Gregor leaves lasting impact on Platt Trust

By Martin D. Emeno, Jr. 

J. Wood Platt created a scholarship to give them all a chance. Tina Gregor did that and more.

Gregor retired as chairwoman of the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust in December, after serving in that role since 2019. Her tenure as impactful as any in history. Using an inclusive yet direct leadership approach, Gregor’s unrelenting focus on both the organization and the Scholar resulted in a litany of lasting initiatives.

·Developed/defined the EMPOWER Program. The EMPOWER Program recognizes the unique ability of the Platt to make additional, meaningful contributions to scholars, beyond financial assistance. The Program supports scholars in career development and community engagement in a variety of ways, including: fine-tuning résumés, leadership training, mentorship opportunities, internship placement, service projects and more.

·Expanded Platt Scholarship opportunities to include those in Service to Golf (bag room, driving range attendants, cart management, pro shop, etc.) at GAP Member Clubs. This 2023 bylaw change – prior only caddies were eligible for the Scholarship – increased scholars assisted by the Trust to more than 25%.

·Significantly increased endowment contributions, from 20 to 58 named endowments, to secure the future of the Trust. Gregor; Buddy Aiken, Trust Secretary; and Billy Reube, a Platt Alum, created a Women’s Endowment specifically to support female scholars in 2021. There is a record 26 female scholars in 2024-25.

·Formed, in 2023, the J. Wood Platt 1958 Alumni Society, recognizing the strength of the more than 3,200 alumni. Increased the messaging and programming to keep those alums active.

Additionally, Gregor oversaw the Platt-Evans Scholarship relationship; expanded the Trust in actively partnering with other Philadelphia-youth based groups like Snider Youth Hockey & Education and First Tee – Greater Philadelphia; created a yearly service project in which Scholars give back to the community and became a 24/7 Platt cheerleader throughout the region. She also watched the Platt staff expand from one full-time employee to five.

All of this as a barrier breaker. She was the first female Trust Chair since its inception in 1958.

“We are so proud of what we have accomplished, but there is so much more to do,” said Gregor, a longtime Huntingdon Valley Country Club member. “I’m fortunate to serve with so many bright and passionate people. Our collective group of the board and our J. Wood Platt team is so talented, creative and passionate. This allowed us to achieve some lofty goals that at one point seemed out of reach.

“For me, it’s genuinely the fact we have this kind of think tank amongst the group. We moved away from a very simplistic mission of just raising dollars and giving it to kids. So if I’m grateful for anything, it’s the fact that whatever cog I am in the wheel, there are people around me in the room willing to entertain [ideas], willing to explore [ideas], willing to then forge that path and say, ‘Yeah, maybe that makes sense.’”

Greogor’s Platt awakening started organically.

She was an avid golfer who understood the art of the caddie. She was already in the education realm as a Principal and College Counselor at College Pursuit. College Pursuit provides students and their families with an advantage to help manage and simplify the college process.

In 2007, Bill Weihenmayer, a fellow Huntingdon Valley clubmate and former GAP Executive Committee member, facilitated a meeting with Gregor and Platt Board members David Junkin and Jack Endicott, who was soon-to-be named Chair.

“They made an assumption based on my enthusiasm for golf, my work with youth, education and recognized I may be a good fit for the Trust,” said Gregor, 55, of Ambler, Pa. “I went home and spoke to my husband Frank. He said, ‘The Trust is foundational to golf and GAP. If you are interested, you should absolutely do it. It’s you.’”

A husband’s words never more true.

“It has been such an honor for me to serve on the Platt Board under Tina’s leadership,” said Aiken, 58, of Exton, Pa. “She led the meaningful transformation of this tremendous organization, taking it from good to great. She’s an inspirational, humble leader who clearly demonstrated an unwavering commitment to actively improving the lives of our scholars and their families in a genuine and authentic manner. She should be extremely proud of her long list of tangible contributions and the platform set for continued success going forward.”

Gregor joined the Board in 2008. She was the driving force behind Dawn to Dusk, Platt’s largest one-day fundraiser (started in 2010). That event has since become more club based in 2024, but Dawn to Dusk raised more than a $2 million during its existence.

She served as Vice Chair from 2015-18.

When Gregor became Chair, she stated, “My plan is that we continue to think outside of the box in raising money and determining additional ways to support our caddies differently.”

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 Association’s 288 Member Clubs and 75,000 individual members are spread across the Eastern half of Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey and Delaware. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.

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.