DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Foundation announced today a partnership with AXA to help develop the next generation of female leaders through a series of “Women at the Top of their Game” panel discussions during the LPGA Tour's 2017 season.

The first of these five discussions will be held on Tuesday, March 14, during the build-up to the Bank of Hope Founders Cup in Phoenix, Arizona where Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez will be on the panel, along with several AXA executives.

The remaining discussions will take place on the Tuesday evenings of tournament week at the Kia Classic in California, where LPGA player Lizette Salas will be a panel member, at the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout, the LPGA Volvick Championship in Michigan and the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic in Wisconsin.

Each panel discussion will focus on women's leadership and include topics such as overcoming obstacles, the influence of mentors and the significance of career turning points.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with the LPGA and Girls Golf,” said Kathryn Ferrero, Chief Marketing Officer of AXA US. “At AXA, we are committed to empowering women not only to reach their financial goals, but also to grow and develop their careers. The 'Women at the Top of their Game' panel discussions and Leadership Academy educational workshops allow us to further this goal by creating a forum for women to share valuable insight and best practices, and we are proud to be involved in such a wonderful program.”

The LPGA Foundation, through its LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program and its various LPGA Leadership Academies, is committed to empowering, inspiring and transforming the lives of girls and young women through the game of golf.

“We are thrilled to partner with AXA once again to bring the executive panel series, ‘Women at the Top of Their Game’ to five markets in conjunction with the LPGA Tour,” said Nancy Henderson, the LPGA Foundation President.

“Kicking off this series at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup is a natural fit as the tournament’s mission is to celebrate the past while inspiring the future - values which align with AXA’s mission and initiatives which empower women. We are looking forward to including names like Nancy Lopez to our powerful lineup of panelists.”

AXA will also be involved in two of the LPGA Leadership Academies this year – in Phoenix at the ASU Karsten Golf Course from May 22-23 and then in Irving, Texas at Las Colinas Country Club from May 31-June 1.

The LPGA Leadership Academies were introduced in 2015 and use golf as a vehicle to provide a framework for young women to develop their confidence, communication and leadership skills.

The only national initiative of its kind, Girls Golf specializes in providing a “girl-friendly” environment for juniors to learn and play the game of golf.

Jointly administered by the LPGA Foundation and the USGA, the program has grown to nearly 400 sites across the United States with more than 60,000 girls, aged 7-17, participating in its initiatives last year.

More than 40 members of the LPGA and Symetra Tours began their golfing careers by attending a Girls Golf program, including Brittany Lincicome, Cheyenne Woods, Morgan Pressel, Mariah Stackhouse, Vicky Hurst and Kathleen Ekey.

About AXA

“AXA” is a brand name of AXA Equitable Financial Services, LLC and its family of companies, including AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (NY, NY), MONY Life Insurance Company of America (AZ stock company, administrative office: Jersey City, NJ), AXA Advisors, LLC, and AXA Distributors, LLC. In business since 1859, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company is a leading financial protection company and one of the nation’s premier providers of life insurance and annuity products distributed to individuals and business owners through its retail distribution channel, AXA Advisors, LLC (member FINRA, SIPC) and to the financial services market through its wholesale distribution channel, AXA Distributors, LLC (member FINRA, SIPC). GE-124102(03/19)

Find AXA on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. For more information, visit www.axa.com.

About the LPGA

The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950, the association celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 2,300 members representing 30 different countries. With a Vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women’s golf, LPGA Tour Professionals compete across the globe, while dedicated LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management. The Symetra Tour consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Follow the LPGA on its television home, Golf Channel, and on the web via: www.LPGA.com, www.facebook.com/lpga.official, www.twitter.com/lpga, and www.youtube.com/lpgavideo.

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