Category: Type

The First Tee of Silicon Valley was pleased to participate in, and support the 11th annual Peter Pabst, S.J Legacy Golf Tournament benefiting Sacred Heart Nativity Schools and Cristo Rey San José Jesuit High School, held on September 24^th, 2018. All of the tournament proceeds go towards helping Sacred Heart Nativity School and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School break the cycle of poverty through education. Sacred Heart operates largely as a tuition-free private school serving low-income youth in San José, and Cristo Rey Jesuit empowers students from underserved communities to be accomplished leaders committed to a lifelong pursuit of learning, faith, and justice. 98% of their funding comes from individual donors and from events like the Peter Pabst Legacy Golf Tournament. The First Tee of Silicon Valley is proud to be a tee sponsor for the tournament and pleased to be a partner with Sacred Heart Nativity School through the delivery of our in-school DRIVE program.

On Tuesday, September 18th, The First Tee of Silicon Valley participated in the Alum Rock Unified District‘s Back to School Night. Over 500 attendees from families across the Alum Rock School District attended the event which included student performances and information on local community service organizations and resources. The First Tee of Silicon Valley set up an informational booth for students, parents, and guardians to find out more about our in-school and after school programs. Students and families were also able to try golf using our DRIVE equipment. “Thank you Alum Rock Unified School District for inviting and including us in your community network,” said Program Manager, Chris Moreno-Hunt. “We are proud to serve their students and be a positive influence in their community.”

On Tuesday, September 18th, Sacred Heart Nativity School implemented The First Tee of Silicon Valley’s DRIVE program for the first time in the 2018/19 school year. Located in San José, Sacred Heart Nativity School provides a transformative tuition-free middle school education to low-income youth. This week over 100 Sacred Heart students will play golf as a part of their PE class and explore how to show respect for others, themselves, and their surroundings through golf. Tuesday marks the first of 18 DRIVE classes taught by the school’s physical educators. “We are excited to partner with Sacred Heart Nativity School,” said Program Manager, Chris Moreno-Hunt. “Golf is not always the most accessible sport, but with DRIVE being delivered at their school, their students can enjoy the sport and learn the intrinsic core values associated with the game at no cost.”

The First Tee of Silicon Valley recently added three new Directors to our Board. Board Directors vote, provide planning, performance, legal and financial oversight and raise sufficient funds to ensure TFTSV’s success. Steve Guerrero, Jr. has over 20 years of business development experience and is currently working at Western Digital in Enterprise Sales. Steve is most proud of his humanitarian work through the non-profit organizations he has been affiliated with including the Role Model Program and Boy Scouts of America SCC. He joined the TFTSV as a Board Director in June 2018. Frank Wilde is a seasoned executive and management consultant with a track record of success in software development, marketing strategy, and customer loyalty; and is currently working in SAP’s Global Center of Excellence division as the Sr. Director. Frank enjoys community service and philanthropy by serving his 24^th year on the Executive Board for Habitat for Humanity San Francisco.  He joined TFTSV in 2017 as an Ambassador and was asked to become a Director in August of 2018. Steve Almassy, Jr. is a retired Partner from EY after an impressive 41-year career and continues to serve as an Industry Global Vice Chair. Steve is an Advisory Board Member for Worldwide Women and SCU Leavey School of Business. He joined TFTSV as a Board Director in August of 2018. In addition to three new Directors, The First Tee of Silicon Valley added one new Ambassador.  TFTSV’s Board Ambassadors give advice, assist with projects, represent the organization in the community at events, help raise funds, and expand TFTSV’s network throughout Silicon Valley and beyond. Reka Mishara specializes in Hands On Technology Program Management, Global Business Operations and is a Transformation Leader. She is currently working in the Center of Excellence division of Silicon Valley Bank Financial Group as the Enterprise Program Management Officer.  She has been very involved at the non-profit PMI and is very passionate about the Women in Leadership Initiative, driving diversity and mentorship. Reka joined TFTSV Board as an Ambassador in August 2018.

