In partnership with The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the PGA TOUR Superstore makes grants to chapters where the stores do business to empower local youth in the surrounding community. The First Tee – Silicon Valley was the recipient of a generous $15,000 donation in support of the 2020 Classic at Baylands Golf Links. The check was presented by East Palo Alto General Manager, Sandy Davison, on September 26th to participants Isabella and Leonardo at the East Palo Alto location.
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation promotes positive change in peoples’ lives and builds and enhances the communities in which they live. They seek innovative solutions that enable young people, families and communities to achieve results beyond what seems possible today. The PGA TOUR Superstore provides First Tee chapters with equipment donations, tournament sponsorships, training and clinics and customer fund-raising events.
We are very fortunate to receive annual support and are very grateful for our partnership.
Presenting Sponsor SAGA Foundation, 15 additional sponsors and 114 players helped the First Tee – Silicon Valley expand our impact on Mid-Peninsula youth by supporting our inaugural Classic golf tournament. The fundraiser was held at Baylands Golf Links, one of our program locations, on September 21st. It was an amazing day that raised $75K to help our kids become better versions of themselves while enriching the nearby communities of East Palo Alto and Redwood City.
The additional sponsors who made generous donations were: PGA TOUR Superstore, Maris Consulting Group, CourseCo, Wade Financial Advisory, Inc. IBM, Pinnacle Bank, Hallagan Huston Family Foundation, BOLData & Western Digital, Rutan & Tucker, LLP, Audi Palo Alto, Zoom, Bill Powar, Anheuser-Busch, and Reyes Coca Cola Bottling.
The format for the tournament was a 2-Person Best Ball. Low Net First Place Winners were John Bittrolff and Bruce Andreau posting a net score of 60. Low Gross First Place Winners were Bill Ayres and Andrew Bowdish posting a gross score of 67. There was a Closest-to-the-Pins Contest sponsored by Baylands on the 10A short-game hole to kick off the tournament. There were 3 pins and 3 winners: Ryan Janecek, Bill Powar and Ray Robidoux. Golfers also had their shot at the Hole-in-One contest hole for a chance to win a 2020 Q5 sponsored Audi Palo Alto.
We were especially excited to showcase our Baylands Capital Campaign plans which include our proposal to partner with the City of Palo Alto for a 50-year lease beginning 2021. It includes a $4.3M Capital Campaign to underwrite project expenses to raise range nets making the youth area and short game hole safe for First Tee classes as well as to add new nets along Embarcadero Road path and to complete the youth area greens, bunker & tees. This will allow us develop the lives of 1,000 young people every year by providing education programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Contact George Maxe if you would like to learn more.
Our recent college scholarship recipient, Nancy Rivera, would like to personally thank you for the impact you have had on our program. Because of you, we work to actively create a space of belonging for every kid and teen — no matter what walk of life. We provide active learning experiences that develop inner strength, self-confidence and resilience that kids can carry into everything they set out to accomplish.
Congratulations to FTSV alumni, Juan Pablo Roa and Mitchell Fong for receiving the 2020 National Chevron STEM Scholarship. Chevron selected Juan Pablo and Mitchell for their accomplishments in academics, leadership, and community involvement, as well as for majoring in a STEM related field. Each will receive $10,000 total over the next 4 years.
Juan Pablo Roa has been a participant with us since 2011 and volunteered as a junior coach as soon as he was able. He is currently a freshman at UC Berkeley majoring in data science with a focus on sports analytics. As Juan Pablo states, “being awarded with the Chevron STEM Scholarship is a real honor. This award gives me hope to embrace challenges during these challenging times, knowing there are good people that can help make goals and dreams possible. The scholarship has lightened my financial burden and have allowed me to focus more of my energy on studying and pursuing my dream of giving back to the community through my data science work.”
