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SPORTABLE, FIRST TEE – GREATER RICHMOND ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP

Adaptive Golf Pilot Program Will Be Offered This Fall

RICHMOND, VA – (Thursday, August 22, 2024) – Sportable, Central Virginia’s premier adaptive sports club, is proud to announce a new partnership with First Tee – Greater Richmond to make golf accessible and inclusive for individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments. Supported by the Virginia State Golf Association (VSGA) and Stand Up and Play Foundation, a new pilot program will provide eight weeks of adaptive golf instruction at the Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range at the First Tee – Greater Richmond’s downtown golf facility. Individuals with disabilities who are ambulatory or use a wheelchair are encouraged to register now at Sportable.org.

“There has been quite a demand for adaptive golf among our Sportable members and we are thrilled to team up with First Tee – Greater Richmond to offer a new adaptive golf program,” commented Hunter Leemon, Sportable Chief Executive Officer. “We are proud to partner with like-minded organizations like First Tee, VSGA, and Stand Up and Play Foundation who join our commitment to creating more inclusive and accessible recreational opportunities in our community.”

Led by First Tee’s instructors, the program will focus on introducing individuals with disabilities to golf with lessons taking place on the driving range. Over eight weeks, participants will progress to playing a round of golf at the end of the program. The program is open to beginners and experienced golfers and equipment will be provided if needed.

“We are honored to work with Sportable, the VSGA, and Stand Up and Play Foundation to create this accessible and inclusive golf program,” said Brent Schneider, First Tee – Greater Richmond Chief Executive Officer. “Our vision at First Tee – Greater Richmond is to strengthen the character of our community, and this collaborative partnership is a perfect illustration of that commitment.”

“The mission of the VSGA is to promote and serve golf in Virginia, and supporting the work that Sportable and the First Tee – Greater Richmond are doing aligns directly with our mission,” added Matt Smiley, VSGA Executive Director. “These clinics will make the game available to both new and existing adaptive golfers and help make the game more accessible and inclusive for this important community of athletes. We hope this is only the first step and look forward to growing our support of adaptive golfers in the future.”

“Empowering individuals with adaptive needs to stand up and play golf is a game-changer for their physical and emotional well-being,” said Angelica Amador Jasper of Stand Up and Play Foundation. “We’re thrilled to support this initiative!”

For more information about Adaptive Golf, visit Sportable.org or contact Tyler Rowe, Sportable Senior Program Coordinator, at [email protected] or 804-340-2991.

About Sportable

Since 2005, Sportable has created opportunities and transformed lives through sport for individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments. The non-profit organization provides sporting opportunities to more than 400 athletes of all ages by offering competitive and recreational adaptive sports programs year-round. By fostering a fun, inclusive, competitive, and accessible environment, Sportable transforms the lives of athletes and frees them to see beyond their disabilities, enhances their peer relationships and helps them to reach their personal finish line. To make an impact today, visit Sportable.com/donate.

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, First Tee Programs, School Program and Community Partnerships, First Tee – Greater Richmond reaches approximately 70,000 youth annually. Learn more at www.FirstTeeRVA.org.

About Virginia State Golf Association

The Virginia State Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves the needs of individual golfers and member clubs across Virginia. VSGA members enjoy many benefits, including handicapping, course rating and scoring services, and the opportunity to compete in championships and events for golfers of all ages and abilities. In addition, the VSGA supports programs like the Fleming Fund, Youth on Course and the VSGA-VIP Scholarship Foundation that help build the next generation of golfers, and the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame that honors those who paved the way in Virginia golf history. The VSGA is also a proud member of the United States Adaptive Golf Alliance. Visit VSGA.org to learn more.

About Stand Up & Play Foundation

The Stand Up and Play Foundation is a 100% volunteer board of directors non-profit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with adaptive needs to engage in golf, recreation, and community. Our mission is to provide access to specialized equipment, instruction, and opportunities for socialization and physical activity, promoting independence, confidence, and joy. Through our programs and partnerships, we aim to break down barriers and create a more inclusive world for individuals with mobility challenges and abilities.