The First Tee of Silicon Valley wanted to hear how participants felt about our youth development program through golf so we conducted a survey of the 210 students that attended the 2018 Summer session. We were happy to learn that 92% of the participants said their golf skills improved and 88% said their life skills improved by taking an 8-week session. But more importantly, 94% said they had fun which is why over 55% of our participants progress through the program. Our curriculum is divided into 5 levels where students are learning 10 Golf Skills while applying The First Tee Nine Core Values and the 27 Core Life Lessons. Through this process participants learn to appreciate diversity, resolve conflicts, build confidence and set goals for their future. The First Tee of Silicon Valley believes positive youth development happens through a meaningful, quality relationship between the coach and participant. Mentor coaches are critical to ensuring our participants have an optimum and enjoyable learning environment.  Over 72% of our participants felt their coach “cared about them”. We are always assessing how our participants learn best so we can connect with them at a high level. 58 % said they learn best by doing, 21% by seeing, 13% by hearing which is why we keep our lessons very interactive. We also asked parents a few questions and were happy to learn that 89% said they plan to continue enrolling their child in TFTSV classes and 82% said the environment (making friends, building a community, and creating a sense of belonging) was very good or excellent.

PGA Golf Clinics for Women came to Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club on August 20th. The clinics are led by PGA of America, delivered by Jane Blalock (27-time winner on the LGPA Tour), and presented by MetLife. It was part of a nationwide series of 12 full-day events designed to welcome and empower women to learn more about golf. Their vision is to impact future generations of women to be more successful on and off the course, as well as enhance their personal connection to the game.  96 clinic participants learned golf skills while making social and business connections. They received personalized assessments and instruction from PGA Professionals and LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals including our own local pros and TFTSV Program Instructors Molly Springmann, Collen Henry and Kuniko Tischler. The First Tee of Silicon Valley was pleased to be on-site with an information booth to show our support for empowering women through golf.

95.3 KRTY presented a generous $5,000 donation to The First Tee of Silicon Valley as the beneficiary of the sold-out Justin Moore concert at Clos La Chance Winery on August 20th.  It was an amazing evening as over 700 people sat under the stars to enjoy an intimate music performance. Justin who is a golfer himself and played that morning next door at CordeValle said to the audience, “I am so happy to be a part of this charity night in support of The First Tee of Silicon Valley – they are doing great work teaching kids core values through the game of golf.” A special thanks to KRTY staff: General Manager, Nate Deaton; Sales Manager Tina Ferguson and Promotions Director, Jamie Jackson for supporting us.  Also in attendance was TFTSV Board Director, Ernie Moreno and his wife Stacy along with TFTSV President/CEO, George Maxe and TFTSV Development Director, Judy Dixon (all pictured below).

On August 18th, The First Tee of Silicon Valley hosted our STEM-themed Adult & Junior Tournament at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course. The event commenced with two demonstrations on how STEM is intertwined with golf. Volunteer Coach Alina Feng discussed the reasoning for dimples on a golf ball while Coach Matt and Coach Chris presented kinetic energy, rolling resistance, and how they relate to the speed of a putting green. Seventeen participants were paired with a parent, guardian, or TFTSV staff member in a 9-hole scramble format. Congratulations to all of our participants for competing with honesty, integrity, and sportsmanship. The 2018 TFTSV Adult & Junior Tournament is a valuable event for our students to bond with a mentor or family member in a golf environment. This low-pressure tournament is a great stepping stone for students to learn how to deal with adversity, expectations, and teamwork. We hope these tournaments help our students feel more confident in engaging conversation with others in a tournament setting.

Four participants head to Pebble Beach for PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee The First Tee of Silicon Valley is sending Linette Jun, Calton Kong, Erica Lam & Kelly Yu to compete in the 2018 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee, an official PGA TOUR Champions event to be contested at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California, September 24-30. The tournament, which is hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, will be televised internationally on Golf Channel September 28-30. The PURE Insurance Championship is the only event of its kind in which 81 junior golfers from The First Tee are teamed with 81 PGA TOUR Champions players and 162 amateurs during an official PGA TOUR Champions tournament. Linette Jun, Calton Kong, Erica Lam, and Kelly Yu will be competing for the pro-junior title. They will join 77 other participants from The First Tee chapters, selected by a national panel of judges. The participants, which represent 22 states, were selected based on playing ability and application of the Nine Core Values and life skills learned through their involvement with The First Tee’s programs. “Linette, Calton, Erica and Kelly will be outstanding representatives of The First Tee of Silicon Valley. Each of them embodies the life skills, core values and strong character traits that we teach all of our participants. We were proud to endorse their applications for the event and will be excited to follow their week of activities and play with the pros.” – George Maxe, President & CEO, The First Tee of Silicon Valley

