Field Notes

PGA Tour player and Imperial brand ambassador, Keith Mitchell, is known not only for his athletic prowess but also for his commitment to give back to the community. We’re thrilled to announce an exciting partnership between Keith Mitchell, Imperial, Cisco, and Mizuno to bring golf fans a Charity Game Imperial Tour Visor®. This special visor is inspired by the iconic tournament visor that Keith Mitchell wears on Tour and is designed to raise awareness and funds for a cause close to Keith's heart: the Nantz National Alzheimer Center. In our recent interview, Keith shared with us his personal connection to the Nantz National Alzheimer Center, the inspiration behind the Charity Game Imperial Tour Visor®, and how this collaboration came to life. The proceeds from this project will support the center's vital work in Alzheimer's research and patient care, a cause Keith is proud to champion. What is your personal connection to the Nantz National Alzheimer Center? "The Nantz National Alzheimer Center has been an invaluable resource for my family," Keith explained. “They provide state of the art care, and are on the cutting edge of research in fighting the battle against Alzhiemers disease” Keith's connection to the center is rooted in his family’s experience with Alzheimer's disease. "I have had four members of my family affected by Alzheimer's.” he shared. “The Nantz National Alzheimer Center is the leader in its field and has given our family great care and results in fighting the disease.” This firsthand experience has shaped Keith's deep admiration for what the center does. In your experience, how is The Nantz National Alzheimer Center leading the charge in Alzheimer's care? "The center invests in the world's best doctors, researchers, and facilities to fight Alzheimer's, with the desire to detect and beat the disease before its symptoms ever arise. The technology and advancements they have made in the last few years is truly incredible.” Tell us about your idea for The Charity Game Imperial Tour Visor®. In your mind, how is this a symbol of both support and style? “We wanted to give access to our Tour Visor, but do it in a way that positively impacts a cause that means so much to me and my family," Keith said. "This visor represents my on course headwear and our commitment to supporting the Nantz National Alzheimer Center and its mission to help those impacted by Alzheimer’s.” This edition of Charity Game Tour Visor® was inspired by the iconic visor Keith wears on the PGA Tour and is designed to combine style with a powerful message. Featuring Keith's signature look, the visor represents more than just a piece of golf equipment; it serves as a symbol of the fight against Alzheimer's and a call to action for all who wear it. This special visor is made possible through the partnership of four organizations: Keith Mitchell, Imperial, Cisco, and Mizuno. Each partner has come together with a shared vision of supporting Alzheimer’s research and patient care.  "Working with these great partners has been a dream come true.” Keith said. “Imperial’s craftsmanship, Cisco’s foresight in technology, and Mizuno’s focus on performance and design, are companies and values that I am honored to represent,” The visor will be available for purchase and all proceeds will benefit the Nantz National Alzheimer Center. It’s a unique opportunity for golf fans to support Alzheimer's research while showing their love for the game and for a meaningful cause. You’re well known for your personal style, what is your connection with The Imperial Tour Visor®? “My connection to the tour visor runs deep,” he shared, explaining that his love for the style dates back to his childhood, where he was often seen wearing a visor similar to the ones his father wore. “I have old pictures of myself as a kid wearing a visor just like the one I wear on Tour today,” Keith said with a smile. “My dad always wore one, and I as a kid, I always wanted to follow in his footsteps. It became part of my style, and it’s something I’ve kept most of my golf career.” For Keith, the visor is more than just a piece of golf equipment; it's a link to the past when golf to him was the time for father and son bonding. This personal connection adds even more meaning to the Charity Game Tour Visor®, as it carries the essence of tradition, family, and giving back. What advice would you give to someone wanting to get involved with supporting Alzheimer’s disease research and care? “The first edition of Charity Game Tour Visors® is now available for purchase, and by wearing it, you are showing your support by helping the Nantz National Alzheimer Center in its mission to fight Alzheimer's disease. This project is directly supporting the center’s research and patient care programs. We want to make a big difference, and this is just one small way we can do that,” Keith said. “The support from golf fans, our partners, and everyone involved will help the Nantz National Alzheimer Center continue its important work.” Conclusion: A Legacy of Giving Back Keith Mitchell’s partnership with Imperial, Cisco, and Mizuno to support the Nantz National Alzheimer Center through the Charity Game Tour Visor® is a testament to the power of sports in making a positive impact. With his personal connection to the disease and his family’s experience with the center, Keith is using his platform to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s research and care. By purchasing the visor, you're not only supporting Keith's charitable efforts but also contributing to a brighter future for those affected by Alzheimer's. Join us in this important cause and help make a lasting difference in the fight against Alzheimer's disease.