Mitchell has been in our program for 4 years as a participant and 1 year as a volunteer coach. He is entering his first year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he is majoring in engineering. As Mitchell states, “I learned in the First Tee – Silicon Valley that we all need to ask for help and build a go-to team and I am grateful for Chevron extending their hand. With passions for sports, engineering, business, and community, my dream is to become a social entrepreneur to provide underprivilege youth opportunities to pursue athletics. Thank you for believing in my future and for your support.”
The scholarships are named after the First Tee participants who competed in the 2019 Chevron Shoot-Out at the PURE Insurance Championship as a pay-it-forward scholarship. In addition to receiving the scholarship, Chevron will be connected with possible internships and employment opportunities.
As an added part of Juan Pablo’s and Mitchell’s scholarship, they were connected with First Tee – Silicon Valley alum Varsha Nekkanti as a college mentor. Varsha is a junior at UC Berkeley and Ace-certified participant. She spoke with both recipients via Zoom offering advice for how to navigate the new experience of college. She will be available to Juan Pablo and Mitchell throughout their time at UC Berkeley and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Congratulations, Juan Pablo and Mitchell! We are excited for you to begin your journey through college and we wish you all the best!
Meet Leonardo Villegas Luiz, an 8th grade student at Ohlone Middle School in San Jose. He has been in our program since 2018 and is an active participant advancing to the Birdie level. Additionally, he has participated in our STEM classes, Golf Play classes, and in our seasonal tournaments. Most recently he has represented our chapter during a $15,000 check presentation at the PGA TOUR Superstore.
Leonardo’s passion for the sport and for the program is unquestioned. He has a competitive spirt that helps him succeed. Last summer he won a national First Tee contest that required him to submit an essay and drawing about the impact First Tee has had on his life. His award was free tickets for he and his family to attend the US Open at Pebble Beach, a place he loves ever since he attended his first FTSV field trip to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Leonardo says, “the First Tee has changed my life. I used to be really shy and had low self-confidence. After joining I became more respectful, outgoing and responsible. My love of golf has only grown bigger because of the First Tee.”
Leonardo, with the help of his brother and mother attends every First Tee – Silicon Valley season. The classes are better when he is involved as his enthusiasm and drive has a positive effect on his peers and coaches.
We are grateful to have Leonardo as a participant in our program! Go Leonardo!
If you are interested in joining Leonardo and taking a FTSV class? Please visit our Youth Classes Page. Our Winter season will begin December 1st and registration will begin November 4th at 10am.
First Tee of Silicon Valley participant and coach, Borina Sutikto received a $1,000 college scholarship from First Tee trustees, Ed and Lisa Vaughan. Borina applied to play in the PURE Insurance First Tee Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links, but the event was cancelled due to COVID. Accepted participants normally play the world-famous Pebble Beach golf links alongside a Senior PGA Tour in a nationally televised tournament. Borina’s strong golf resume – 2019 JGANC player of the year – made her a top prospect for the cancelled tournament.
Ed and Lisa Vaughan made generous scholarships available to rising senior applicants. Borina will be able to redeem the college scholarship for the school of her choice. She is in the process of applying to schools now and plans on playing golf competitively in college.
Congratulations, Borina!
John Spadafore joined our program as a participant in 2011. He grew through the program and completed Ace (our highest level) in 2014. Since then he graduated from CSU Monterey Bay and majored in Accounting.
John was one of the first two alumni that we ever hired and is a pioneer for future FTSV alumni looking to make the jump from participant to instructor. He has grown to be an instructor who leads by example and facilitates class engagement. As John states, “FTSV has taught me Life Skills that I used to help me get into college. With the Ace classes I was able to learn about different colleges and career paths which led me to go into accounting. As a coach, FTSV continues to impact me through constant exposure to the Life Skills. I get to see players achieve their goals for golf, school, and careers. This helps me with my personal goals in my life and to continue to persevere through my own obstacles.”
John carries himself with humility and confidence. According to Program Director Chris Moreno-Hunt, “John has been an instructor for five years. We trust Coach John to carry out our First Tee mission because he has the experience and because he embodies the Core Values that we espouse. He pays attention to detail and is affable which makes him a great coach and great person to have representing your program.”