One of 9 teens selected to attend the inaugural program with Annika Sorenstam at Famed Broadmoor Course in Colorado On June 27, 2018 The First Tee^® announced the winners of the inaugural CoBank PEAK Performers contest, a leadership and performance program for top teens from The First Tee across the United States. The nine winners will take part in a four-day, all-expenses-paid golf academy in August at the renowned Broadmoor course in Colorado led by World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam. Sponsored by Denver-based CoBank, the PEAK Performers contest was open to the more than 30,000 teenage participants from The First Tee chapters nationwide. Applicants went through a rigorous and competitive screening process that included a review of their academic and leadership records by a panel of judges, along with playing resumes and essays about their experience at their chapter and the impact The First Tee program has had on their lives.

“I was very excited when I first learned of this news. It is an honor to be selected to attend the CoBank PEAK Performers event on August 21-24, 2018 in Colorado Springs, CO.  The selection committee recognized the positive impact The First Tee of Silicon Valley has had on me; it recognized my commitment to the Nine Core Values in every aspect of my life; it also recognized my giving back to my local chapter of The First Tee as a junior coach and my volunteering through music outreach to our communities in San Francisco Bay Area.  I will take this opportunity to share my own experience at The First Tee of Silicon Valley with the participants from other regions of The First Tee, and treasure the moments when I play golf with World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam, my role model. I greatly appreciate The First Tee of Silicon Valley which always encourages me to perform the best as a person and as a golfer. I will continue doing what I have been doing in The First Tee of Silicon Valley and our communities: contribute my time and efforts to build stronger communities” says Borina Sutitko, The First Tee of Silicon Valley recipient. All nine winners receive a four-day/three-night trip to the Broadmoor Resort to attend the program, which provides participants golf with Annika, tours of Pikes Peak and the U.S. Air Force Academy, and leadership instruction that incorporates The First Tee’s Nine Core Values. During the event, participants will have the opportunity to develop and hone skills to become leaders in their chapters, schools and communities while experiencing championship golf, career exploration and Colorado’s great outdoors with a variety of teens from around the country.

August is the appropriate time to feature one of the The First Tee Nine Healthy Habits*: School. As part of our youth development curriculum, The First Tee of Silicon Valley not only teaches youth how to play golf but we promote healthy, active lifestyles and we stress the emotional and social benefits of golf that can also be incorporated into one’s daily life. School is a place to build healthy relationships by supporting teachers, asking for help and pursuing mentoring opportunities with other students. Our coaches/mentors have our participants specifically discuss and list the different types of relationships that are necessary to have at school. We also ask them to identify ways the support form students and adults in school can contribute to having a healthy heart. Our participants learn that success in school – learning, building relationships and contributing to the school environment – leads to success in other areas of life. The First Tee of Silicon Valley is a safe haven that provides structure, direction and mentorship to many children who never dreamed of playing golf. Our participants are behaving better, are getting better grades and are healthier on the golf course, in the classroom, and in their local communities. Consider registering your child in a class, becoming a volunteer or supporting our non-profit youth development organization. *The First Tee Nine Healthy Habits were created through a collaboration among The First Tee, ANNIKA Foundation and Florida Hospital for Children to promote healthy, active lifestyles for youth.

On Tuesday, August 7th, The First Tee of Silicon Valley participated in the National Night Out event at the Mayfair Community Center. Located in the heart of East San José, NNO is designed to heighten awareness of crime and drug prevention, generate support for local anti-crime efforts, and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police community partnerships. The First Tee of Silicon Valley participants and volunteers set up games for the students to play, and offered registration assistance (including in Spanish) for interested families and students. “Thank you to the Mayfair Community Center for inviting us to their National Night Out.” said Chris Moreno-Hunt, TFTSV Program Manager. “We are proud to serve and offer programing to students in the Alum Rock/East San Jose community. Community engagement is important to us and we are grateful for the opportunity to give back.