Category: Blog

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.

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First Tee is celebrating its 25th anniversary of teaching life skills through the game of golf. Follow the PURE Insurance Championship at PGATOUR.com.

Henry Powell Selected to First Tee Innovators Forum

RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 15, 2022) – Henry Powell from First Tee — Greater Richmond has been selected to attend the First Tee Innovators Forum November 16-19 in Dallas, Texas. The forum will empower First Tee teens to develop a meaningful service project in their communities focusing on raising awareness on issues surrounding education, health and sustainability.

Powell, 15, is sophomore at Appomattox Regional Governor’s School and has been a participant at First Tee – Greater Richmond for five years. He serves on the organization’s Junior Advisory Board in addition to volunteering and coaching with First Tee – Greater Richmond and competing on the Dragons’ varsity golf team.

Interactive workshops and small breakout sessions during the forum will cover a variety of topics including the importance of community service, volunteerism, and environmental sustainability, and will be presented by experts in the respective fields. During the workshops, Powell will have the opportunity to learn from global industry leaders at the three-day summit. At the end of the forum, a total of $32,000 will be awarded to eight attending participants to further their educational pursuits.

“Congratulations to Henry on earning this national opportunity.” said Brittany Woo, Senior Director of Programming at First Tee – Greater Richmond. “Henry has been a shining star since coming to our organization five years ago and is now embracing being a mentor to our life-skills experience participants. We’re excited for him to have another opportunity to meet with other like-minded participants from across the country and continue his path of positively impacting lives in and around Richmond.”

Powell is one of 28 participants selected to attend the Innovators Forum from across First Tee chapters across the country and was selected based on academic achievement, community service, chapter involvement, leadership, essay responses and letters of recommendation. This marks the second consecutive year a participant from First Tee – Greater Richmond was selected to the Innovators Forum, with D’yan Robinson having attended last year.

For more information on First Tee – Greater Richmond, visit www.firstteerva.org.

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.

Kelly Brown, Brittany Woo Featured in Virginia Golfer

The most recent issue of Virginia Golfer magazine features a few familiar faces in its pages – our Vice President of Impact Kelly Brown and Senior Director of Programming Brittany Woo!

The issue, which focuses on the impact of mentorship on their pupils, puts a spotlight on both Kelly and Brittany, both of whom were previously VSGA-VIP Scholarship Recipients, their mentors, and how they impart their lessons on today’s youth.

To read the full article, click 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. 

Dominion Energy Charity Classic and First Tee – Greater Richmond to Partner on River City Collegiate Classic

RICHMOND, Virginia – Officials from the Dominion Energy Charity Classic and First Tee – Greater Richmond announced today that the inaugural River City Collegiate Classic will take place this October 23-25 at Belmont Golf Course and The Country Club of Virginia’s James River Course. Truist will serve as the Presenting Sponsor of the event.

Seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) will compete in the 36-hole event. These include Elizabeth City State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine’s University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University and Winston-Salem State University. The first round will be played at the James River Course on October 24, the day following the conclusion of the Dominion Energy Charity Classic.

The final round will be contested on October 25 over the 18 holes that make up the recently reimagined and renovated Belmont.

“Dominion Energy long has believed in the mission of HBCUs and supported and partnered with them with scholarships, capital improvements, and more,” said Robert M. Blue, Dominion Energy’s Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are excited to expand our partnership with these excellent colleges and universities to the Dominion Energy Charity Classic.”

“It is of paramount importance to the PGA TOUR, the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, and First Tee to continue to grow the game of golf while also bringing increased diversity to the sport,” said Dominion Energy Charity Classic Executive Director Steve Schoenfeld. “It was an easy conversation with First Tee, Virginia Union University and The Country Club of Virginia to bring this concept to life.”

The event will also include an Am-Am on Sunday, October 23 at Belmont, where two amateurs will be paired with one of the collegiate competitors as well as a junior golfer from First Tee – Greater Richmond.