We are fortunate to have him be an integral part of our chapter for the last 10 years. He has successfully laid the foundation for future alumni to make the transition to become First Tee instructor.
If you would to learn more about joining our coaching team, click here to get started.
There is still time to join in the fun at the First Tee of Silicon Valley’s inaugural Classic 2-Person Best Ball tournament on Monday, September 21st. Our fundraiser will take place at our class location golf course, Baylands Golf Links in Palo Alto.
Thank you to our generous Presenting Sponsor, SAGA Foundation, and Contributing Sponsors: IBM, Inc., BOLData Technology, Inc. & Western Digital, Hallagan Huston Family Foundation, Wade Financial Services, CourseCo Inc., Pinnacle Bank, and Maris Consulting Group for helping us expand our impact on the Mid-Peninsula as we develop the lives of young people.
Classic Timeline & Activities*
7:30am Registration and Range Opens
8am – 1pm Assigned Tee Times (Net & Gross Flights)
Closest to the Pin & Audi Palo Alto Hole-in-One Contests Plus Raffle
Boxed Lunches at start or turn and beverage stations on course
Post Round Beverage and Boxed Appetizers
*We are working closely with Baylands Golf Links to ensure the tournament will comply with all local government and safety Covid-19 regulations. Carts will be provided as requested, but the course is a very walkable experience. Register Online – Invite your friends and colleagues for a great day of golf and camaraderie!
Please Contact Judy Dixon Deaton for Sponsorships Opportunities or other information (408) 508-4881 or [email protected]
All proceeds benefit the First Tee – Silicon Valley a 501c3 non-profit.
First Tee – Silicon Valley held our summer in-person classes from July 5th through August 8th with 120 participants, 19 coaches and 19 volunteers. Our team worked hard to ensure our policies were in line with county’s safety procedures and all safety policies were followed with consistency. We created safety videos, signs, and adjusted our class procedures. Temperatures were taken, masks and gloves were worn, and coaches and participants maintained physical distance. As a result of everyone’s commitment to safety our summer classes took place with no reported cases of COVID-19! We are grateful to have delivered a fun, safe, and engaging program during these uncertain and difficult times. It took everyone to pull it off.
Each season we survey our participants. Those that completed the survey said, 96% had fun, 94% that they felt part of a group, and 87% said their life skills improved. Even though we had a condensed program our participants and coaches made the best of the situation, learned, and had fun.
We look forward to carrying this momentum into the Fall and offering our first full 8-week season during the COVID era beginning September 8th. Perseverance, as defined in our PLAYer book, is “to keep going no matter what.”
Program Director Chris Moreno-Hunt emphasized, “As long as we have the support of our participants, their families, and our donors we will continue to persevere and deliver programming to the best of our abilities. Our commitment to building character, providing safe and supportive mentoring, and delivering engaging physical activities will remain despite COVID-19.”
We are grateful for the 160 participants (and over 80 plus participants on the waiting list) for choosing to join us this season and choosing to persevere as well. Almost all of our classes filled within the first day of registration. On behalf of our team of coaches, volunteers, and staff we remain committed to serving our community and we thank everyone who is persevering with us.
We have a great team of coaches that make our program possible. To join our team and get involved as a volunteer coach, please visit our Volunteer page.
To learn more about our programs and future seasons please visit our Youth Classes page.
Meet Joshua Jang, a Freshman at Christopher High School (Gilroy). He has been in our program since the Fall of 2016 and has been an active participant advancing to the Ace level, the highest in our program.
In addition to our certifying program, Joshua often takes part in our seasonal opportunities. He has been active in our seasonal tournaments as well as our previous Go Green events where he assisted in planting multiple trees at Gavilan Golf Course. Recently, he has decided to take on the mentor role and has trained to be a volunteer coach for First Tee – Silicon Valley.
