The PGA TOUR Champions American Family Insurance Championship raised $2,035,000 in 2025. Since 2016, the Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation has distributed $21.78 million through 1,171 grants to charitable organizations—continuing to make a meaningful impact in our communities. As the championship approaches its 10th tournament, we highlight one of those organizations and the important work they do.
Keeping parks welcoming, accessible and vibrant takes more than public funding alone. That’s where the Madison Parks Foundation comes in, raising private support for programs, amenities and improvements across the city’s nearly 300 parks and open spaces, bringing people together through inclusive opportunities in every neighborhood.
The Madison Parks Foundation (MPF) is the official nonprofit partner of Madison Parks, raising private assistance for efforts tax dollars alone cannot cover. With support from community partners, including the Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation, MPF works alongside the City of Madison Parks Division to fund scholarships and free programming, accessibility upgrades, and community events that help connect people to Madison’s parks year-round.
During the past five years, MPF has raised more than $5 million to support parks citywide, directing 90 cents of every dollar donated to programs to maximize impact.
Parks for All
Guided by its mission, “Parks for All, Forever,” the Madison Parks Foundation invests in projects that remove barriers and expand opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities. Through the Parks for All Fund, MPF supports priorities like mobility-friendly walkways, free and low-cost programming, and scholarships that help more families participate.
“What makes our Parks for All campaign so powerful is its flexibility. Funds can go where the need is greatest, and right now that means supporting life-changing work across the system,” said Stephanie Franklin, president and executive director of the Madison Parks Foundation. “The biggest barriers we tackle are financial and physical. Cost keeps too many families from participating in programs that should be available to everyone, and physical inaccessibility keeps people with disabilities from fully experiencing spaces that belong to all of us. Donated funds go directly to making that a reality.”
Examples of Parks for All initiatives include:
- K.N.O.W. Program: Free, safe and welcoming activities for northside teens, including basketball, mentorship and after-school programming that build skills and foster belonging. Over 12,000 area teens and young kids participate each year in the K.N.O.W. Program.
- Learning Series free events: Year-round, no-cost programs that help residents learn new activities, connect and enjoy Madison parks regardless of income.
- Goodman Pool access scholarships: Support for passes for families in need, free swim lessons and safety resources such as life jackets.
- Accessible parks and playgrounds: Inclusive playgrounds, beach mats at city beaches and accessibility upgrades at sites such as The Glen Golf Park and Goodman Pool.
- Live at The Glen:Free, inclusive music and arts programming that brings community members together in one of Madison’s most scenic parks.
- Expanding dog parks: Support for the development and improvement of public off-leash dog parks, creating safe, welcoming spaces for residents and their dogs.
Community projects
In addition to ongoing initiatives, the Madison Parks Foundation is advancing community projects across Madison. Current efforts include the reimagining of Odana Hills Golf Park; youth-focused recreation built with community partners, like bike parks, skate parks and new multiuse futsal pitches; and expanded learning through the Madison Boats Outdoor Education Fund, which provides scholarships and supports other outdoor education opportunities.
“A recent example that really illustrates this: We’ve been working to expand accessible turnaround and viewing areas at Madison’s beaches,” Franklin said. “These spaces are designed so people who use wheelchairs or have mobility challenges can get to the water’s edge and be part of the experience. That’s not a small thing. For a family that has never been able to do that together, it’s everything.”
AmFam Championship contributions
The 2026 PGA TOUR Champions American Family Insurance Championship marks the event’s 10th tournament. Each year, funds raised through the championship are donated back to the community through the Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation.
“Support from the Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation has made a meaningful and tangible difference in Madison’s parks,” said Franklin. “Funds from the Foundation have gone toward important projects and programs including accessible playground installations ensuring every child, regardless of ability, can play alongside their peers.”
Donations can mean a teenager in Madison gets his or her first job through the K.N.O.W. Program, or a child with a disability has an accessible playground to play alongside friends or an accessible beach experience.
“K.N.O.W. programming exists entirely through philanthropic support, so this kind of investment has an immediate and direct impact on the young people we’re serving,” Franklin said. “We’re deeply grateful for the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to Madison’s parks and for the signal it sends that these spaces, and the communities around them, are worth investing in.
“When a name like Steve Stricker and American Family is behind something, it opens doors and inspires others to give.”
Learn more
For more information about Madison Parks Foundation, visit its website.
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Media contacts:
Janet Masters / Brandon Harrison, Media Relations
[email protected] / [email protected]
608-438-4317 / 608-719-8104
About Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation
Established in 2013 when Steve Stricker became a brand ambassador for American Family Insurance, the mission of the foundation is to inspire and develop strong families and healthy kids so they can pursue their dreams. The foundation supports organizations that produce tangible outcomes that align with this mission. Web: https://amfamchampionship.com/foundation/; X: @StrickerFNDN
About the American Family Insurance Championship
The American Family Insurance Championship was created in 2016 by American Family Insurance, PGA TOUR Champions and PGA TOUR player and Wisconsin native Steve Stricker. Since its inception, the championship and associated events have raised nearly $22 million for the American Family Children’s Hospital and other charities. The 2026 championship will be held June 1-7 at TPC Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin. For more information: Web: www.amfamchampionship.com; Facebook: American Family Insurance Championship; Instagram: @amfamchampionship; TikTok: @AmFamChampionship. #AmFamChamp
