Category: Blog
Having Fun and Staying Positive are Key to Taking on New Experiences
Kids and teens take on new experiences every day – at school, at home and during extra-curricular activities – it’s part of growing up. As youth expand their horizons and experience new things, some lessons will come easy and others will be hard. It’s how we react that matters. Here are three tips to inspire you:
Be Patient
Patience means staying calm while you wait, success comes with practice and experience. Patience means giving yourself lots of chances to succeed by trying again and again.
Be Positive
Enjoy what you are doing regardless of the outcome. A positive attitude will not only make you feel better, it will help you DO better. When situations get difficult, rather than get upset, focus on what went right. Then, figure out what you could do better next time. If you have a good attitude and stay positive, it will help you enjoy what you are doing.
Ask for Help
It’s OK to ask for help; it’s how you learn. You should always feel comfortable asking your teachers, coaches and friends for help. Asking for help from others is a much better option than struggling alone. Any challenges you face can be made easier if you tackle them together.
If you can follow these practices these tips, any new experience can turn into a positive one.
Character Building Programs for Kids
Empowering kids and teens through a lifetime of new experiences is at the heart of First Tee. With programs in all 50 states and select international locations, First Tee provides active learning experiences for youth that help build their inner strength, self-confidence and resilience. First Tee impacts more than 3.6 million youth each year, helping to strengthen their character through the game of golf.
USGA Continues Grow-the-Game Investment by Awarding 25 Chapter Grants to Celebrate First Tee’s 25th Anniversary
USGA and First Tee continue to expand inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility efforts at the local level with IDEA Grants
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. and PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 13, 2022) — Commemorating a 25-year partnership with a focus on growing the game, the USGA has continued its investment in First Tee by awarding IDEA grants to 25 chapters across America.
The USGA’s IDEA Grant Program delivers direct funding to community-based programs that break down barriers to participation in golf and First Tee’s character-building programs, improving pathways to inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility. In 2022, 25 chapters — from Massachusetts to California — were awarded up to $25,000 each to provide transportation, hire diverse coaches, train volunteers and build programs in diverse communities, among other activities.
Totaling $325,000 in 2022, the USGA’s investment in First Tee is the latest demonstration of its long-standing commitment to ensuring recreational golf continues to thrive. What started as a $3 million, three-year commitment by the USGA as a founding partner in 1997 has helped underpin First Tee’s ability to reach more than 2 million youth annually.
“This year’s IDEA grants are the latest milestone that reflect significant progress made to date in partnership with First Tee,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA. “The best way to introduce youth to the game is by meeting them where they are in their communities, and we are going to continue to drive resources toward the local level to ensure a more accessible and inclusive game for generations to come.”
First Tee was founded in 1997 through the leadership of five golf organizations, aimed at making golf more affordable and accessible in the United States through a national grassroots program. As the first programs were being developed, First Tee began an intentional effort to seamlessly integrate the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, creating learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience that kids can carry to everything they do. Many alumni continue to play and work in the game, inspiring the next generation.
As part of more than 25 years of substantial growth that led to the establishment of 150 First Tee chapters with more than 1,400 program locations in communities across America, the USGA’s targeted support has helped First Tee drive greater equity among underrepresented youth to access golf. The IDEA grants, launched in 2021, fund innovative initiatives for golfers with disabilities, those in Spanish-speaking communities, Indigenous people and at-risk students, among others.
First Tee is focused on increasing diverse participation year over year through many strategies, including hiring and training diverse coaches and implementing the First Tee School Program in Title 1 schools. The efforts are contributing to the diversification of the sport: Since 1997, there has been a 25 percent increase in non-Caucasian golfers, many of whom entered the game through First Tee.
The 2022 grant recipients include:
- First Tee — Four Corners, located in southwest Colorado and northwest New Mexico, primarily serves at-risk Native American and Latino youth through programs at Aztec Boys & Girls Club, Sycamore Park Community Center and local elementary schools. The USGA’s IDEA grant funding helps the chapter subsidize green fees, cover curriculum costs and financially support Native American youth participating in junior tournaments.
- The expansion of First Tee — Greater Charleston’s Game Changers program provides mentoring, STEM and character education, safe spaces, transportation, meals and enrichment activities for students starting in sixth grade and guiding them through high school graduation. The chapter offers programming five days a week during the summer months and every Saturday during the school year with support from the USGA’s IDEA grant funding.
- Increased opportunities for adaptive youth golfers have been made possible at First Tee — Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The USGA’s IDEA grant has allowed the chapter to add programming for teens and children with autism, partner with Special Olympics of Hamilton County, host programming for kids with life-threatening and chronic health challenges and provide transportation to Reeves Golf Course for an eight-week life skills course.