“Our vision at First Tee – Greater Richmond is to strengthen the character of our community, and this event is a wonderful reflection of that commitment,” said First Tee – Greater Richmond CEO Brent Schneider. “We are grateful to work with like-minded partners at Virginia Union, the PGA TOUR, and the Dominion Energy Charity Classic to make an impact in the lives of young people and to deepen the relationships across all of the organizations involved.”

“Truist’s partnership and engagement with HBCUs across the markets we serve is one of the many ways we inspire and build better lives and communities,” said Thomas Ransom, Virginia Regional President for Truist. “Serving as the presenting sponsor of the inaugural River City Collegiate Classic allows us to continue our support of HBCU students in their endeavors – both on and off the golf course.”

In addition to Truist as the event’s overall presenting sponsor, Harris Williams will serve as the presenting sponsor of the Am-Am. Lowe, Brockenbrough & Company is the presenting sponsor of a reception on Monday evening for participants.

“There is a long and rich tradition of the game of golf for students, alumni, and supporters of HBCUs; especially the HBCUs that will be participating in this historic inaugural event,” said E. Lee Coble, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athletes Academic Support and Head Golf Coach at Virginia Union University, and President of the CIAA Golf Coaches Association. “This event is a breakthrough ‘first’ for CIAA collegiate golf. We are proud to be partners with those, along with us, who had the vision and commitment to bring the River City Collegiate Classic to life.”

“We are proud to support the River City Collegiate Classic, the schools and student athletes competing,” said Phil Keister, General Manager at The Country Club of Virginia. “We are excited for the collegiate competitors to play the James River Couse and experience the same CCV hospitality as the PGA TOUR Champions professionals do during the Dominion Energy Charity Classic.”

ABOUT THE DOMINION ENERGY CHARITY CLASSIC
The Dominion Energy Charity Classic is the first of three PGA TOUR Champions season-ending playoff events to determine the annual Charles Schwab Cup Champion. The 2022 tournament is scheduled for October 20-23 at The Country Club of Virginia, James River Course. A field of 72 professionals will compete for a share of the $2.2 million purse and a spot in the 54-player field the following week. All three rounds of the event will be broadcast on Golf Channel. For corporate sponsorship, volunteer opportunities or ticket information, please visit the official tournament website at www.deccgolf.com or see our pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (@DECCGolf) and LinkedIn.

ABOUT FIRST TEE – GREATER RICHMOND
First Tee – Greater Richmond 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. Through three major programming areas, the First Tee Life Skills Experience, the First Tee School Program, and collaborative community partnerships, First Tee – Greater Richmond reached more than 97,000 youth in 2021.

A Game for All

First Tee Chapters provide inclusive golf and character building programs for all kids and teens 

By Megan Hart, First Tee HQ 

About a quarter of Americans have a disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but as many organizations have redoubled their focus on diversity, equity and inclusion in recent years, this group can often go overlooked in discussions on the topic. 

For 25 years, First Tee has shown up every day, determined to ensure that every kid and teen feel welcome and included. First Tee – Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky is just one example of our Chapters who promote inclusive programs.  

The Chapter partners with organizations like Els for Autism, Special Olympics of Hamilton County and SCRATCHgolf to serve players of all abilities and skill levels, proving golf is for everyone. 

Thanks in part to the United States Golf Association’s IDEA Grant, the chapter has been able to expand its opportunities for all kids. The IDEA Grant was created to promote inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility efforts at the local golf level. This grant program awarded $200,000 from USGA to First Tee Chapters across the country in 2021. 

“USGA’s support is a game changer for the youth in the communities that we serve,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “With these grants, our chapters are opening the door to even more youth, especially in underserved and underrepresented communities, to explore the possibilities in golf and beyond as they build their character and life lessons through the game.” 

