Debbie Waitkus is passionate about golf – how it positively impacts people personally and professionally. She founded her company Golf for Cause® in 2000 to empower businesswomen through golf and wrote a book entitled Get Your Golf On, which includes contributions from LPGA Co-Founders Marilynn Smith and Shirley Spork. Inspired by their life-long entrepreneurial spirit, Debbie co-founded the Marilynn Smith & Founders’ Legacy Foundation dba Golf It Forward, forwarding their spirit and legacies.

Deborah Grischo is currently employed as a family nurse practitioner and is a cousin to Marilynn Smith. After Marilynn passed in 2019, Deborah helped co-found the Marilynn Smith Founders and Legacy Foundation dba Golf It Forward. Inspired by Marilynn’s passion to provide scholarships to young women planning on playing collegiate golf, Deborah will ensure her legacy continues for many years to come. Deborah chairs the scholarship committee.

Scott Wood is a Senior Director with the LPGA. In 2015 Scott joined the LPGA as Tournament Director of the iconic LPGA Cognizant Founders Cup, the event created to honor the 13 Founders of the LPGA . He quickly formed a friendship with Marilynn and Shirley which afforded an opportunity for both of his young daughters to hear first hand stories of their adventures. Scott embraces each opportunity to engage in ways to build a brighter future his daughters and for young girls everywhere.

Ryan Alexander is the great nephew of Marilynn Smith and is honored to be part of carrying on her legacy through the Marilynn Smith & Founders’ Legacy Foundation Dba Golf It Forward. He lives and works in Houston, TX as a commodity risk advisor for upstream natural resource producers. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his young family and playing a casual round of golf with friends

Cindy Jones is a Financial Advisor at Edward Jones. She has a passion for helping people achieve their financial goals and the opportunity to help provide young women with money for college is a step in that direction. Her ability to develop strong relationships with her clients carries over into her work with the PEARLS. Cindy feels blessed to have the opportunity to have found her professional calling at Edward Jones and philanthropic opportunity to Golf It Forward.

Tracy Hupko is the Executive Director of the I GOT THIS Foundation. Tracy previously worked for the LPGA Cognizant Founders Cup for seven years where she had the opportunity to become friends with Shirley and Marilynn. Of the many lessons handed down to her by both of these women, it was their desire to leave the game better than they found it that drives Tracy’s passion for the foundation.

Deb Knowles recently retired from a career in the Financial Services Industry. Her professional career experience ranged from Retail Brokerage, Global Financial Service Consulting, and Executive Management. Deb was introduced to the Marilynn Smith Foundation by her friend and golf coach LPGA Founder Shirley Spork. She is grateful to be a part of creating greater good through scholarships for young women aspiring a career in golf.

Jamie Leno Zimron, LPGA Teaching Professional and “The Golf Sensei,” is the creator of holistic KiAi Golf instruction and a co-founder of the Marilynn Smith and Founders’ Legacy Foundation dba Golf It Forward. A junior champion in the 1960s, she has never forgotten getting to shake Founder Patty Berg’s hand, watch Mickey Wright and Kathy Whitworth, and play on Pioneer Donna Caponi’s Pro Am team. She loves helping to expand opportunities for girls and women in golf, and to move the world forward through the ever-vibrant legacies of Marilynn Smith, Shirley Spork, and all the LPGA Founders.

Jane Spicer is the CEO of Daphne’s Headcovers. Jane proudly sits on the Marilynn Smith Foundation as she admires the female founders and the road they paved for female golfers and entrepreneurs. Ms. Spicer was deeply inspired by their work, courage and tenacity and hopes to continue their legacy by providing scholarships and paving the way for females in the future.

Michele Alexander is the niece of Marilynn Smith. Though not active in the world of golf, she traveled with Marilynn to various tournaments in the 70's and grew up watching and celebrating the career and legacy of her aunt. She is thrilled to be a part of furthering Marilynn’s legacy, as well as the other founders, in the years ahead.

Nan Ryan retired after 50 years of successfully running the International Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships, a tournament she founded in 1973. In the early 1950s, Nan traveled with Marilynn Smith for three months giving clinics and exhibitions in Texas and Louisiana, and was a long-time friend of Marilynn. A Life Member of the LPGA, she runs the Nan Ryan Invitational, a tournament which benefits the Estes Park, CO, Junior Golf Program. At 89 years old she continues to play 4-5 times a week. She is excited to be able to be involved with Golf It Forward and the Marilynn Smith Foundation.

Emily Schimbeno is a 2016 recipient of the Marilynn Smith Scholarship and is the first of the PEARLS to serve on the Golf It Forward board. She works full time as a Senior Quality Engineer while also taking her LPGA T&CP classes. Last year, Emily was selected to attend the 2023 Founders Cup in honor of Marilynn and represent scholarship winners of the past and those yet to come. Emily believes joining the board is an opportunity to give back and grow the game.