Morgan Pressel honored for raising more than $11.5 million through her Morgan & Friends
BOCA RATON – When Morgan Pressel was 11, her parents sat the family down at the dinner table and gave Morgan and her two siblings bad news: Their mom, Kathryn, was sick. Really sick. She has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Morgan, who had already become a top young golfer, was confused by the news.
“I was so young, I really didn’t know what it meant and what I should do,” Pressel said.
Eventually, Morgan knew what it meant and what she would do.
Her mother died three years later, fighting her cancer battle long enough to witness Pressel make history by becoming the youngest player (12) to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open. When Morgan turned professional at 17, a year later becoming the youngest (18) to win a major (2007 Kraft Nabisco), she knew it was time to do something tangible to honor her mother.
Pressel started a non-profit foundation, Morgan & Friends, whose mission statement is to fight breast cancer through early diagnosis, genetic counseling, development of new treatments and basic research. So far, Morgan & Friends has raised more than $11.5 million, most of it coming from her annual charity tournament at St. Andrews Country Club in January.
“I didn’t really know what to expect what we would raise,” Pressel said. “But you’d be hard-pressed to find a more charitable, philanthropic group of people than here in South Florida, especially Boca Raton.”
The TimberTech Championship honored their hometown hero to kick off tournament week. Pressel, along with longtime tournament support Christine E. Lynn, were feted at Sunday’s pro-am draw dinner. Then, Pressel served as moderator for Monday’s Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health and Wellness Center Pro-Am presented by ADT.
“We wanted to honor Morgan for everything she has done in this community for women’s health,” said Terry Fedele, a former nurse and hospital executive who is the chairperson for the event. “The hospital always gives her credit and honors her, but this is a community event and I felt it was natural to honor her here.”
Pressel named Lynn as one of her off-course mentors whose help and inspiration enabled her to get the foundation off and running. The TimberTech’s primary beneficiary is the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health and Wellness Center at Boca Raton Regional Hospital.
“I think she’s a wonderful young woman whose mother’s destiny touched her heart,” Lynn said.
Some of $11.5M raised by Morgan & Friends bought portable Mammogram bus
Some of the $11.5 million raised by Morgan & Friends has been used to purchase a portable Mammogram bus to give free mammograms in underprivileged areas. More than 15,000 mammograms have been read.
Pressel, 35, never craved the spotlight. But she has not shied away from paying respects to her mom and her grandfather, Herb, who died this summer after a long illness. Morgan lived with her grandparents after her mother’s death and Herb – who’s son Aaron was a top tennis player – guided Morgan throughout her career.
Little reason why Pressel became emotional Sunday night and Monday during her speeches.
“It’s been 20 years since my mom died and my grandfather passed this summer,” she said. “Some good things have happened this year as well as some bad.”
Pressel knows if she can prevent one woman from having to deal with this insidious disease, all the hard work and tears will be worth it.
“I had someone come up to me last night and say, ‘Thank you for the reminder to get my mammogram. I can’t keep making excuses with everything that life throws at me,’ ” Pressel said. “That one comment made a big difference.”
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She decided to retire from competitive golf in early 2021 to become a commentator for NBC and Golf Channel. She has no regrets.
“I don’t miss golf,” she said. “Doing TV is a fun challenge. There are certain similarities: There’s an adrenaline rush when the red light comes on and you have to come up with something interesting to say.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: TimberTech Championship honors Morgan Pressel for her fight against cancer