The USGA’s efforts to make golf more inclusive go far beyond its work with First Tee. The association will host the inaugural U.S. Adaptive Open at Pinehurst this July, which will feature the globe’s top golfers with disabilities, including those with limb impairments, intellectual and neurological impairments and seated golfers. Among the field is First Tee — Tampa Bay alum Joey Hill and First Tee — Triangle alum Zachary Duncan! 

‘You just have to love the kids and find out what they need’ 

First Tee – Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky is focused on reaching children from all backgrounds and abilities, and with the help of the USGA and other organizations, they have found creative ways to become more accessible. 

The Chapter will bring back programming for kids with autism this fall after it was put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff first trained with Els for Autism in 2018.  

Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky also partners with Special Olympics of Hamilton County to introduce participants to golf. The program attracted about 20 kids per year before the pandemic, and it’ll return this summer for a weekly series.  

Three kids have transitioned from the Chapter’s Special Olympics program to its golf course program, and Executive Director Alicia Yund recalls seeing a Special Olympics participant return for a community field day hosted by the chapter. 

“It was cool to see him thriving and see how all the other kids were in awe of him and his ability to hit the ball,” she said. “It’s great when all kids are included.” 

Wendy Mockabee manages the School Program at First Tee – Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky, which integrates First Tee’s life skills program into elementary and middle schools in the community. One of the participating schools exclusively serves special needs students, and it’s been inspiring to see how teachers have adapted First Tee programming to meet the needs of the kids. For example, teachers attached a leaf blower to a golf club so children with mobility challenges could instead push a button to move the ball. 

In addition, the chapter hosts programming for kids with life-threatening and chronic health challenges, including SCRATCHgolf. In partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Heart Institute and the Congenital Heart Alliance of Cincinnati, the chapter recently held a multiday camp for kids with heart defects, who are then provided scholarships for future programming. 

“We’ve been very focused on making sure all kids have a safe space, an environment where we’re prepared to make any modifications necessary to make them feel welcome and part of First Tee community,” Yund said. “Weaving accessibility and inclusion into programming — outside of finding more volunteers — it’s not a daunting or taxing effort. You just need to love the kids and find out what they need.” 

A number of First Tee chapters within the network offer youth development and programming for participants with disabilities. Contact your local chapter to learn more. 

Find a Chapter

PGA TOUR Professional Austin Smotherman Joins First Tee as an Official Ambassador

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL., (July 12, 2022) – PGA TOUR professional and First Tee alumnus Austin Smotherman has been named an official ambassador of First Tee. A Loomis, Calif. native, Smotherman participated in the Greater Sacramento chapter from age seven until 18 and developed his golf game and character during his time in the program. As an ambassador, Smotherman will showcase his involvement with the youth development organization and the impact it has on his life to help inspire the next generation.

Smotherman is debuting the First Tee logo on his bag this week during the Barracuda Championship in support of the program and its mission to empower kids and teens to build their strength of character through golf. As an ambassador, he will also give his time to meet with participants, donors, and chapter leadership to inspire more support of its mission and participation of the program.

“I’m honored to take on this role as First Tee Ambassador,” said Smotherman. “Looking back at my time as a participant, I really value the balance of developing my character while I was also developing my golf swing. Those experiences and the skills I acquired helped shape who I am as a person and now as a professional athlete. They still guide me today as I navigate the ups and downs of this game that I love.”

“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, congratulations to Austin Smotherman on today’s announcement regarding his new role as official ambassador of First Tee,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Competing on the PGA TOUR requires hard work and perseverance and his story and the character strengths he developed during his time in First Tee will help inspire many kids and teens as they explore the many opportunities golf can provide. Austin paying it forward is another example of what makes the PGA TOUR – and our members  – so special.”

During his time in First Tee, Smotherman progressed through the program, transitioning from a participant to a junior coach and mentor to the younger kids. In 2009 and 2010 he played in the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee and in 2011 he earned First Tee – Greater Sacramento’s Core Value Award.