“First Tee’s coaches, volunteers, and participants have really inspired me to want to give back to a community that has given me so much. The lessons I have learned through the program are so applicable to my own life, and really showed me how I can make the most of my youth.”
Joshua spends his time golfing and mentoring his younger brothers, Joey and Jesse. He is positive, respectful, and proactive. When in need of help, he takes initiative and reaches out to his coaches for advice. He had a recent conversation with one of his coaches about time management and shortly thereafter built out his Google Calendar that he uses daily for school, chores, and golf. He is ambitious and follows through on advice he is given.
We are fortunate to have him as a participant, and we are excited for him to begin his journey mentoring other participants in our program.
Jack Bachofer joined our volunteer coaching team as a volunteer in the Summer of 2018 and recently became an instructor (employee) in the Spring of 2020. He has been a credentialed middle school math teacher for 11 years and has over 18 years of teaching experience.
Coach Jack has an ability to reach participants in a unique way. The experience he has gained as a middle school teacher helps him connect our core lessons and life skills through story-telling. Students are able to relate to his examples and connect the dots between school experiences and the First Tee core lessons.
Jack gives his full effort to the students and to our program. Since he has been with us, he has committed himself to absorbing our coach resources and to combining our coach philosophy with his teaching tools. In Jack’s words, “FTSV encourages personal growth and responsibility in a FUN way among friends and caring coaches in a sport that can last a lifetime.”
We are lucky to have him on our team as his passion for teaching mixed with his compassion for others makes him a positive role model for not just our participants but for our coaches as well.
If you would to learn more about joining our coaching team, click here to get started.
Golf is a game that builds character. It teaches patience and develops resiliency. It is a game that promotes respect and requires integrity. It is also a game where participants can develop interpersonal skills and enjoy each other’s company. Anyone can play, but visiting a golf course can be confusing.
FTSV built a video designed to help people navigate a golf course and understand the different parts of the facility and how to use them. We want to do our part to help all families and individuals feel comfortable and welcomed at a golf course, and we hope this video helps clarify and simplify.
FTSV is committed to breaking down barriers. We understand that golf has its own vocabulary and can be expensive. In response, we are producing videos like the golf course video above, offering financial assistance for our program, and extending discounts on purchasing golf clubs. Additionally, we are providing enrolled participants a discount card to practice on their own, and offering a Youth On Course membership through our website that makes playing golf more accessible and affordable.
Same Mission, New Look for First Tee — Silicon Valley
Our youth development organization is revitalizing the brand to better serve kids in the world they live in today
First Tee — Silicon Valley is a youth development organization empowering kids to build their strength of character through the game of golf, is updating our brand to better serve kids and address the growing pressures they face.
The brand evolution includes a new logo to be unveiled on September 1st, 2020; which is a metaphor for the growth guidance at the heart of First Tee. The changes include removing “The” from the organization’s name, updated colors and patterns, and a refreshed brand story. First Tee will release a new PSA on Sept. 4, which brings to life the new brand and reignites interest in its mission.
First Tee — Silicon Valley is part of a network of 150 chapters and is undergoing a brand refresh for the first time in the organization’s 23-year history. The brand evolution is grounded in research and insights from key stakeholders and is an updated reflection of First Tee’s promise to help empower kids to build their strength of character.
“First Tee — Silicon Valley has always been about helping kids navigate challenges, and to grow stronger as they move through them,” said CEO & President George Maxe. “We still believe the game of golf is the perfect platform for personal growth. We are excited to bring forward a powerful mission and a modern look and feel to everything we do.”
Since 2005, First Tee — Silicon Valley has been creating experiences that build character to empower kids through a lifetime of new challenges and continuous personal growth. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, First Tee — Silicon Valley creates active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience that kids can carry to everything they do. These character education programs are offered at Rancho del Pueblo, Baylands Golf Links and Gavilan College golf courses and through community outreach at 20 schools and youth organizations.
