An Iconic Moment for a Meaningful Cause: My Jack Nicklaus Portrait Raises Funds for Chasin A Dream Foundation

There are moments in my career that remind me how my art can be used for a greater purpose than adorning the walls of a collector’s home, corporate office, or sports stadium. My painting of Jack Nicklaus helped create one of those moments. 

On March 13, 2025, Chasin a Dream Foundation held its annual gala at The Pelican Club in Jupiter, Florida. I donated my portrait of Jack Nicklaus at the 17th hole at Pebble Beach to the live auction to support the nonprofit’s incredible cause of providing financial and emotional support to children battling life-threatening illnesses. The piece captures one of the greatest moments in golf history, and it became even more special when the Golden Bear himself autographed the painting at his office in Juno Beach ahead of the auction. 

Why I Chose to Paint This Moment 

During my childhood, my dad was a champion amateur golfer in Missouri, and the sport was a fixture in our household. He idolized Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer, and of course, Jack Nicklaus.  I grew up hearing stories about Jack’s dominance, his impact on the game, and the moments that made him the GOAT of golf.

One of the moments that always stuck with me was his legendary 1-iron tee shot at 17 at Pebble Beach during the 1972 U.S. Open. Jack has called it one of his favorite shots of his career, and as the 50th Anniversary of his U.S. Open victory approached, I knew I had to capture that story on canvas. I unveiled the painting on June 18, 2022 and began to promote it through social media and in shows, having no idea what was ultimately in store for it.

The Moment That Made It Even More Special

My original expectation for the painting was it would find a collector with his or her own personal connection to Jack Nicklaus and that moment in sports history. I hoped for Jack and his family to see it, and maybe even buy it, but I wasn’t holding my breath. Therefore, to find myself hanging out in his office, chatting about my introduction to golf through my dad, and my career as a sports artist was a surreal experience. 

Jack was beyond cool and incredibly gracious, taking the time to inspect and admire my painting, and share the story of 17 at Pebble Beach in his own words. I learned at an early age that golfers at an elite level have photographic memories of their shots, and I couldn’t believe I was hearing Jack’s recollection first hand, even down to the details about the wind and how he adjusted his backswing. Seeing his approval of my work, and how I captured his likeness is something I will never forget. It is also such an honor to have his signature on the same canvas as my own.

The Auction and the Impact

The painting was auctioned off at The Pelican Club by auctioneer Neil Saffer, and it sold to an anonymous art collector and donor. Every dollar from the final sale went to Chasin A Dream Foundation, which raised over $500,000 that night “to ease the burden on families with children battling cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, and other life-threatening illnesses and disabilities, by offering individualized assistance that promotes healing and hope.”

Why This Piece Meant So Much

A painting is my vehicle to tell a story - to capture the emotion, history, and energy of a moment in a way that makes people feel a deeper connection. 

This painting wasn’t just about Jack, but about a part of my childhood, the memories of watching golf with my dad, and the way sports connect people across generations. As an artist and sports fan, it doesn’t get much better than to meet a global icon I have admired my entire life, receive his praise for my painting, and then see it raise money for such an important cause.

I’m grateful to Jack Nicklaus for making this moment so special, to Chasin A Dream Foundation for the life-changing work it does, and to the collector who helped turn this painting into a force for good.

If you’re not familiar with Chasin A Dream, I encourage you to check out the foundation at chasinadream.org and see the incredible impact it is making in our community.