In the News

A $2,500 donation by the Des Plaines Community Foundation to the Elk Grove Township food pantry grew to $7,500 because of a double match by Meijer's grocery store. The foundation donated the money during the grocery store's "Simply Give" program in May on a day donations at its Rolling Meadows location were being double matched by Meijer.

The 2018 Meijer LPGA Classic raised $1.1 million for the retailer’s Simply Give hunger-relief program. The week-long tournament this month exceeded the organization’s goal that was set going into the event. The donations will be divided among Meijer’s 239 food pantry partners.

“Why are we going there? Are we getting poor?” I could hear the concern in my daughter’s voice after I told them we were going to Buist Community Assistance Center, our amazing local food pantry, for a tour in a few days. Just as learning practical life skills like cooking is important to their development, I knew that exposing my kids to what it feels like to hit hard times (and the joy of service through volunteering) would be a perfect way to help them grow as people on the first day of summer vacation.

Daniel Gannon says he had never had a hole-in-one before. That changed Wednesday as he made not 1 but 2 aces in the Meijer LPGA Classic Pro-Am playing with Julieta Granada. "I can not even imagine it" Gannon said. "I had a great team was really just able to get some solid contact and a little bit of luck that is what you need out here so I was speechless I didn't even know both went in and it has been a big celebration all 18."

Young golf fans got the chance of a lifetime Tuesday afternoon. The Meijer LPGA Classic Junior Clinic was held at the Egypt Valley Country Club in Ada on June 12. Kids ages 17 and under were invited to participate in the free, two-hour clinic. There were games, activities and group instruction by LPGA professionals and local golf pros.

Meijer employees are sharing a first look inside Grand Rapids’ newest grocery store. The Bridge Street Market will open on the city’s West Side later this year. Store manager Ken Bair recently gave a sneak peek of what shoppers can expect with a Facebook Live tour.

The Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give officials announced Thursday that more than 40 celebrity guests will be participating in Tuesday's Celebrity Pro-Am at Egypt Valley Country Club in Ada. The 2018 lineup includes: Herman Moore, Dhani Jones, Trey Wingo, Mark Schlereth, Heather Mitts, Joe Theismann, Pat Peake, Dean Kolstad, Dan Pohl, Sergei Samsonov, Kevin Miller, Greg Stefan, Darren Banks, Jay Adams, Darren Pang, Danton Cole, Matt Stenginga and Stacey Slobodnik. The full list of celebrities will be available online.

A week out from the Meijer LPGA Classic, crews at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont worked Thursday on getting the course ready to go. They set up stadium seating around the 17th and 18th greens. It seems they allowed the rough there to grow a bit. One of the biggest changes the players will see on the course is at the par-3 fourth. The ladies will use the back tee box behind the Rogue River, adding several yards to the hole and making it a more difficult tee shot with a wood or long iron.

All four past champions, seven of the top 10 on this season's money list and stars like Michelle Wie and Paula Creamer headline the field at next week's Meijer LPGA Classic. The tournament made 141 of the 144-player field official Thursday. There also will be three sponsor's exemptions, with two expected to be given to Michigan State golfers.

The field of 144 is set for next week's Meijer LPGA Classic to be played June 14 through 17 at Blythefield Country Club near Grand Rapids. The field will include two Michigan State players, given special exemptions. Meijer will formally announce on Friday that Sarah Burnham and Allyson Geer will play. Burnham just graduated and just captured the Connecticut Open, her first pro event, winning $4,000. Geer is still active on the MSU team and will be a junior this fall.