Beyond the elite tier of professional golf on display at the Seaview Hotel and Golf Club in Galloway, the annual ShopRite LPGA Classic powered by Wakefern solidified its legacy as a major engine for regional philanthropy. At the tournament’s centerpiece community luncheon, the supermarket cooperative awarded a record-breaking $2 million in charitable grants to 73 organizations across the region.
The $2 million purse distributed to local nonprofits directly matches the $2 million tournament purse awarded to the LPGA players, effectively doubling the economic impact of the event. This past Sunday, Celine Boutier shot a final-round 66 to rally from four strokes back and capture the 2026 tournament title by a single stroke.
“The ShopRite community luncheon is one of the most meaningful parts of our LPGA partnership,” Karen Meleta, chief communications officer for Wakefern Food Corp said. “We are incredibly proud to award a record $2 million to support their work and the countless individuals and families these organizations serve.”
The record-setting block of funding will be disbursed to support local health care initiatives, mental health resources, youth development programs, and food security networks throughout the Northeast.
The ShopRite LPGA Classic is Atlantic City’s largest annual sporting event, drawing thousands of fans to the Jersey Shore for over three decades and generating more than $25 million in annual economic activity for the local region.
Wakefern President Mike Stigers noted that the tournament allows the cooperative to make a tangible impact both on and off the course. Throughout the LPGA week, ShopRite executed a series of specialized hands-on volunteer events alongside its corporate sponsors:
- Special Olympics New Jersey: In tandem with a specialized golf clinic where athletes received instruction from LPGA pros, ShopRite and Wakefern presented Special Olympics New Jersey with a $150,000 donation to fund its year-round sports programming.
- TeamSmile Dental Clinic: Partnering with Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures, a pop-up dental clinic provided free oral health exams, preventative treatments, and nutritional education to nearly 200 local children.
- Bike Build Challenge: Volunteers assembled 50 brand-new bicycles, which were immediately donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City.
- First Tee & Veteran Support: ShopRite awarded higher-education scholarships to 12 high school students through the First Tee youth development program and issued a direct grant to K9s For Warriors to provide service dogs to veterans struggling with PTSD.
As the LPGA Tour’s longest-running title sponsor, ShopRite also expanded its direct support for the female athletes competing in the 144-player field. For the 2026 tournament, the corporate sponsor stepped in to cover complimentary lodging for all competing golfers and continued its “Team ShopRite” initiative, which provides direct financial backing to up-and-coming golfers pursuing their tour dreams.
“Sport has a unique power to create meaningful impact, and the longstanding support from ShopRite and Wakefern plays a vital role in advancing that mission,” Ryan Dever, tournament director said.
