Category: 2017

Annual Review 2017

2017 Highlights include:

  • Classes: Over 1,100 youth took classes at San Jose, Moffett Field, and Gilroy
  • Outreach: Over 7,000 youth took DRIVE at Alum Rock Elementary, Gilroy & El Toro Youth Centers
  • Impact: Our youth look you in the eye when shaking hands and >85% earned all As or Bs in school
  • Affordability:  25% of participants received full financial aid, low income families pay just $20 for an 8-week class.

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Giving Campaign to Grow Affordable Access!

The First Tee of Silicon Valley is a safe haven that provides structure, direction and mentorship to many children who never dreamed of working on life goals through golf. Thank you for your continued support and realizing our program is a game changer for under-served participants transforming their lives by instilling 9 core values and healthy habits.  84% say our program helps them be a better student in school!

We rely on you to support our mission of providing affordable access to all youth. The First Tee of Silicon Valley is a self-sustaining, local chapter – we receive no national funding from our home office. Your donation, which will be matched again this year, will go towards covering the cost of course access, coaches and golf clubs enabling additional children the opportunity to take advantage of our program.  

Please join us as a year-end giver!

DONATE HERE

Club Partner, La Rinconada CC, Hosts Q4 Board Meeting

The First Tee of Silicon Valley greatly appreciates the hospitality of La Rinconada Country Club for hosting our Q4 Board Meeting. General Manager, Tom Schunn, welcomed our Directors and described the club’s latest news and membership facts. Directors were treated to lunch in a private room for the 3-hour meeting. San Jose County Club and Palo Alto Hills Country Club hosted Board Meetings earlier in 2017.

The First Tee of Silicon Valley Receives 2016 Ace Award

The First Tee of Silicon Valley was one of just ten chapters to receive the 2016 Ace Award for its overall performance. Each year, all of the over 150 chapters in The First Tee Network must comply with about ten requirements and report on about another 20 measures to ensure organizational health. Requirements include active policies to ensure participant safety like background checks and measures include participant retention and progression rates. Matt Sheppard (far right), our Program Manager, proudly accepted the Ace Award for us.

Varsha Attends the Outstanding Participant Leadership Summit

The First Tee Outstanding Participant Leadership Summit, expanded from The Outstanding Participant Award supported by Founding Corporate Partner Shell Oil, recognizes exemplary achievement by a young person currently involved in The First Tee program in the areas of academic achievement, community service, chapter involvement, leadership, essay responses and letters of recommendation. The Outstanding Participant Leadership Summit is an interactive and educational event in which teen participants will have the opportunity to develop and hone skills to become leaders at their chapters, schools and communities. The OPLS was held in Orlando as part of and during the November 2017 Network Meeting of The First Tee.

Varsha was one of just eight finalists from the over 150 chapters who attended the Outstanding Participant Leadership Conference. Each of the finalists spoke about one of The First Tee Nine Core Values to the conference’s 1300 guests who attended the gala dinner. Varsha (wearing red below) spoke on Perseverance immediately following inspirational opening reflections on Responsibility by The First Tee’s Honorary Chair, Former President George W. Bush.

 

 

Family Cheers the 49ers to Victory!

On Sunday, November 12th, the Herrera family enjoyed the 49ers win over the NY Giants. Their tickets were given to The First Tee of Silicon Valley by very generous donors, who asked that they be used as a thank you. All of the Herrera’s have been actively engaged with us — the children as participants and the parents as Saturday morning administrative volunteers. Thanks, Herreras!    

The First Tee Recognizes Outstanding Contributors

The First Tee Recognizes Outstanding Contributors to the Organization During Biennial Network Meeting