- A two-time IDEA grant recipient, First Tee — Greater Pasadena hosts clinics for the Latina Golf Association while the USGA’s IDEA grant helps cover course and coaching fees for the events tailored toward Hispanic women who have never touched a golf club.
- The all-female leadership team at First Tee — Hampton Roads works to increase access to golf for young people of diverse cognitive and physical abilities by partnering with the Special Olympics to host multiple adaptive events and provide members of the adaptive community with access to chapter facilities free of charge.
- Eighty-six percent of First Tee — Monterey County participants are Latino, and a partnership with Valley Heath allows the chapter to provide programming to underserved individuals without health care. With support from the USGA’s IDEA grant, this chapter can create golf and life skills classes for Special Kids Connect while expanding its overall ADA accommodations.
- First Tee — Pittsburgh provides life skills and youth development through a work preparedness program, adaptive golf for special-needs students in the South Fayette School District and community partnerships with Pittsburgh Police Department and Allegheny Youth Development. These initiatives are supported by IDEA grant funding, which covers transportation costs and the purchase of a van to transport youth to year-round sessions.
Since 1997, the USGA has invested more than $33 million in junior programs, including First Tee; LPGA-USGA Girls Golf; Drive, Chip & Putt; and the AJGA as part of a long-standing organizational commitment to advancing the game of golf with exposure beginning at the junior level. Introducing golf at a young age has proven to be a critical tactic in reducing barriers of entry to welcome greater diversity to the game. More than one-quarter of today’s 3.1 million junior golfers are non-Caucasian compared with 6 percent of youth more than 20 years ago.
In addition to its initial $3 million starter investment in 1997, the USGA immediately began to deliver sizable grants to build First Tee programs in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Kansas, Alabama, Arkansas and many other communities.
IDEA Grant applications were open to all First Tee chapters affiliated with one of the USGA’s 58 Allied Golf Associations (AGAs). Located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, AGAs serve millions of golfers at the recreational level by increasing engagement and participation and improving the golfer experience.
2022 USGA IDEA Grant Recipients:
| First Tee — Central Mississippi | First Tee — Greater Philadelphia (Pa.) |
| First Tee — Cleveland (Ohio) | First Tee — Greater Portland (Ore.) |
| First Tee — Coastal Carolinas | First Tee — Hampton Roads (Va.) |
| First Tee — Connecticut | First Tee — Indiana |
| First Tee — Greater Dallas (Texas) | First Tee — Massachusetts |
| First Tee — Denver (Colo.) | First Tee — Metropolitan New York |
| First Tee — Fort Worth (Texas) | First Tee — Monterey County (Calif.) |
| First Tee — Four Corners (N.M., Colo.) | First Tee — Pittsburgh (Pa.) |
| First Tee — Greater Charleston (S.C.) | First Tee — Sandhills (N.C.) |
| First Tee — Greater Chicago (Ill.) | First Tee — South Dakota |
| First Tee — Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky | First Tee — South Puget Sound (Wash.) |
| First Tee — Greater Pasadena (Calif.) | First Tee — Southern Colorado |
| First Tee — West Michigan |
Bryson Hughes, First Tee – North Florida and Megan Meng, First Tee – Greater Trenton win Pro-Junior Titles at PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach
Three First Tee teens ace holes 5, 7 and 17 at the iconic course
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (Sept. 25, 2022) – Seventy-eight First Tee teens from across the country had the opportunity to learn from the game’s legends and explore possibilities in golf and beyond during the PURE Insurance Championship impacting First Tee, an official PGA TOUR Champions event, which concluded today at Pebble Beach.
Bryson Hughes representing First Tee – North Florida and paired with Alex Cejka, and Megan Meng representing First Tee – Greater Trenton and paired with Charlie Wi, claimed the male and female Pro-Junior titles today, respectively. Hughes and Cejka finished 18-under and won in a scorecard playoff, while Meng and Wi capped off the event 22-under.
The PURE Insurance Championship, in its 19th year, brings 78 teens from First Tee chapters nationwide to Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Throughout the week the teens apply character strengths to play at an elite level at an iconic golf course where they are paired with and mentored by a PGA TOUR Champions player and amateurs from the business world. The annual event, hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, was televised internationally on Golf Channel.
Three teens in the field made holes-in-one at Pebble Beach during their tournament practice rounds – Cooper Groshart from San Louis Obispo, Calif. on #7 (video), Theresa Shaw from Auburn, Calif. on #17 (video) and Sophia Bardunias from San Ramon, Calif. on #5 (video).
“We are proud of all the teens who played with confidence and composure this week at the PURE Insurance Championship,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “These young people exemplify the character and values we instill through the First Tee programs every day. A special congratulations to Bryson and Megan for winning the Pro-Junior titles. Thank you to our partners – PURE Insurance, PGA TOUR Champions, Chevron, Monterey Peninsula Foundation and Golf Channel – for making this a special week for 78 First Tee participants.”