The products featured in Golf Digest’s Father’s Day Gift Guide are hand-picked by the editors each year. This year the new Imperial x Slackertide “crush it” rope hat was their choice of headwear for the feature. Father’s Day is a great way to show the dad in your life how much you care, read the full gift guide here, and shop the full Imperial x Slackertide collection here.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. "Imperial is extremely proud to extend our partnership with the AJGA and remain the 'Official Headwear of the AJGA' through 2026," said David Shaffer, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Imperial. "Growing the game and supporting junior golf are commitments that our Company takes very seriously. As an AJGA alum myself, I have the utmost respect for the AJGA as an organization, the individuals who run it, and the role they play in this important process to maintain the game we all love." As the ‘Official Headwear of the AJGA’ Imperial will continue to distribute hats to all players across our 120 plus events and their qualifiers annually. AJGA staff and interns will also continue to exclusively wear Imperial headwear at all AJGA events. Members of future Wyndham Cup, and PING Junior Solheim Cup teams will also sport Imperial hats as part of their team uniform. AJGA membership will receive a 20% discount, accessed through the Player Center, to purchase products from the expansive Imperial line. Imperial also offers an exclusive AJGA collection of hats, visors, and bucket hats. “We are thrilled to re-sign Imperial as an Official Partner of the AJGA and continue having them as the ‘Official Headwear of the AJGA’ through 2026”, AJGA Chief Business Officer Jason Etzen said. “We look forward to continuing to be amongst the long list of golf industry affiliations of Imperial for years to come.” Members can also expect to see a rebrand of the membership ‘Weekly Preview’ newsletter with Imperial taking over presenting sponsorship of the email platform. The weekly serves to inform the membership of application deadlines amongst other topics to develop the next generation of golf. The AJGA will continue to share unique throwbacks of alumni and noteworthy moments via the ‘Imperial Throwbacks’ platform on @AJGAGolf Instagram and Twitter. Additionally, Imperial will be a major partner of a future invitational in 2022 and 2024.

New York, NY —The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is proud to announce Imperial Headwear as the “Official Headwear” and National Promotional Partner of the NKF Konica Minolta Golf Classic, which to date has raised more than $100 million to promote kidney health and improve the lives of the 37 million Americans affected by kidney disease. NKF Konica Minolta Golf Classic events are held at some of the most prestigious courses across the country providing corporations additional opportunities to partner with customers and colleagues while also supporting corporate social responsibility and a great cause. “We’re so excited that Imperial Headwear is joining us during the 2021 season as the National Promotional Partner for the NKF Konica Minolta Golf Classic tournaments,” said Kevin Longino, CEO, National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant patient. “When you have kidney disease, you’re at an increased risk of developing life-threatening complications from COVID-19 . This incredible partnership comes at a critical time for our kidney community and truly helps us raise awareness and the funds needed to continue advancing kidney health. The partnership between the National Kidney Foundation and Imperial Headwear includes a curated collection of headwear, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting NKF. “Golf has been a great respite for those seeking leisure and exercise for hundreds of years, but never more so than in the past year during the global pandemic,” said David Shaffer, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Imperial. “That’s why we’re so pleased to continue our partnership with the National Kidney Foundation by providing our most popular hats at their golf events held throughout the country. We’re very proud to do our part in helping support patients and families affected by kidney disease, especially during these challenging times,” added Shaffer. Successful since it was founded in 1987, the NKF Konica Minolta Golf Classic is The Premier Amateur Golf Event for Charity. Each year thousands of golfers from across the country participate in nearly 30 local events held at top venues, entertaining clients, and playing for the chance to qualify in the National Finals held at the prestigious Pebble Beach on January 14-17, 2021. Participating golfers raise $3.5 million annually to benefit the National Kidney Foundation and the 37 million Americans affected by kidney disease. The series showcases Konica Minolta as the National Title Sponsor and IAA, Inc as a National Corporate Partner. National Promotional Partners include the Greg Norman Collection and Imperial Headwear. For more information about the NKF Konica Minolta Golf Classic, or to find an upcoming event near you, please visit NKFKonicaMinoltaGolfClassic.com. All golf events will adhere to COVID-19 guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as any state-specific guidelines. Please review NKF’s “Know Before You Go ” for additional information. Kidney Disease Facts In the United States, 37 million adults are estimated to have kidney disease, also called chronic kidney disease (CKD), and approximately 90 percent don’t know they have it. 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. is at risk for kidney disease. Risk factors for kidney disease include: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and family history. People who are Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander are at increased risk for developing the disease. Black or African American people are almost 4 times more likely than Whites to have kidney failure. Hispanic or Latino people are 1.3 times more likely than non-Hispanics or Latinos to have kidney failure. About Imperial Headwear Founded in 1916, Imperial Headwear is the leading manufacturer of premium quality headwear, apparel, and accessories for the golf market. Imperial’s products can be found at 97 of the Top 100 and over 70% of the Top 400 golf courses in the United States. The Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM) has voted Imperial the #1 golf headwear brand for four consecutive years. Imperial is committed to style, functionality, and perfection in fit and comfort. It is this commitment that has allowed the creation of a wide variety of headwear and apparel with quality that is second to none. Renowned for its superior customer service and art customization capabilities, Imperial offers its products using the most innovative fabrics and designs, as well as logo decoration and embellishment technologies. For further information please visit imperial1916.com or call (800) 950-1916. Follow Imperial Headwear on Twitter and Instagram at @ImperialHats and on Facebook at facebook.com/ImperialHeadwear . Imperial Headwear’s 100th Anniversary video can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/179793530 . About National Kidney Foundation The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the largest, most comprehensive, and longstanding patient-centric organization dedicated to the awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney disease in the U.S. For more information about NKF, visit www.kidney.org . Contact: Julie Kimbrough, 212-889-2210, ext. 136 Email: julie.kimbrough@kidney.org Karla Thomas, 212-889-2210, ext. 133 Email: karla.thomas@kidney.org