Sportable has created opportunities and transformed the lives of individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments through sport since 2005. For more information about Sportable, please visit www.sportable.org.

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First Tee – Greater Richmond Earns Redmond Cup in Playoff

RICHMOND, Va. (July 11, 2024) – First Tee – Greater Richmond captured the 11^th Redmond Cup presented by Troutman Pepper on Thursday, emerging in a playoff at Belmont in the annual regional competition hosted by First Tee – Greater Richmond.

Two days of competition saw First Tee – Greater Richmond and First Tee – Greater Washington, D.C. tied atop the leaderboard with team scores of 165. After the 9-hole division participants from each chapter recorded pars on Little Bell No. 1 to open the playoff, attention turned to the 14-and-over participants, who were playing Belmont No. 1. First Tee – Greater Richmond’s Niki Chan curled in a 15-foot right-to-left birdie putt to clinch the victory for the hosts.

The clinching putt capped a remarkable week for Chan, who on Monday was named to represent First Tee — Greater Richmond at the 2024 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee Sept. 17-22 at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course.

Both chapters earned individual plaudits, as well, with First Tee – Greater Washington, D.C.’s Jordan Wallace and Miles Maravilla collecting medalist honors in the 12-hole division with a best-ball 100 (49-51) on Belmont’s 12-hole, par 48 layout. Two shots back were the First Tee – Greater Richmond duo of Chan and Henry Powell, who posted a best-ball 102 (51-51) to claim second.

In the 9-hole division, Brandon Martin and Oliver Dorfman represented First Tee – Greater Richmond in taking first place with two round scramble score of 63 (32-31) on Belmont’s modified 9-hole layout, which featured the first three holes of the championship course and all six holes on the Little Bell par-3 course. Two strokes behind Martin and Dorfman were Tyler Lambert and Luke Hardy of First Tee – Greater Washington, D.C., who posted a score of 65 (31-34).

The 2014 Redmond Cup presented by Troutman Pepper welcomed six First Tee chapters to Belmont: First Tee – Greater Philadelphia, First Tee – Greater Washington, D.C., First Tee – Hampton Roads, First Tee – Triangle, and First Tee – Virginia Blue Ridge all joined hosts First Tee – Greater Richmond. Six participants were chosen to represent their respective chapter, with four participants ages 14 or older playing best ball on Belmont’s 12-hole restored A.W. Tillinghast layout. Participants aged 10-13 competed in the 9-hole division, which saw a scramble played on Belmont holes 1-3 and Little Bell 1-6.

The team title was the fourth overall for First Tee – Greater Richmond and first since 2013. First Tee – Hampton Roads (177) took third, four strokes clear of First Tee – Greater Philadelphia. First Tee – Triangle (190) and First Tee – Virginia Blue Ridge (203) finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

Beyond the competition on the course, the Redmon Cup reflected First Tee – Greater Richmond’s commitment to character development both on and off the course. Participants were welcomed to Richmond on Tuesday, with teams practicing at Belmont before taking in the Richmond Flying Squirrels game that night. After Wednesday’s first round, participants and sponsors gathered for an opening dinner courtesy of Fulton Bank that saw VCU men’s basketball head coach Ryan Odom deliver inspiring remarks to the room.

Redmond Cup presented by Troutman Pepper Champions
Year	Winning Chapter
2024	First Tee – Greater Richmond
2023	First Tee – Greater Charlotte
2022	not held
2021	not held
2020	not held
2019	First Tee – Greater Charlotte
2018	First Tee – Hampton Roads
2017	First Tee – Greater Charlotte
2016	First Tee – Greater Charlotte
2015	First Tee – Greater Charlotte
2014	First Tee – Greater Charlotte
2013	First Tee – Greater Richmond
2012	First Tee – Greater Richmond
2011	First Tee – Greater Richmond

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About First Tee – Greater Richmond

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First Tee — Greater Richmond participant Niki Chan invited to play PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach

Niki Chan will play in the 21^st annual PURE Insurance Championship this September

Richmond, Va. (July 8, 2024) – First Tee and PGA TOUR Champions announced today that Niki Chan will represent First Tee — Greater Richmond when she competes in the 2024 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee. The event, in its 21st year, will bring teens from First Tee chapters to Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course for the PGA TOUR Champions tournament, Sept. 17-22. The annual event, hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, is televised nationally on Golf Channel.