Hughes is a 15-year-old sophomore at Creekside High School in St. Johns Country, Fla. where he holds a 3.8 GPA. He has been involved with First Tee – North Florida for nine years and playing in this tournament has been a goal since he first watched it on TV as a six-year-old. Hughes holds a +2.3 handicap and is the No. 1 player on the golf team at Creekside High School.
“Thanks to PURE Insurance and First Tee for an amazing experience,” said Hughes. “Pebble Beach is golf heaven and it feels great to get a win at such a cool course. I’ve tried to make the most of this week by focusing on what I could learn from Alex and all the pros in the field. My biggest takeaway is how well they handle themselves during high-pressure situations.”
Meng is a 16-year-old junior at Hopewell Valley Central High School in Pennington, NJ where she holds a 4.5 GPA. She’s been involved with First Tee – Greater Trenton for nine years and has progressed from participant to volunteer junior coach mentoring the younger participants in the program. Meng holds a +2.3 handicap and aspires to play collegiate golf. She was named 2022 NJ.com Golfer of the Year.
“I’ve worked really hard to get to this moment,” said Meng. “But the biggest thing I’ve learned this week is that golf is meant to be fun. I’ve had a really great time and I’ve made memories I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. I’d like to thank my pro Charlie, PURE Insurance and First Tee for this opportunity.
During the week, First Tee partners PURE Insurance and Chevron both hosted events to celebrate their commitment to First Tee’s mission and raise additional funds to support the First Tee College Scholarship Program. Leaders from PURE Insurance extended a surprise invitation to the scholarship program to 17-year-old Isabelle Junio, a high school senior from First Tee – Phoenix. The program pairs Scholars with a mentor and provides professional development workshops and financial assistance throughout the college experience.
First Tee is a youth development organization that teaches life skills and helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf. The PURE Insurance Championship is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee Headquarters to encourage and motivate participants as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities.
To access photos from the event, visit here. For more information on the tournament, visit PUREInsuranceChampionship.com. To learn more about First Tee and see the full field list, visit TheFirstTee.org.
***
About PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation (“First Tee”)
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. In 2022, First Tee celebrates its 25th anniversary and reaching 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 Monterey Peninsula Foundation
Monterey Peninsula Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization which donates funds from the proceeds of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the PGA TOUR and the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting the First Tee, a PGA TOUR Champions tournament. The Foundation focuses on improving the quality of life in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties.
www.pureinsurancechampionship.com
About PURE Insurance
Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE) Insurance is a property and casualty insurance company designed exclusively for successful, responsible families. We opened for business more than 15 years ago with the goal of offering something different in the insurance space: a company focused on doing what’s right for our membership (policyholders), one that promotes transparency and alignment of interests, and delivers greater value.
Today, after growing at least 15% in each year since we began, we are the most awarded insurer in our category, offer coverage in all 50 states that includes high value homeowners, automobile, collections, watercraft, personal excess liability, fraud & cyber and flood to a membership of more than 100,000 individuals and families.
Pureinsurance.com | 888.813.7873
About PGA TOUR Champions
PGA TOUR Champions is a membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older, including 34 members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The Tour’s mission is to provide financial opportunities for its players, entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back and generate significant charitable and economic impact in tournament communities. Follow PGA TOUR Champions online at PGATOUR.com, at facebook.com/PGATOURChampions, on Twitter @ChampionsTour and on Instagram @pgatourchampions.
All events are televised in the United States, with most receiving complete coverage on Golf Channel, the exclusive cable-television partner of PGA TOUR Champions. Tournament programming is available via 25+ TV linear partners in 145+ countries and territories, with 25 channels carrying long-form and/or highlights coverage, and 200+ hours of live coverage distributed in 135+ countries and territories. Programming is also available via the OTT platform GOLFTV powered by PGA TOUR in every market outside of the United States, excluding China and Korea, with live coverage distributed in 130+ countries and territories.
Participant BJ Little shares love of golf: “I want that to be a piece of my legacy”
With a perfect 4.0 GPA and student government experience under his belt, BJ Little wants to change the world. He aims to become a criminal defense attorney, U.S. Senator and eventually, President of the United States.
But first, BJ is focused on serving his community. Starting with his high school.
When BJ entered his freshman year at Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School there was no golf team. BJ wasn’t going to sit idly by, he was determined to form a team.
“In my freshman year, the very first thing I did was ask for the school to start a golf team,” says BJ. “The school went through all of the necessary preparations for the golf team to start, but then Covid happened.”
For BJ, and most of the country, school was now virtual for the next year and half, halting all chances for the team.
But BJ says the pandemic did not discourage him from achieving his goal.
“Going into my junior year I went in with the same mindset I had freshman year. I asked the school for a golf team, and they delivered.”
