The National Foundation to End Child Abuse and Neglect (EndCAN) Honors LPGA Tour Player Madelene Sagström with Louder Than Silence Award

Denver, CO – The National Foundation to End Child Abuse and Neglect (EndCAN) is honoring Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour Player Madelene Sagström with its Louder Than Silence Award. The award recognizes an individual whose voice uplifts others in order to make the world a better place for individuals impacted by child abuse and neglect. EndCAN became aware of Sagstrom’s story of surviving childhood sexual abuse and the healing that took place after she decided to talk about what happened to her at age 7, in an LPGA Drive On video released in February 2021. In the video and her accompanying first-person essay, Sagström, 28, explained how she first shared her story in March 2016, with her mentor, Robert Karlsson, while preparing for a tournament. In the video, Sagström explains how telling Karlsson about being sexually abused as a child helped her begin healing. 

“We’re all in this together and I am just honored and so overwhelmed with the response I’ve received since going out with the story, my story through the LPGA channels,” Sagström said. “I have heard from so many people that this is the first time they’re telling somebody their story. It’s been an honor for me to be that person for somebody to decide to tell, and I also know for a fact that so many people have decided now to reach out to close ones and just tell them what they have experienced.”

“EndCAN admires the courage shown by Madelene in sharing her story and we commend her for helping others realize they are not alone,” says EndCAN Board Chair and co-founder Dr. Richard Krugman. “Madelene has modeled to millions of people the power of healing in the world after such terrible experiences,” says EndCAN Executive Director and co-founder Lori Poland. EndCAN would like to acknowledge and thank the LPGA for their role in supporting Sagström, helping her tell her story, and creating challenging but impactful conversations on and off the golf course. 

EndCAN will award Sagström with the Louder Than Silence Award at its second annual virtual No Dinner Dinner event on Thursday, April 29 at 6:30 P.M. MDT.

About EndCAN: EndCAN raises awareness of the health, mental health, and physical health impacts of child abuse and neglect. EndCAN’s mission is to end child abuse and neglect in the United States through funding research, investing in innovative child abuse prevention and treatment, and supporting a community of survivors.

### 

Media Contact:

Lyndsay Lack
Communications Manager
EndCAN – The National Foundation to End Child Abuse and Neglect
c: 720.618.6695

lyndsaylack@endcan.org