Chan is a rising senior at Manchester High School in Midlothian and has been a First Tee – Greater Richmond participant for 10 years. A member of First Tee – Greater Richmond’s Junior Advisory Board (JAB), Chan represented the chapter at the First Tee Game Changers Academy in 2023. This week, she will be part of the First Tee – Greater Richmond team competing at the Redmond Cup presented by Troutman Pepper July 10-11 at Belmont.

The trip to the PURE Insurance Championship marks the second straight year a First Tee – Greater Richmond participant has been chosen for the prestigious event, with Chan joining Meg Lavinder as recent chapter participants.

“Congratulations to Niki for this well-deserved honor and opportunity to represent First Tee – Greater Richmond on a national stage at the PURE Insurance Championship,” Kelly Brown, First Tee – Greater Richmond Vice President of Impact said. “She is a fantastic role model on and off the golf course and exemplifies the values we hope to instill in our participants and our community. When Niki began our program she was super quiet and soft spoken and to see her find her voice and come into her own is one of many examples of our evidence-based, life skills curriculum.”

This unique event pairs each First Tee participant with a PGA TOUR Champions player and amateurs from the business world. Ranging in ages from 15 to 18, the First Tee players compete for the male/female pro-junior team title. The teens represent 45 First Tee chapters from across the country and for the fourth year in a row, a participant from First Tee — Morocco will be in the field.

Participants were selected by a national panel of judges based on their personal growth and development through First Tee’s programs, as well as their playing ability. The group averages a 3.89 GPA and has spent an average of seven years in First Tee.

“I’m so proud to continue our involvement with this incredible organization,” said Katie Krum, Chief Marketing Officer at PURE Insurance. “I know firsthand the impact and value that participating in youth sports can have on one’s development, so it is personally gratifying to know that our support impacts such a remarkable group of young men and women.”

The full junior field was revealed live on Golf Channel’s “Golf Today” earlier today.

“This is an exciting moment for these 80 participants, many of whom have been working for years with the goal of earning a spot in this tournament,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “Thank you to our partners at PURE Insurance, PGA TOUR Champions, Pebble Beach Resorts, Monterey Peninsula Foundation and Golf Channel for their support of this special week, which is full of lessons for our teens, both on and off the golf course.”

This year’s field of PGA TOUR Champions players will feature legends including Ernie Els and Vijay Singh, and as well as three-time PURE Insurance Championship winner Kirk Triplett and Thongchai Jaidee, who will defend his title. Clint Eastwood serves as chairman of the PURE Insurance Championship.

Play will be conducted on Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course on Friday and Saturday. The final round will be contested solely at Pebble Beach Golf Links on Sunday, where 24 First Tee juniors will compete based on their 36-hole performance. The tournament will crown one male and one female First Tee junior champion on Sunday.

More than 1,000 teens from First Tee have played in the PURE Insurance Championship, experiencing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet, play and be mentored by PGA TOUR Champions players and amateurs.

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.

The junior field for 2024 PURE Insurance Championshipcan be viewed here.

For more information on the tournament, visit PUREInsuranceChampionship.com. To learn more about First Tee, visit FirstTee.org.

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About First Tee – Greater Richmond

About Monterey Peninsula Foundation

Surpassing $200 million in total donations, Monterey Peninsula Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that donates funds from the proceeds of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the PGA TOUR and the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach, a PGA TOUR Champions tournament. The Foundation focuses on improving the quality of life in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties.

www.montereypeninsulafoundation.org

www.attpbgolf.com

www.pureinsurancechampionship.org

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.

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Troutman Pepper to Serve as Presenting Sponsor at First Tee — Greater Richmond’s Redmond Cup

Redmond Cup Presented by Troutman Pepper will bring together First Tee participants for three days of golf and life skill applications

Richmond, Va. (June 5, 2024) – Troutman Pepper, a national law firm with more than 1,100 attorneys located in 20+ U.S. cities, including nearly 150 in Richmond, will serve as the presenting sponsor for the Redmond Cup July 9-11 at Belmont golf course. The Redmond Cup brings together First Tee chapters from across the East Coast for three days of applying the life and golf skills learned in First Tee curriculum.

