PING will support First Tee headquarters and local chapters through its donation.
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. and Phoenix, Ariz. – (Jan. 31, 2024) – Youth development organization First Tee is pleased to announce that PING, a premier golf equipment manufacturer, has signed on to support the nonprofit’s ongoing efforts to prepare the next generation for life on and off the golf course.
“We are very pleased to support the First Tee at the Trustee level,” said Stacey Solheim Pauwels, PING Executive Vice President. “Junior golf has always been important to PING and the Solheim family. Golf is a game that can be enjoyed throughout a lifetime and it teaches so many positive character-building lessons. Having the opportunity to play golf in your youth is a great advantage for an individual’s future, both in the game and in business. From a young age, my father and uncle, Allan and John Solheim, encouraged my brothers, cousins and I to play golf and we are forever grateful for the experience and friendships we still maintain from those early years. Over the course of the past decades, we have seen tremendous growth of the First Tee nationally as well as at our Phoenix chapter. We’ve had the opportunity to view first-hand its effective programing, outreach and the outstanding youth it has developed both in the game of golf and beyond. We look forward to playing a part in furthering the mission of the First Tee.”
A portion of PING’s donation will support ongoing education for staff and volunteers from First Tee’s 150 chapters across the globe. First Tee also offers programming at more than 11,000 schools and 2,000 youth centers, as well as national participant events, a college scholarship program and a vast network of alumni.
“We are excited to partner with PING, an organization that is committed to innovation, service and quality,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “The needs of kids and families have evolved over the last 27 years and so has First Tee. We are grateful to PING for supporting our commitment to providing valuable learning experiences to children and teens from all backgrounds.”
With the support of Trustees like PING, First Tee uses golf as a vehicle to instill life skills and values in the kids and teens it serves. Through its character-building curriculum delivered by trained coaches, First Tee aims to prepare children for life, whatever they go on to do.
About PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation
First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization that is supported by the PGA TOUR. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Over more than 25 years, First Tee has reached millions of youth through its network of 150 chapters, 10,000 schools and 1,700 youth centers. Headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA, programs are delivered in all 50 United States and select international locations. President George W. Bush serves as Honorary Chair.
About PING
PING designs, manufactures and markets a complete line of golf equipment including metal woods, irons, wedges, putters and golf bags. The family-owned company was founded in 1959 in the garage of the late Karsten Solheim, a mechanical engineer with an extensive background in the aerospace and computer industries. His frustration with his putting inspired him to design his own putter, which created a “pinging” sound when striking a golf ball. This sound was the source of the name now synonymous with innovation, quality and service throughout the world of golf. Solheim and his company are credited with numerous innovations that became industry standards, including perimeter weighting, custom fitting and the use of investment casting in the manufacturing of golf clubs. His insistence on adhering to strict engineering principles and tight manufacturing tolerances raised the level of product performance and quality throughout the golf industry. Solheim is the only person to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame as a golf club manufacturer. Today, the Phoenix-based company is under the direction of Solheim’s grandson, John K. Solheim, who leads a team of more than 800 dedicated employees committed to helping improve the games of golfers around the world.
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