Kroger, Always award 24 scholarships during Cincy LPGA tourney

The Kroger Foundation and Always Brand gathered in Maineville on Wednesday to recognize 24 female college students for their academic, athletic and community achievements, awarding each of them a $2,000 college scholarship.

In its third year, the Game Changers scholarship program supports underrepresented women pursuing degrees in business and liberal arts. It’s open to students in every community Kroger serves nationwide.

The sponsors announced the scholarship winners and honored them with a ceremony on the opening day of the annual LPGA Kroger Queen City Championship, a local golf tournament presented by P&G.

This year, two recipients, Nidhi Patel and Sydney Breeze, took part in a putting clinic led by LPGA golfer Amari Avery. Patel, a resident of Batavia, is studying finance at Xavier University, while Breeze, from Lexington, Kentucky, is pursuing exercise science at Asbury University, where she also plays soccer.

“Through the Game Changers program, we are honored to have supported more than 400 women in pursuit of their academic and professional aspirations, including awarding nearly $100,000 to students since the scholarship program began,” said Kate Meyer, vice president of Kroger Health & Beauty Care. “Together with P&G, we are so proud to empower these female scholars to pursue their dreams.”

A commitment to support the next generation of leaders

Kroger and P&G developed the program as a way to champion women in sports, business and education. The partners’ commitment goes beyond offering scholarships and includes the Queen City Game Changers, a women’s leadership program that aims to speed up women’s advancement into executive leadership roles.

Each of these programs happens in conjunction with the Kroger Queen City Championship. This year’s event is taking place through Sept. 22 at TPC River’s Bend.

The selection committee chose recipients based on an assessment of academic performance, leadership skills, character, community service and school involvement of exceptional women from underrepresented backgrounds with financial need. 

“In our first three years, it’s incredible to see how the impact of the Game Changers program has grown to empower women not only here in Cincinnati, but also across the country,” said Pat Cady, senior VP of P&G Sales.