“Troutman Pepper is a proud supporter of First Tee – Greater Richmond and the work it does impacting the lives of young people,” Mike McCann, Partner, Troutman Pepper, and Chair of the Board of Directors, First Tee – Greater Richmond, said.

“Our firm believes strongly in giving back to the communities in which we live and work, and our attorneys and professional staff volunteer hundreds of hours each year with community-based organizations. Supporting First Tee – Greater Richmond, generally, and the Redmond Cup, specifically, is a great way for us at Troutman Pepper to help young people in our community learn important life lessons that will benefit them, and their communities, for years to come.”

The 2024 Redmond Cup presented by Troutman Pepper will be the 10^th edition of the event, which annually brings together 8-10 First Tee chapters. After a practice round on July 9, participants will compete on Belmont’s restored 12-hole A.W. Tillinghast layout July 10-11. Following the event’s first round, participants will hear from VCU men’s basketball head coach Ryan Odom during that evening’s dinner.

“We are grateful for Troutman Pepper’s support of the Redmond Cup,” First Tee – Greater Richmond CEO Brent Schneider said. “The support of our community enables us to impact the lives of 70,000 young people annually, and we look forward to welcoming participants from across the East Coast to Belmont in July.”

Inquiries regarding corporate sponsor opportunities for the Redmond Cup presented by Troutman Pepper and additional First Tee – Greater Richmond events can be made here.

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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, First Tee Programs, School Program and Community Partnerships, First Tee – Greater Richmond reaches approximately 70,000 youth annually. Learn more at www.FirstTeeRVA.org.

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Two First Tee – Greater Richmond Teens Selected for Game Changers Academy

Rita Eovino and Justin Hartsfield both chosen for the five-day learning and empowerment academy

Richmond, Va. (May 22, 2024) – Rita Eovino and Justin Hartsfield from First Tee — Greater Richmond have been selected to attend the First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. in Minneapolis, July 9-13. Eovino and Hartsfield are two of 72 teens from the First Tee network who has been selected for the five-day learning and empowerment academy that is designed to enlighten, inspire, encourage, and position teens to be Game Changers in their current and future communities.

Eovino is a rising junior at Monacan High School and has been a First Tee – Greater Richmond participant for 10 years. She is currently the secretary of the Junior Advisory Board (JAB) and serves as a junior coach for First Tee Programs. Last summer, Eovino attended the Nike Junior Golf Camp at the University of Virginia.

Similarly, Hartsfield is a junior coach and is the treasurer of the JAB. A rising sophomore at L.C. Bird High School, Hartsfield has been a First Tee – Greater Richmond participant for the last four years. Hartsfield was part of First Tee – Greater Richmond’s Redmond Cup team in the summer of 2023.

“We are elated to have both Rita and Justin represent First Tee – Greater Richmond at the First Tee Game Changers Academy,” Kelly Brown, First Tee – Greater Richmond Vice President for Impact, said. “It has been wonderful to watch their growth both on and off the course over the last several years, and both have made a huge impact on our organization as participants and Junior Advisory Board members.

“I know they will have a similar impact at the Game Changers Academy, and we are excited to have them return and share the lessons learned in Minneapolis.”

During the Game Changers Academy, participants will take part in important conversations embracing topics of self-awareness, inclusivity, and community building. First Tee invites its partner, RISE, a national leader in the sports community championing social justice, to facilitate engaging and interactive workshops paired with introspective activities and reflections led by our nationally trained First Tee coaches.

The Academy is an evolution of First Tee’s longest-standing participant event, honoring First Tee’s former CEO, Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., who led the organization from 2000 until his retirement in 2017. It’s one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters designed to inspire and encourage high school students on a deeper level as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities.

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Belmont to Celebrate 75th Anniversary of PGA Championship

RICHMOND, Va. (May 21, 2024) – Seventy-five years to the day that Sam Snead collected the 1949 PGA Championship title at then-Hermitage Country Club, Belmont will celebrate the diamond anniversary of that win, hosting a throwback event in the afternoon of May 31.