BJ helped by recruiting players and finding a practice facility. Leveraging his go-to team, a concept taught and encouraged at First Tee, he smartly enlisted help from his coach and director of golf operations at First Tee – Metro Atlanta Jeff Dunovant. They worked out a plan that the school could use the chapter’s facilities while BJ secured players for the team.
In 2021, the team officially launched. But there was still much work to do.
“BJ was the only player on the team who was not a beginner, so the practices would consist of BJ and I teaching the new players,” says Dunovant.
And for BJ, that’s what it’s what this is all about.
“In all honesty I just want people to have fun. The State and District titles will come with time. But ensuring students are happy and want to learn about golf is the most important thing to me. I hope that when I graduate Cristo Rey, students will still be playing golf. I want that to be a piece of my legacy to the school.”
BJ is one of 78 First Tee participants teeing off this Friday at the PURE Insurance Championship. The tournament pairs First Tee teens with PGA TOUR Champions players providing life-changing mentoring opportunities for the teens. This experience opens the participants’ eyes to the possibilities in golf and beyond as they are contemplating their future education and careers.
The tournament airs on Golf Channel.
PURE Insurance Surprises First Tee Participant with Scholarship at the 2022 PURE Insurance Championship
PURE Insurance Grows Its Support of First Tee with a Commitment for $1M to the First Tee College Scholarship Program
PEBBLE BEACH, CALI., Sept. 22, 2022 – First Tee®, a youth development organization that helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf, announced Isabelle Junio as a First Tee Scholar for the Class of 2023, thanks to the support of PURE Insurance.
PURE Insurance has served as title sponsor of the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee since 2017. Since coming on board as title sponsor, PURE has continued to deepen its relationship with First Tee, most recently with their support of First Tee College Scholarship Program through a commitment of $1M over five years.
Leaders from PURE Insurance extended a surprise invitation to the scholarship program to 17-year-old Isabelle Junio, a high school senior from First Tee – Phoenix, yesterday at the PURE Insurance Championship. Junio is a senior at Millennium High School with a GPA of 4.58. She volunteers for the Agua Fria Fine Arts Festival and aspires to become an engineer.
“Our admiration for and support of this incredible organization continues to grow,” said Katherine Richardson, EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer at PURE Insurance and Head of PURE Foundation. “It’s particularly gratifying to know that we can impact the remarkable young men and women of First Tee, like Isabelle, in such a powerful way.”
The surprise happened during a private fundraising event hosted by PURE and benefiting the First Tee College Scholarship program.
Earlier this year, First Tee announced the Class of 2022 First Tee Scholars. With 25 Scholars, it’s the largest to date and includes Jacob Zakaria who was surprised by PURE at the 2021 PURE Insurance Championship.
Junio, Zakaria and all the scholars in the program are paired with dedicated, trained adult mentors who will help encourage them throughout their college experience, including virtual and in-person meetups. In addition, the scholars have access to professional development workshops, financial assistance, and help securing internships and job placement. PURE Insurance employees will serve as mentors and the company will contribute to professional development and educational sessions, sharing industry knowledge and expertise with the scholars, as well as offer internship opportunities.
“Pursuing a college degree is both competitive and challenging for today’s graduating high school students,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “We’re grateful for PURE Insurance’s commitment to our mission through the PURE Insurance Championship, and now through the First Tee College Scholarship Program. This meaningful partnership will allow us to support more First Tee alumni through their college experience with the support of PURE Insurance and its dedicated employees.”
With the support of PURE Insurance and other generous donors, First Tee will expand the Scholarship Program to more than 200 Scholars by 2030. To learn more about First Tee, please visit https://firsttee.org/.
Overcoming Obstacles: First Tee Teen Going to Pebble Beach
Isabella Lohr was in for a big surprise earlier this year.
She met PGA TOUR player and First Tee alum Austin Smotherman during the AT&T Byron Nelson in May, where he told the 17-year-old from First Tee – Dallas that she was selected to play in the 2022 PURE Insurance Championship.
Isabella is one of 78 First Tee participants who will tee off at Pebble Beach during the tournament, which will take place Sept. 23-25, 2022 and airs on Golf Channel.
“It’s the greatest honor anyone could receive, playing at Pebble Beach,” she said.
The welcome news came after a tough time for Isabella. She lost her childhood friend Dylan Dorrell on August 13, 2020, at the age of 17. He collapsed at a cross country practice and died at the hospital from an undetected heart condition. She says it’s the hardest experience she’s had to overcome.
“Grief was an obstacle I was not ready to face in life. It was a tremendous loss for me personally as every fond memory I had as a child included him.”
Shortly after Dylan’s passing, his parents created a foundation, #runforDylan in his memory.
“We were all still grieving but watching his parents turn their grief into a positive helped me gain a different perspective on life’s purpose.”