Orlando, Fla. (November 13, 2017) – The First Tee recognized many outstanding contributors to the organization during its 20th anniversary Network Meeting in Orlando, Fla. Nov. 8-11.  Founder’s Award recipients included: Johnson & Johnson, The First Tee Legacy Partner; Golf Channel, The First Tee Proud Media Partner; World Golf Hall of Fame member Annika Sorenstam; AJGA; America’s Promise Alliance; Lana Peterson, advocate for The First Tee National School Program; and Wes Butterfield, committee member for The First Tee’s Scholars Program. Victor M. Arrañaga, Jr. from The First Tee of Silicon Valley and Ted May from The First Tee of Connecticut were honored with the Jack Stephens Leadership Award for their outstanding service, leadership and commitment to the organization’s mission. Billy Brent a volunteer with The First Tee of Northwest Florida received the George H.W. Bush/Shell Oil Company “Volunteer of the Year” award for his outstanding volunteerism and contributions. Brent has been an avid volunteer for the chapter for 14 years. The First Tee of Greater New Orleans and The First Tee of Fort Worth were both recognized for their efforts in diversity and inclusion. They were both awarded the Barbara A. Douglas – Dr. William J. Powell Diversity Award for their efforts. New this year is the James W. McGlothlin Community Transformation Award. Three chapters, The First Tee of Greater Houston, The First Tee of Central Coast, and The First Tee of Benton Harbor, were recognized for reshaping their communities for the better through their fulfillment of The First Tee mission. The First Tee 2017 Network Meeting was held at Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate Nov. 8-11. The event included record-setting attendance from The First Tee’s network with more than 1,000 on-site. The event featured several keynote speakers, educational breakouts and best practice-sharing networking sessions. The event concluded on Saturday night, Nov. 11, with a Gala Dinner emceed by Golf Channel personalities Todd Lewis and Lauren Thompson. Concurrent to the meeting was The First Tee Outstanding Participant Leadership Summit, which brought 28 teenage participants in for three days of leadership and character education sessions. At the Gala Dinner, Gerry Jones, Jr. from The First Tee of Hampton Roads and Meghna Mazumdar from The First Tee of Connecticut each received $20,000 scholarships from Shell Oil Company, The First Tee’s Founding Corporate Partner. Six other teenagers each received $2,500 scholarships.

“The First Tee would not be where it is today without many incredible and dedicated leaders serving the organization, chapters and young people in communities,” said Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., chief executive officer of The First Tee. “It is a privilege to recognize these individuals on behalf of The First Tee.”

For more information about The First Tee, visit firsttee.org. About The First Tee The First Tee (firsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. With its home office at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., The First Tee reaches young people on golf courses, in elementary schools and at other youth-serving locations. Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has grown its network to deliver programs in all 50 United States. In 2016, The First Tee brought character education through the game of golf to more than 5.3 million young people. The First Tee’s Founding Partners are LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA. Shell Oil Company is The First Tee’s Founding Corporate Partner and Johnson & Johnson is its Legacy Partner. Former President George W. Bush serves as honorary chair. ** PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST ** Contact: Sara Henika (904) 881-7398 [email protected]

Board President to Receive National Award

Press Release

The First Tee of Silicon Valley Board President Selected to Receive The First Tee’s National Leadership Award  The First Tee of Silicon Valley Board President to receive The First Tee’s 2017 Jack Stephen’s Leadership Award (Silicon Valley, CALIFORNIA, November 6, 2017) – The First Tee of Silicon Valley is proud to announce that Board President, Victor M. Arrañaga, Jr. will receive The First Tee’s national award, The Jack Stephen’s Leadership Award.  This prestigious award is given to an individual or entities who demonstrate service, leadership and commitment to the mission of The First Tee. In addition to Victor’s board leadership, he is also the founder of The First Tee of Silicon Valley.  Under his leadership, which spans from 1999 to present, over 17 years, The First Tee of Silicon Valley has grown and expanded both in East San José and throughout Santa Clara County. Victor’s nomination focused on his tireless advocacy for The First Tee of Silicon Valley, Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course and the youth of East San José, an underserved and largely Latino area of Silicon Valley. His efforts have made The First Tee of Silicon Valley and Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course a point of stability in the lives of thousands of youth. Victor has single-handedly raised over $3M and volunteered over 3,000 hours for The First Tee of Silicon Valley and Eagles since 1999. “Under Victor’s sustained board leadership, The First Tee of Silicon Valley has truly thrived, increasing its impact in so many key areas.” said Kelly Martin, Chief Operating Officer of The First Tee. The Jack Stephens Leadership Award will be presented on Thursday, November 9, 2017, during the first general session of The First Tee’s Network Meeting in Orlando, Florida. “The First Tee of Silicon Valley community is very proud of Victor. He is a larger than life character, who has made it his personal mission to enrich the lives of our youth and community. I truly cannot think of a more ideal individual to receive this prestigious, national award.” said George Maxe, Executive Director of The First Tee of Silicon Valley. “Victor has made such a big impact and positively influenced and inspired so many kids at such an early age through his leadership and passion for the game. We congratulate Victor on such a well-deserved honor.” said John Poch, Executive Director of the San Jose Sports Authority. Victor M. Arrañaga, Jr is currently the Regional Manager of State and Local Government Relations for HP, Inc. and the founding and current Board Chairman for The First Tee of Silicon Valley. Victor’s history with The First Tee of Silicon Valley began in 1999 when he was Board Chairman of the San Jose Sports Authority and helped found the Eagles at Rancho junior golf program. In 2005, he led the effort for Eagles to become a chapter of The First Tee.   About The First Tee of Silicon Valley  The First Tee of Silicon Valley (www.firstteesiliconvalley.org) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit youth development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. With its office in San José, The First Tee of Silicon Valley reaches young people on golf courses, in schools and at other youth-serving locations from East San Jose to Gilroy to East Palo Alto. In 2016, The First Tee of Silicon Valley served over 1,200 participants in its certifying classes, and over 6,000 in its outreach programs. More than 55,000 youth have participated in The First Tee of Silicon Valley’s programs since 2005. George Maxe, [email protected], 408-288-2937 (office) About The First Tee  The First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is located at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida.Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has grown its network to more than 150 chapters to deliver programs in all 50 United States. In 2016, The First Tee brought character education through the game of golf to more than 5.3 million young people. The First Tee’s Founding Partners are LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA. Johnson & Johnson is The First Tee’s Legacy Partner and Southern Company is its Education Patron. Former President George W. Bush serves as honorary chair. Jane Fader, [email protected], 904-940-4330 (office) Sara Henika, [email protected], 904-940-4341 (office)   ###