The 1949 PGA Championship remains the only men’s major championship played in the state of Virginia, with Snead defeating Johnny Palmer, 3&2, in the 36-hole match play final. The victory gave Snead, a Virginia native, the first two legs of the Grand Slam following his Masters win in April.

The 75^th anniversary celebration will kick off on Thursday, May 30, with greens fees set at $19.49. The following day will see Belmont’s 75^th Anniversary celebration giving players the opportunity to hit similar clubs as Snead and his fellow competitors did on the recently restored and renovated Belmont layout. The event will be played as a 4-man scramble, with each group having a set of 1940’s era clubs and balls. Awards will be given to the best-dressed golfers alongside the winning team.

From 4:30-7 p.m., youth will be able to play Little Bell – Belmont’s 6-hole par-3 course – free of charge, utilizing the 1940’s era clubs and balls. All youth playing Little Bell will receive a complimentary “Belmont 1949” ball, as well. Parents and guardians are encouraged to join their children on Little Bell but will not receive the retro clubs or balls while on the par 3 course.

In 2020, First Tee – Greater Richmond, in partnership with Love Golf Design, embarked on an ambitious reimagination of World Golf Hall of Fame architect A.W. Tillinghast’s 1917 design. The project converted the 18-hole course into a championship 12 holes, restoring Tillinghast’s vision and bringing back 10 of 12 original green complexes; created a six-hole par-3 course featuring Tillinghast template holes; an 18-hole putting course that measures the largest in the state, checking in at over 34,000-square feet; and a full practice facility that allows Belmont to host First Tee camps, programs and clinics, while also allowing the public to utilize both driving and short game ranges.

To learn more about the event and to sign up, click here.

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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 – First Tee Program, First Tee School Program, and Community Partnerships – First Tee – Greater Richmond reaches approximately 70,000 youth annually.

First Tee – Greater Richmond Announces “Courses That Build Character” Campaign

Campaign seeks to raise $8 million over next 3 years

RICHMOND, Va. (March 11, 2024) – First Tee – Greater Richmond is announcing its “Courses That Build Character” comprehensive campaign, which seeks to raise $8 million over the next three years. The campaign will focus on a renovation of the Tattersall Youth Development Center in Chesterfield, the development of operational capabilities needed to transform and grow the organization, and an expansion of First Tee Programs to new communities with enhanced financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

“While we are proud of all that we have accomplished over our last 25 years, we are just as energized to build upon that impact,” First Tee – Greater Richmond CEO Brent Schneider said. “This campaign will enable us to further use the game we love to positively impact as many people and communities as possible.”

Renovation work has already begun at the Tattersall Youth Development Center, with a tree-clearing project projected to end this month. Further work will commence in late summer of 2025, including renovations of greens complexes and bunkers, irrigation optimization and cart path repairs. Anticipated completion of the enhancements at The Tattersall are projected to be done in November 2025.

Campaign funds will also be directed to enable the organization to reach additional communities and schools through mission-aligned partnerships. Furthermore, First Tee – Greater Richmond will be enhancing its financial aid and scholarship opportunities for participants and their families via the campaign.

Further information about the “Courses That Build Character” campaign, including how the community can support the organization’s goals, can be found here.

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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, First Tee Programs, School Program and Community Partnerships, First Tee – Greater Richmond reached nearly 70,000 youth in 2023. Learn more at www.FirstTeeRVA.org.

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First Tee — Greater Richmond teen selected for First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr.

Niki Chan is one of 72 teens chosen for the five-day learning and empowerment academy

Richmond, Va. (July 17, 2023) – Niki Chan from First Tee — Greater Richmond has been selected to attend the First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. in Philadelphia, July 18-22. Chan is one of 72 teens from the First Tee network who has been selected for the five-day learning and empowerment academy and will participate in critical conversations around issues of identity, racism, equity and empathy.

Chan is a rising senior at Manchester High School in Midlothian and has been a First Tee – Greater Richmond participant for nine years.