Isabella decided she too would honor his memory. In addition to nine years with First Tee, Isabella has been involved with Girl Scouts for more than a decade and decided to focus her Gold Award Project on raising funds for the #runforDylan Foundation.
Her project focused on organizing an annual 5K fun run to build awareness and gain funds for the foundation. More than 800 people participated in the inaugural event on the morning of November 6, 2021, raising close to $25,000. The proceeds will help fund AEDs at local parks in the community.
***
First Tee is celebrating its 25th anniversary of teaching life skills through the game of golf. Follow the PURE Insurance Championship at PGATOUR.com.
The Power of the PURE Insurance Championship: First Tee Alumni Success Stories
For the last 19 years, the PURE Insurance Championship has welcomed teens from First Tee chapters nationwide to Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Throughout the week the teens apply the life and leadership skills learned from First Tee programs during an event where they are paired with a PGA TOUR Champions player and amateurs from the business world.
For many of the teens who are selected for the tournament, the experience opens their eyes to the possibilities in golf and beyond as they are contemplating post-secondary education and careers, and in some cases, managing fears and emotions. This week, we take a look at several alumni who played in this tournament and how they’ve applied the lessons they learned from First Tee and this experience to reaching for their dreams.
Michelle Xie, First Tee — Silicon Valley
Played in 2013 with Kirk Triplett
Michelle recalls her participation in the PURE Insurance Championship as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She played and won the tournament in 2013 alongside Kirk Triplett. The two established an immediate connection, which led to coachable moments on how to manage the mental and physical demands of the game – both on and off the course.
Nothing compared to the exhilaration, nerves and pressure Michelle felt walking down the fairway with Triplett as their pro-junior team was in contention. Those moments of mentorship provided Michelle great perspective to deal with the rigorous schedule of being a student-athlete at Harvard University.
Michelle graduated from Harvard in 2019 with a degree in molecular and cellular biology. She played on the women’s golf team, receiving numerous accolades including being named the 2018 Ivy League Individual Champion and was voted as team captain her senior year.
In 2019, Michelle moved back to the Silicon Valley and is working as a software engineer. Although she is not spending as much time at the golf course as she once did, Michelle still uses the many time management and problem-solving skills she learned from competitive golf and First Tee. Now that Michelle is back home, she has become a volunteer coach at the First Tee — Silicon Valley to mentor the next generation of participants.
Rayshon Payton, First Tee — Metropolitan Oklahoma City
Played in 2005 with Gil Morgan
An alumus from First Tee — Metropolitan Oklahoma City, Rayshon remembers watching the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach on TV in 2000. From that point on, he dreamed of playing on the course one day himself. This dream became a reality in 2005 when he was selected for the PURE Insurance Championship, paired with PGA TOUR Champions player Gil Morgan. They found themselves in the final pairing on Sunday at Pebble Beach where Rayshon ended up holing out from the 12th bunker on national television.
Rayshon has continued to pursue his dreams off the course. He interned at The White House, working in the office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs where he had the opportunity to work with Former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett. Today, he is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, College of Law, and has since held positions with the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee and Representatives Kendra Horn (D-Oklahoma) and Mike McIntyre (D-North Carolina).
Rayshon currently works as an Attorney Advisor in the Office of Legislative Affairs at the US Department of Justice.
Sara Scarlett, First Tee — Greater Sacramento
Played in 2011 with Jerry Pate
Being selected for the PURE Insurance Championship is a goal for many First Tee participants. That was definitely the case for alumna Sara Scarlett.
She joined First Tee around the same time that she was diagnosed with scoliosis, a curvature of the spine. Sara’s confidence was low, and she was struggling to balance her medical needs with the desire to have an active and social childhood. First Tee became her sanctuary – a place where she learned the life skills and core values that would ultimately shape her into a confident teenager who always looked on the “bright side.”
In 2011, she played in the PURE Insurance Championship with Jerry Pate. Some of Sara’s favorite memories include chipping in on the 10th hole at Pebble Beach and the motivational talks with her partner. Sara went on to play on the women’s golf team at University of Texas, graduating in 2017.
Sara has grown the last few years in her career and is currently working as a Digital Director . Sara says she is lucky to have been taught the value of diversity at a young age from First Tee.
Taryn Yee, First Tee — Greater Sacramento
Played in 2009 with Jim Thorpe
For alumna Taryn Yee, playing in the PURE Insurance Championship was the first major goal she set for herself and accomplished on her own merit. Yee claims that she felt like a star when she first arrived at the 2009 PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach. Taryn played with Jim Thorpe, and she says the biggest takeaway was how confident she was at the end of the tournament. The PURE Insurance Championship and the lessons she learned there have provided her self-confidence that she carried with her through college and now into her successful career.