Thank You, Khristine!

Please join me in thanking Khristine Madayag for her 4 years of dedication and impact to The First Tee of Silicon Valley and our youth. Her last day on our staff was Wednesday, August 30th. Khristine made a huge contribution to our organization’s infrastructure especially in the areas of participant management, program operations, and event coordination. Her shoes will be hard to fill given her many responsibilities and relationships with participants, families, staff and others. We’ll be celebrating Khristine and her contributions at our annual Fiesta on Saturday, November 18th. Thank you, Khristine!  We’ll miss you! — George Maxe, Executive Director  
Dear The First Tee of Silicon Valley Community, I have had the privilege of working for this organization a little over four years. In my time with The First Tee, I have advanced from an Administrative Assistant to Program Coordinator to Operations Manager in such a short time and appreciate the ability to work with all of those associated with this great organization. Each position granted me the opportunity to learn more about the world of youth development, the game of golf, and how non-profit organizations work. My time spent at San Francisco State University concluded with a degree in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (emphasizing in Event Management) and though I continue to grow here, after careful consideration, I have decided to move on to pursue a career with more emphasis on events. My path has led me to meet wonderful participants and their families who help make The First Tee a fun, friendly, and safe environment for youth in Silicon Valley to thrive and be part of. I have made many new friends who have become like family to me. My biggest joy is being able to help participants be part of the program and hear from their families of their personal, social, and educational maturity through their involvement in the program. It’s as if I am watching my younger siblings or family members flourish. Thank you for allowing me to help register your participant for an upcoming class or event, being part of the on boarding process as you became a mentor to assist our program, scheduling you as an Instructor for all the classes you filled ‘yes’ on your availability survey, taking photos of your foursome during our Open or Invitational events, and be part of your weekly golf routine. I have learned so much from being part of The First Tee of Silicon Valley and value all of my experiences and interactions, which I will truly miss. Saturdays will never be the same. Along with my departure, this also means Cruzer (my dog) will no longer be in the office, at various events, or present at Rancho on Saturdays during programming. I greatly appreciate the warmth and love you have given him, as he has been part of our program since 2016. I am sure he will also miss the belly rubs, fetch time, and interactions he has had with everyone. I look forward to crossing paths with everyone in the future and hope to see everyone at the 2017 Family Fiesta. Olé – Khristine Madayag, Operations Manager

View Photos From Our STEM Stomp Event

On Saturday, August 12th, we utilized areas surrounding the clubhouse at Golf Club at Moffett Field to bring our 2017 STEM Stomp event to life. Vendors included representatives from the Computer History Museum, Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative, Main Street Burgers, and Chick-Fil-A, who helped our participants, volunteers, and staff learn how STEM topics relate to golf. Stations included Artifacts Exploration, Water Discovery, Putting, and Raspberry Pi. Thanks to our friends from Main Street Burgers, everyone in attendance enjoyed delicious sliders at the end of the event. We also celebrated and recognized Coach Liam for his time and dedication to The First Tee of Silicon Valley by presenting him a college scholarship for $3,000. These funds were made available by San Jose Country Club and the Dennis Kettman Memorial Tournament. Find photos of this event on our Facebook Page.