“We are elated to have Niki represent First Tee – Greater Richmond at the First Tee Game Changers Academy,” Kelly Brown, First Tee – Greater Richmond Vice President for Impact, said. “When Niki began our program she was super quiet and soft spoken and to see her find her voice and come into her own is one of many examples of our evidence-based, life skills curriculum.

“I know Niki will make a huge impact at the Game Changers Academy, and we are excited to have her return and share the lessons learned in Philadelphia.”

The week will kick off with a ‘Critical Conversation’ hosted by RISE on Tuesday, July 18, featuring 8-year NFL veteran, Philadelphia native and member of the Baltimore Ravens Daryl Worley, First Tee – Greater Washington D.C. alumnus and professional golfer, Marcus Byrd, and Lodge Grass High School Head Basketball Coach Josh Stewart. Scarlen Martinez, the Sr. Director of Empowerment at RISE will moderate the panel about how sports lead to access and can help address societal inequalities.

RISE, a national nonprofit and leader in the sports community championing social justice and working to improve race relations, will also facilitate engaging and interactive workshops throughout the week. The workshops will explore a multitude of topics that encourage personal growth and understanding of diversity concepts that foster positive change in the community.  The workshops will be paired with reflections led by our nationally trained First Tee coaches, team-building activities such as the Villanova Challenge Course, and golf outings at Walnut Lane Golf Club where they will continue to build relationships with other participants from around the country and learn from each other’s unique perspectives.

This Academy is an evolution of First Tee’s longest-standing participant event. The Academy honors First Tee’s former CEO, Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., who led the organization from 2000 until his retirement in 2017. It’s one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters designed to inspire and encourage high school students on a deeper level as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities.  .

Chan will be the first of two First Tee – Greater Richmond participants taking part in a First Tee national program this summer. Meg Lavinder will represent First Tee — Greater Richmond at the 2023 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee in September.

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About First Tee – Greater Richmond
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023, 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, First Tee Programs, School Program and Community Partnerships, First Tee – Greater Richmond reached more than 75,000 youth in 2022. Learn more at www.FirstTeeRVA.org.

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Meg Lavinder of First Tee — Greater Richmond invited to play PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach

Richmond, Va. (July 10, 2023) – First Tee and PGA TOUR Champions announced today that Meg Lavinder will represent First Tee — Greater Richmond when she competes in the 2023 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee. The event, in its 20th year, will bring teens from First Tee chapters to Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course for the PGA TOUR Champions tournament, Sept. 19-24. The annual event, hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, is televised nationally on Golf Channel.

A rising senior at Mechanicsville High School, Lavinder has been a First Tee – Greater Richmond participant for nine years. The organization’s Junior Advisory Board (JAB) President, Lavinder took part in the First Tee Drive Your Future Academy in San Francisco in 2022.

She has represented First Tee – Greater Richmond in National First Tee Opportunities, has qualified for the Virginia High School State Golf Tournament, Peggy Kirk Bell Golf Tournaments, and the Richmond City Amateur.

The trip to the PURE Insurance Championship will give Lavinder an opportunity to repeat her feat from the 2021 Dominion Energy Charity Classic Pro-Am, where she aced the eighth hole at The Country Club of Virginia’s James River Course while playing with the PGA TOUR Champions’ Scott Dunlap.

“Congratulations to Meg for this well-deserved honor and opportunity to represent First Tee – Greater Richmond on a national stage at the PURE Insurance Championship,” Kelly Brown, First Tee – Greater Richmond Vice President of Impact said. “She is a fantastic role model on and off the golf course and exemplifies the values we hope to instill in our participants and our community.”

Throughout the week, the teens apply their character strengths and life skills learned from First Tee programs during the one-of-a-kind event where they are paired with a PGA TOUR Champions player and amateurs from the business world. Lavinder will compete for the Pro-Junior Team title, joining 80 other teens from First Tee chapters across the country and – for the third year in a row – a participant from First Tee — Morocco. Participants were selected by a national panel of judges based on their personal growth and development through First Tee’s programs, as well as their playing ability.