In 2016, he graduated from Southern Methodist University where he played on the men’s golf team. After competing for two seasons on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica (2017 –2018) he transitioned to the Korn Ferry Tour (2019-2021) until he earned his PGA TOUR card in August 2021. Smotherman is the third First Tee alum, following Scott Langley (retired) and Cameron Champ, to achieve this milestone.

“We are proud to welcome Austin as our First Tee ambassador,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “This is a special moment as we celebrate our 25th anniversary and the lasting impact we are having on youth and alumni across the country as they pursue their careers and passions, both on and off the golf course.  His commitment to giving back and dedication to living out his values is an inspiration and will impact many lives.”

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.  

Contacts:
Sara Henika
[email protected]
(904)881-7398

First Tee – Greater Richmond Selected to Receive Funds Through Industry’s ‘Make Golf Your Thing’ Grant Program

RICHMOND, Va. (June 15, 2022) – First Tee – Greater Richmond has been selected to receive funding through a dedicated grant program operated by the golf industry’s DEI campaign, Make Golf Your Thing. As one of 81 designated organizations across the U.S., First Tee – Greater Richmond was chosen for its efforts to increase golf participation among underrepresented populations of the sport.

The mission of First Tee – Greater Richmond 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. The program introduces kids to the game and its inherent values through programs in elementary schools, on golf courses and at youth centers around the greater Richmond area.

Initially introduced in 2021, the grant program – through its latest round of funding – has now issued 155 grants to 111 unique organizations overall, totaling more than $1 million to-date.

“We are grateful for this funding to continue to make our programs and facilities inclusive and accessible for people of all backgrounds and skill levels,” said Kelly Brown, Vice President of Impact at First Tee – Greater Richmond. “This grant affords us the opportunity to make a deeper impact on young people in our community alongside our like-minded partners.”

The grant program was established to support organizations or programs dedicated to increasing golf participation among underrepresented populations in the sport (i.e., Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous communities, as well as women, LGBTQI+ individuals, veterans, and individuals with disabilities). The program is being financially supported by industry partners committed to helping make the game more welcoming and inclusive for all.

In 2021, First Tee – Greater Richmond impacted the lives of more than 97,000 youth across its life-skills education programs, camps, and community and school program participants.

Formally launched in May 2021, Make Golf Your Thing is the industry’s movement to make golf accessible to individuals from all backgrounds. Led by six cross-industry work groups, the initiative is specifically focused on: education & skill development, talent acquisition, procurement, human resources, youth & adult player development, and marketing/communications.

The grant program is being administered by the American Golf Industry Coalition, a partnership among golf’s leading organizations to promote and advocate for the collective interests of the sport. Funding for the program is led by a contingent of industry supporters committed to making the sport more welcoming and inclusive for all.

For more information on First Tee – Greater Richmond, visit FirstTeeRVA.org.

For more information on Make Golf Your Thing, visit https://makegolfyourthing.org/.

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First Tee – Greater Richmond Announces Hirings of Katie Guerin, Rachel Higgins

Guerin Joins as Vice President, Advancement; Higgins as Executive Assistant

RICHMOND, Va. (May 27, 2022) – First Tee – Greater Richmond has announced that Katie Guerin and Rachel Higgins have joined its staff as part of a continued organizational evolution.

“Katie and Rachel will both be instrumental in helping us forward our vision of strengthening the character of our community,” First Tee – Greater Richmond CEO Brent Schneider said. “We continue to add dynamic, mission-minded leaders to our team, and I am grateful that Katie and Rachel are joining us.”

Guerin brings over 12 years of fundraising experience to the organization and will be responsible for all aspects of charitable giving, including strategy, research, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Additionally, she will serve on Schneider’s Senior Leadership Team.

Before coming to First Tee – Greater Richmond, Guerin served as the Director of Development and Communications for the City Kids Wilderness Project, which saw her manage and execute City Kids’ annual development and communications plan, stewarding an existing portfolio of individual and foundation major donors and building an individual giving pipeline.