Taryn was a student-athlete at University of California, Irvine. As a freshman, she was selected to attend the PwC Executive Forum at THE PLAYERS Championship as an alumni opportunity with First Tee. At the event, she met PwC executives, spoke with clients and was introduced to the business industry and public accounting. This experience led to a new goal for Taryn, which was to graduate with an accounting degree and become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). She accomplished that goal, which ultimately led her to career opportunities at PwC, The Gap, and her current position at Facebook headquarters.
Through setting goals and perseverance, Taryn has been able to stay positive and work through challenges to achieve her goals.
“I have the confidence that I can accomplish anything. There is no such thing as an intangible goal!”
Justin Potwora, First Tee — Greater Portland
Played in 2017 with Bernhard Langer
It wasn’t too long ago that alumnus Justin Potwora was holding up the PURE Insurance Championship trophy with his partner, Bernhard Langer. Meeting First Tee participants from across the country and hearing about their experiences and perspectives left a lasting impact on Justin.
Justin graduated this spring from Southern Methodist University where he majored in finance. During his time in college, he was the Philanthropy Chair for his fraternity which raised more than $50,000 for Huntsman Cancer Foundation. Just is currently working as an Investment Banking Analyst for UBS in their Americas Energy Transition Group. He credits First Tee with teaching him how to act professionally, selflessly and never compromise his character and values in whatever he sets out to accomplish.
John Louie, First Tee — Monterey County
Played in 2009 with Donnie Hammond
Played in 2010 with Bobby Clampett
John joined First Tee — Monterey County not long after its inception in September 2004. John attended Salinas High School, but had visions of achieving more. One day he told his father that by using “Goal Setting,” a life skill he had learned at First Tee, he had set a goal to attend Stevenson High School. John applied himself and with his parents’ support, John became a Stevenson “Pirate.”
John competed on the golf team for Stevenson and represented First tee — Monterey County in the 2009 and 2010 tournaments at Pebble Beach.
John was accepted to Middlebury College in Vermont, playing on the men’s golf team for three years. He was tempted to stay on the East Coast and work in finance in New York City like many of his fellow Panthers. However, his heart was in Salinas and the agricultural town where he grew up. He was offered a position with Tanimura & Antle, one of the top agricultural companies in Salinas.
He has since worked his way up the company and now leads one of the firm’s recent acquisitions, PlantTape. John serves on the Board Committee for Taylor Farms Center For Learning. In 2018, he was nominated as a member of the Board of Directors of First Tee — Monterey County, where he continues to give back by mentoring teens in the program.
Learn more about how we provide access to the game and new opportunities through our character-building programs.
Four Teens Earn Selection into the First Tee College Scholarship Program
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL. (September 12, 2022) – First Tee participants from Minnesota, Massachusetts, San Francisco and Orange County, Calif. have each been awarded scholarships and selection in to the First Tee College Scholarship Program. The teens were selected following their participation in the First Tee Leadership Series and Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore based on their intentional and innovative commitment to personal growth and development as leaders throughout the course of the program.
First Tee and PGA TOUR Superstore congratulate:
- Gabriella Mercado from First Tee – Orange County: Gabriella is a 16-year-old high school junior from Placentia, Calif. She’s been involved with First Tee for seven years. She holds a 4.0 GPA and has aspirations of playing college golf and then becoming a sports lawyer. Gabriella enjoys community service and in her first two years of high school accumulated more than 225 hours.
- Jaylyn Remolona from First Tee – San Francisco: Jaylynis a 15-year-old high school junior from San Francisco. Jaylyn attends Mercy High School in Burlingame has been involved with First Tee for seven years. She holds a 3.65 and outside of school her two hobbies are golf and singing.
- Kyzar Joshi from First Tee — Massachusetts: Kyzar is 17-year-old high school senior at Ashland High School in Ashland, Mass.He has been involved with First Tee for more than 10 years. He holds a 4.12 GPA and his career aspirations include playing college golf and majoring in finance or economics in college. Kyzar serves as his class treasurer, and helped lead the Ashland High School golf team to the state section tournament. Kyzar is in the process of completing the ACE level of the First Tee Curriculum.
- Saloni Somia from First Tee – Minnesota: Saloni, from Plymouth, Minn.,is a17-year-old high school senior at Minnetonka High School. She has been involved with First Tee for four years. She holds a 4.0 GPA and serves as the President of her school’s National Honor Society, Captain of the Minnetonka Girls Golf Team, Founder and President of Everyone Eats (an organization that provides homeless youth allergy friendly foods) and co-founded a teen-led YouTube channel that gives good allergy advice to teens.
As First Tee Scholars, the teens will receive support throughout their post-graduate careers. The need and merit-based program provides scholarships up to $5,000 per year, renewable for up to four years of college admission. In addition, each scholar is paired with a dedicated, trained adult mentor who will help encourage and guide them throughout the college experience, including virtual and in person meetups. The program also provides professional development workshops held in person throughout the year.
