The J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust welcomes Andrew Downs as its Director of Education.
As a former caddie, Platt alumnus and former Board of Trustees member, Downs assumes the role with a deep understanding of the Trust and its mission.
“We are thrilled to have Andrew join our team. Since Andrew is coming from a university background and has strong relationship with the Trust, he will be able to elevate our scholar and education department,” Mark Peterson, the Trust’s Executive Director, said.
Downs previously spent 20 years in higher education, helping students to pursue transformative study abroad experiences. He worked in International Education at Arcadia University, Citizen Diplomacy International, Philadelphia and most recently Temple University.
“I am thrilled to join a team of dedicated individuals all working with the same goal: to provide educational access and support to young men and women working at GAP Member Clubs,” Downs, 44, said. “I am especially proud to be able to give back to the Trust, given the support that I received during my time as a Platt Scholar.”
Downs holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Richmond and a master’s degree in business administration from Arcadia. He and his wife Lisa reside in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia, Pa. and enjoy traveling abroad whenever the opportunity arises.
J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust
The J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust was created in 1958 and is the charitable arm of GAP (Golf Association of Philadelphia). The J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust’s mission is to financially aid and empower qualified caddies and those working in golf operations in the pursuit of higher education. Along with aiding caddies financially, J. Wood Platt’s EMPOWER program strengthens scholarship investment dollars by providing caddies with exceptional benefits and leadership training through access to the wide network of J. Wood Platt donors and alumni. To date, more than 3,700 young men and women have received $25 million in aid from the Trust.
GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The organization’s 340 Member Clubs and 100,000 individual members are spread across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.