See Our Girls Golf Solheim Cup Event Photos

Our Girls Golf members made themselves at home at the PGA TOUR Superstore in East Palo Alto on Saturday, August 19th for a Solheim Cup viewing party. Eighteen of our Girls Golf members came to the store, enjoyed lunch, and took part in different activities to help build a fun-friendly social environment for girls to learn golf. Participants enjoyed making ribbons to wear in support of Team USA, evaluating their swings inside the hitting bays, using the putting green for a match play activity, and learning more about how the Solheim Cup works. Thanks, Coach Ashley and PGA TOUR Superstore, for putting together this great event for our Girls Golf members. The next Girls Golf event is scheduled for the morning of Saturday, November 18th. View pictures of this event on our Facebook Page.

Read about Sahil’s Golf Prep Academy Experience

From July 11th to July 18th, Sahil K. attended the College Golf Prep Academy in West Palm Beach, FL. This week-long academy is intended for advanced players within the chapter network who are pursuing collegiate golf. The academy provides the competitive experience of playing for a college golf team combined with the college experience through rigorous practice and training, tournament play, dorm living, recruiting education and pertinent guest speakers. Participants cultivate and develop the golf skills, life skills and health & wellness aspects associated with competing at a higher level.
Golf in the sunshine state, flights and board paid for, a week of golf on some of the best courses in Florida, with free instruction on all aspects of my golf game, including mental, training, and nutritional? As soon as I saw the opportunity, I knew I wanted it. And within a few weeks, I was fortunate enough to be accepted. From the moment I stepped out into the sunny Orange State, friendly First Tee representatives were waiting for me at the airport, and took my back to the dorms we would be staying at. There, I met many of the coaches who would be guiding me through the next week, as well as some of my future peers in the program. Although the Florida weather wasn’t always what I expected (occasional thunderstorms and pouring rain at unpredictable intervals? I thought Florida weather was perfect!) over the next few days, we played at some of the most beautiful golf courses I had ever seen. The first day was at the Bear’s Club, home to many PGA professionals (some notable ones include Michelle Wie and Tiger Woods). Over the next two days, we had a tournament Seagate Country Club. Next, we played the Palm Beach Par 3 Course (right on the beach) and to finish it off, we played Jupiter Hills Country Club, which is one of the finest courses in Florida. What I enjoyed the most about the program, however, were the opportunities offered off the course. During our stay, we were instructed one of the most famous golf instructors in the country, named David Donatucci, who teaches professionals like Stacie Lewis and Michelle Wie. We also had the chance to travel to the ESPN West Palm Beach headquarters, where we were shown how to conduct a live interview and were “recorded” as if we were doing a broadcast for highlights of a nearby basketball game. Finally, we were given a great team of coaches and supervisors who were always there to answer questions about playing college golf, give us advice on surviving in college, or to help us with anything we needed. But there’s one more thing I learned, and this lesson came from a moment of panic I had before coming. I had spent the first four weeks of my summer (before the College Golf Prep) at a program at MIT, and First Tee Academy would start approximately a day after I returned home to California. At first, I thought I would manage it, but by the end of the MIT program, I began doubting myself. I was tired, I was homesick, and more than anything, I was stressed that I wouldn’t be able to endure being home for a day then flying back to Florida for a week of intense golf after the tiring four weeks. Luckily, the director of the College Golf Prep Academy called me to talk with me one on one about my concerns, and convinced me that I would benefit enormously by attending the program, and that the First Tee would take care of me while I was there. And with her advice, I chose to go. After attending, I learned something huge (message to all you undecided future participants!): going to a new place with people you don’t know is intimidating; no doubt. But by going, you expand your horizons, meet incredible people to network with from around the country, and see the side of The First Tee beyond Silicon Valley. So trust me on this one: take that leap of faith, because you never know where it will take you.
  • Sahil K., Ace Participant