“We are very proud of these four deserving teens from across the country,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “They each showed dedication and impressive character traits throughout the Leadership Series and Summit. They are leaders in their schools, at home and at their First Tee chapters. Through the First Tee College Scholarship Program, we will continue to support them in their personal and professional development and empower them to hone their leadership skills as they pursue their careers. We’re thankful for partners like PGA TOUR Superstore who support these game changing initiatives.”
The four teens were selected from the more than 250 participants who attended the Leadership Series and Summit. Boasting an average GPA of 3.9 the teens meet the College Scholarship Program eligibility requirements which are based on academic performance, length and involvement in First Tee programs, financial need and commitment to volunteerism.
First Tee College Scholarship Program is made possible by donors and corporate partners who stand behind the program and First Tee’s mission. For more than a decade, PGA TOUR Superstore and PGA TOUR Superstore Chairman Arthur M. Blank have championed First Tee’s mission through charitable and in-kind donations across the country. In September 2020, PGA TOUR Superstore announced a new grant that will help First Tee reach more youth across the U.S. and strengthen its curriculum for teenage participants, including the development of the Leadership Series and Summit.
“We are committed to being a positive influence in our communities and truly believe in the positive impact sports has in developing and supporting youth,” said Dick Sullivan, President & CEO, PGA TOUR Superstore. “We are proud to partner with the First Tee to empower young people with values-based leadership skills that will help them succeed throughout the course of their life. Congratulations Gabriella, Jaylyn, Kyzar and Saloni.”
Photos and broll of the Scholars is available here.
The Key to Setting Reachable Goals
Have you ever thought about your achievements in life? What were the dreams and ambitions that you wanted to work towards? How did you get there? At First Tee, these are the type of questions we propose to kids and teens to help them understand the process of attaining goals; but to reach their goal, they must first understand how goals are formulated.
A goal is something that you want to do, be or have, but it’s not something that you can do, be or have right at this moment. It’s something you must work to get in the future, and you can apply that to any challenge in life. For example, if your child wants to achieve Honor Roll and receive all As and Bs in school this year, what would that require them to do? They would need to do well on tests and assignments. How would they accomplish that? Encourage them to take good notes, turn in their work on time, and study for their tests.
For kids, having guidelines or tools can effectively help them identify their goals and make them feel comfortable about reaching them. At First Tee, we utilize four guidelines to do this. Talk to your child about the dreams they currently have and try these out for yourself.
Four Guidelines for Setting a Reachable Goal:
- The goal is Positive:
- I want to achieve a passing score of 80% or higher vs. I don’t want to fail this test
- The goal is Important to You:
- The goal needs to be important to you, not to someone else. You should be able to explain why you want to achieve it and why it will make a difference for you.
- The goal is Specific:
- You want to know exactly what you’re working toward.
- The goal is Under your Control:
- Your efforts will allow you to achieve this goal vs. Something that is out of your control like becoming famous or winning the lottery.
Goal setting is a strategy kids and teens will apply for the rest of their life. When we set our goals, we want to be very clear about them so that we have the best chance to achieve them. The key to remember is that goals come in all shapes and sizes. Just because it doesn’t work for someone else doesn’t mean that you can’t achieve it. Your kids will learn from both their achievements and setbacks, but as they begin to set personal goals, they will learn and grow in ways that you did not think possible.
Want to get involved with what we are building at First Tee? Click here to find out more.
First Tee & Southern Company Present ‘Game Changers Pavilion’ at TOUR Championship
Kids and families invited to an interactive experience inspired by First Tee’s mission at Southern Company’s SO COOL Zone, Aug. 24-28
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL. & ATLANTA, GA. (August 16, 2022) – First Tee Game Changers Pavilion, an interactive experience inspired by First Tee’s mission to empower young people to become game changers in their communities, will return to the 2022 TOUR Championship, Aug. 24-28, in Southern Company’s SO COOL Zone.
The 1,200 square-foot, air-conditioned space will bring to life what it means to be a game changer and help connect youth attending the tournament to the excitement and personal impact associated with golf and First Tee programs offered throughout the country.
Highlights of the immersive experience include an “Aim for Greatness” digital video board and our “Make an Impact” paint wall that will provide fans an opportunity to swing a golf club and empower them to embrace challenges and work together to make something beautiful through golf.
Visitors will also be invited to pose as a standard bearer in the “Good Group” photo op and encouraged to post on social media tagging the game changers in their lives who encourage them to be the best version of themselves. Kids are invited to top their visit off with a complimentary SO COOL snow cone.
The First Tee Game Changers Pavilion is being made possible by Southern Company, First Tee’s Education Patron since 2012. Southern Company’s support has helped to expand the First Tee School Program to an additional 1,400 schools in communities across the country reaching more than 700,000 students annually.
