $3,000. For the tournament, Math in the Mail was paired with the winning team, Jasmine Suwannapura and Cydney Clanton, earning them an additional $11,000. Cisco’s team spirit award has yet to be announced; however, the winning charity will take home $5,000. Many athletes, spectators, and attendees witnessed Math in the Mail’s mascot, Tre the Turtle, making his way around the greens and cheering with fans each day of the week-long event.

Dr. Kathy Stewart, Superintendent of Saginaw Intermediate School District, says, “This is exciting news for families of the Great Lakes Bay Region! Thank you to every volunteer, educator, and supporter for their inspiring service to Math in the Mail and the children served by this innovative program.”

Deb Kadish, Superintendent of Bay Arenac Intermediate School District, says, “I was so pleased that we were chosen initially, and then thrilled on Monday night when we heard about the extra $3,000. To have one of our teams win is unbelievable! It was certainly a great tournament and so much fun to see so many Math in the Mail supporters there from our ISD’s.”

​To enroll in Math in the Mail, families should visit www.mathinthemail.org or call 989-399-7415. To help Tre the Turtle deliver more free math kits, call 989-399-7415.