Notah Begay III was honored with the 2026 Payne Stewart Award during an unexpected moment at an NBC rehearsal for The Open Championship. The award, presented by Southern Company, recognizes a PGA Tour player whose character, sportsmanship, and generosity reflect the legacy of Payne Stewart. Begay, a four-time PGA Tour winner and respected broadcaster, called it the most prestigious community service honor he has received, reflecting on his journey from his upbringing to his impactful career on and off the golf course.

Begay’s dedication to Native American youth shines through his NB3 Foundation, which he established in 2005 inspired by golf’s strong philanthropic culture and his father's community activism. Initially a golf program in Albuquerque, the foundation has grown into a national nonprofit committed to addressing health issues like childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes among Native youth. The NB3 Foundation has invested more than $10 million and positively impacted over 85,000 Native children through fitness, nutrition programs, community initiatives, and health research.

Characterizing golf as a sport deeply rooted in charitable giving, Begay explained how the sport’s commitment to community service influenced his vision for his foundation. He also drew motivation from his father, who founded a Native youth soccer program despite no prior experience, underscoring the importance of using sport and opportunity to give back. Begay stressed the foundation’s principle of evidence-based actions, which was strengthened by partnerships with institutions like Johns Hopkins to ensure impactful and effective programs.

As part of the Payne Stewart Award, Begay received a $500,000 charitable grant from Southern Company. Of this, he allocated $200,000 to the NB3 Foundation and $100,000 to the Albuquerque Community Foundation, supporting local education and healthcare initiatives. Looking ahead, Begay emphasized his goal of ensuring the NB3 Foundation continues to thrive independently, aiming for its long-term sustainability through strategic planning or an endowment, so the impact on Native youth endures well beyond his leadership.