Higgins, a mathematics major from UNCW and former flight attendant for American Airlines, will oversee day-to-day operations for the administrative office and lead scheduling, donor database administration, and board communications. Additionally, she will participate in institutional planning initiatives and assist as needed with special project management.

Guerin and Higgins both started in their positions earlier in May.

JP Ray – First Tee Alumnus

What happens when you provide free programs? The results are game-changing. 

With support from Southern Hills Country Club, host of this week’s PGA Championship, First Tee – Tulsa provides free character-building programs to everyone who walks through their door. JP Ray is one of many participants impacted by the program.

First Tee – Greater Richmond Named Honorable Mention Recipient in Prestigious PR Daily Social Media & Digital Awards

Belmont Reopening Campaign Garners National Recognition

RICHMOND, Va. (May 11, 2022) – First Tee – Greater Richmond has been named an honorable mention recipient of PR Daily’s Social Media & Digital Awards in the Media Relations Campaign category for its successful Belmont Reopening campaign.

PR Daily’s Social Media & Digital Awards celebrates the teams, organizations and agencies who have redefined the field with their groundbreaking work. First Tee – Greater Richmond was chosen from a wide pool of entries to receive an honorable mention in the media relations campaign for the impact of its Belmont reopening campaign.

The campaign encompassed both traditional and non-traditional media, including article placement with Golf.com, Golfweek, and Golf Digest, podcasts and an event with The Golfers Journal and video features in The Fire Pit Collective. In total, over 40 pieces of earned media generated over 110,000,000 total impressions and over $1 million estimated media value.

“First Tee – Greater Richmond set themselves apart from an outstanding field of applicants. Their work was exceptional and displayed their innovative strategies for achieving success. Congratulations, First Tee – Greater Richmond, and we look forward to your continued success,” said Brendan Gannon, Senior Marketing Manager for Awards Programs at Ragan Communications. 

American Humane was the category winner for its Hero Dog Awards campaign. Nominees in the Media Relations Campaign category were:

  • ECMC Group: ECMC Group Helps Teens Question The Quo in Education
  • Endo International, plc: Endo’s Qwo® (collagenase clostridium histolyticum-aaes): The First and Only FDA-Approved Injectable for Cellulite
  • First Tee – Greater Richmond: Belmont Reopening
  • Lobeline Communications: The Original Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit
  • SlicedBrand: Wasteless – Using AI to eliminate food waste and help the climate
  • United States Postal Service: Package Machine Deployment

Belmont reopened on May 24, 2021, with the historic A.W. Tillinghast design reimagined and renovated by Love Golf Design. The course features 12 restored A.W. Tillinghast holes – including 10 original greens complexes, alongside Little Bell, a 6-hole par 3 course; and The Ringer, a reversible 18-hole putting course; a driving range and practice area.

In 2021, Belmont saw 650 youth programming registrations for First Tee – Greater Richmond’s evidence-based life skills programs and camps, serving over 500 area youth. Over 20,000 rounds of golf was played on the property in just seven months from its opening through the end of 2021.

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About Ragan Communications

Ragan Communications and PR Daily run 15 awards programs each year, including the prestigious PR Daily Awards, Top Women in Communications Awards and Digital Marketing and Social Media Awards. Judged by globally regarded experts and featuring multiple categories, these programs honor the top work in communications, PR, marketing, media and HR.

Ragan Communications has been delivering trusted news, training and intelligence for more than 50 years to internal and external communicators and business executives via its conferences, webinars, training, awards, subscriptions and its membership divisions. Its daily news sites—PRDaily.com,  Ragan.com and RaganWellness.com—are read by more than 600,000 internal and external communicators and HR professionals monthly.

About First Tee – Greater Richmond

First Tee – Greater Richmond 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. Through three major programming areas, the First Tee Life Skills Experience, the First Tee School Program, and collaborative community partnerships, First Tee – Greater Richmond reached more than 70,050 youth in 2021.