“We are thankful to work with longtime partner Southern Company again this year to host the Game Changers Pavilion at the TOUR Championship,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “This year is special as we celebrate our 25th anniversary of empowering young people. We look forward to using this national platform to inspire and engage even more kids and teens with our game-changing programs.”
As part of the week’s activities, First Tee – Metro Atlanta will bring hundreds of kids from their chapter and after-school community program to experience the TOUR Championship and the Pavilion.
Once again, the TOUR Championship will offer its Youth Ticket Program, which allows for two youth ages 15 and under per ticketed adult to be admitted free of charge to watch the PGA TOUR’s best players compete for the FedExCup.
On the morning of Thursday, Aug. 25, the HOPE Tee Shot will honor two First Tee — Metro Atlanta participants – Haven Ward and Ethan Quitman – in a special ceremony on the first tee just minutes before the first pairing tees off in the TOUR Championship. The tee shot is a symbol and reminder of the hope that continues to build in the East Lake community and throughout Atlanta.
To learn more about First Tee, visit www.firsttee.org.
***
About PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation (“First Tee”)
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. In 2022, First Tee celebrates its 25th anniversary and reaching millions of youths 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 Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy company serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America, a leading distributed energy infrastructure company, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices below the national average. For more than a century, we have been building the future of energy and developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, advanced carbon capture technologies, natural gas, renewables, energy efficiency and storage technology. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation and a net-zero future, Southern Company and its subsidiaries develop the customized energy solutions our customers and communities require to drive growth and prosperity. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and govern our business to the benefit of our world. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have been recognized nationally by the U.S. Department of Defense, G.I. Jobs magazine,
DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, Fortune’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” list, Forbes and the Women’s Choice Award. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.
Media Contact:
Sara Henika
[email protected]
(904) 881-7398
CDW Gets Behind First Tee as a Trustee, Supporting Its Character-Building Programs
CDW Supports Chapters, Coaches and Technology Advancements
PONTE VEDRA, FL. and LINCOLNSHIRE, ILL., August 4, 2022 – First Tee®, a youth development organization that helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf, has welcomed CDW as its newest Trustee. As a global leader in technology products and services for business, government, and education, CDW’s investment will support essential technology enhancements to meet the evolving needs of the coaches, kids and families that First Tee serves.
“CDW is proud to stand behind First Tee as a Trustee,” said Anand Rao, chief marketing and digital officer for CDW. “Part of our support will help the organization to modernize its technology. This aligns very well with CDW’s aspiration to achieve equity by closing the digital divide that persists in traditionally underserved communities. In our connected world, CDW believes every person should be able to experience the unlimited possibilities that technology unlocks.”
First Tee has embarked on a multi-year re-investment to modernize and enhance the organization, including curriculum, brand and technology evolutions. As a Trustee, CDW will support virtual coach trainings to ensure nationally trained coaches are empowered to deliver First Tee’s enhanced character-building curriculum at chapters across the country. In addition to the trainings, CDW will make a significant impact on a local level through chapter grants in select markets. These grants will be utilized to support technology advancements and upgrades, including devices, connectivity and security.
“CDW is helping us break the barrier of connectivity between chapter leaders, coaches, and families,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “The impact of their support will be long lasting as we continue to evolve and reinvest in our character building programs to ensure we reach kids and families in new and innovative ways.”
The Trustee designation comes following a week of inspirational and empowering golf activities hosted by CDW for First Tee – Greater Detroit participants during the Rocket Mortgage Classic. The week kicked off on Monday with an unveiling of a new Trackman golf simulator at Durfee Innovation Society, a program location for the chapter, followed by a junior clinic on Tuesday featuring PGA TOUR player Gary Woodland among other notable golf personalities.
“Creating positive, long-term community impact is only possible when we work together,” said Todd Krieger, Interim Chief Executive Officer, First Tee-Greater Detroit “We’re thankful for partners like CDW who are helping us create fun and safe spaces for our kids to build their confidence and further explore their interest in golf and the opportunities it can provide.”
Launching in 1997, First Tee is celebrating 25 years of enabling kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, First Tee 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 golf courses, schools and youth centers in all 50 states and at six international locations.
About PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation (“First Tee”)
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. In 2022, First Tee celebrates its 25th anniversary and reaching 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 CDW
CDW Corporation (Nasdaq: CDW) is a leading multi-brand provider of information technology solutions to business, government, education and healthcare customers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. A Fortune 500 company and member of the S&P 500 Index, CDW was founded in 1984 and employs approximately 14,600 coworkers. For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2022, CDW generated Net sales of approximately $23 billion. For more information about CDW, please visit www.CDW.com.
###
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Sara Henika, First Tee
[email protected]
904-881-7398
Sara Granack, CDW
[email protected]
847-419-7411