The full junior field was revealed live on Golf Channel’s “Golf Today.” A few players and legends of the game helped surprise several participants with the news of their selection, including PGA TOUR player Joel Dahmen and PGA TOUR Champions players Tim O’Neal, Rod Pampling and reigning PURE Insurance Championship winner Steve Flesch. PGA TOUR Canada player Quinn Riley – a First Tee alumnus who played at the PURE Insurance Championship as a junior – surprised his younger brother with an invitation to the tournament, and six First Tee participants were surprised by Golf Channel at women’s majors, including the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach.

“Earning the opportunity to play at the PURE Insurance Championship is a goal for many First Tee participants, and congratulations to Meg for achieving it,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “This marks the 20th anniversary of the tournament, and we are grateful to our partners at PURE Insurance, PGA TOUR Champions, Pebble Beach Resorts, Monterey Peninsula Foundation and Golf Channel for their ongoing commitment to First Tee. Our alumni who have played at the PURE Insurance Championship have told us it is a life-changing opportunity, and we are so excited for the 80 First Tee teens who will get to experience it in September.”

This year’s field of PGA TOUR Champions players will feature legends including Ernie Els, Mark O’Meara, Vijay Singh, Steve Stricker, Fred Couples, Davis Love III and Jim Furyk, as well as three-time PURE Insurance Championship winner Kirk Triplett and Steve Flesch, who will defend his title. Clint Eastwood serves as chairman of the PURE Insurance Championship.

“I’m so proud to continue our involvement with this incredible event,” said Martin Leitch, CEO of PURE Insurance. “Being selected to play in this tournament speaks volumes about the character of each of these 80 participants and I’m so excited to see this unforgettable experience play out for them.”

The junior field for 2032 PURE Insurance Championshipcan be viewed here.

For more information on the tournament, visit PUREInsuranceChampionship.com. To learn more about First Tee, visit FirstTee.org.

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About First Tee – Greater Richmond

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023, 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, First Tee Programs, School Program and Community Partnerships, First Tee – Greater Richmond reached more than 75,000 youth in 2022. Learn more at www.FirstTeeRVA.org.

About Monterey Peninsula Foundation

www.montereypeninsulafoundation.org

www.attpbgolf.com

www.pureinsurancechampionship.org

About PURE Insurance

Pureinsurance.com | 888.813.7873

About PGA TOUR Champions

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First Tee – Greater Richmond, Henrico County Public Schools Earn National Association of Counties Achievement Award

First Tee School Program Field Trips Receive National Recognition

RICHMOND, Va. (July 6, 2023) – First Tee – Greater Richmond and Henrico County Public Schools were recently named a 2023 National Association of Counties (NACo) Award Winner in recognition of the First Tee School Program Field Trips held at Belmont in 2022-23.

“First Tee – Greater Richmond is committed to impacting the lives of young people in our community,” said Kelly Brown, First Tee – Greater Richmond’s Vice President of Impact. “Through our First Tee School Program and intentional collaboration with Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) teachers and leadership, we have been able to provide fun, engaging, and educational field trips for 5th grade students in HCPS Title I Schools at Belmont and The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range.

“These opportunities not only provide access to our golf courses, but more importantly embrace our evidence-based curriculum that builds character, instills life-enhancing values, and promotes making healthy choices.”

An extension of the First Tee School Program, field trips bring local elementary school students to First Tee – Greater Richmond’s three green grass facilities: Belmont, The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range, and The Tattersall Youth Development Center. Field trips are focused on building confidence and character while providing access to authentic golf experiences in a safe and friendly environment.

For the 2022-23 school year, 1,374 Henrico County Public School fifth graders attended a field trip, covering 22 title I schools. Henrico County Public School officials stated that the field trips resulted in 100% of its students improving upon benchmark psychomotor skills and learning outcomes.

“Teachers and students have raved about this authentic, outdoor golf experience,” said Mark A. Brandenburger, M.Ed., AT-Ret, CSCS, and Health, Physical & Driver Education Specialist at Henrico County Public Schools. “The First Tee staff and coaches were an essential element in delivering high-quality motor skills and golf instruction to our students.

“However, it was the fleet of First Tee (community) volunteers that allowed the student group sizes to be small enough for the instruction to be personalized and differentiated so that students could have more swings and increasing opportunities for success in a lifetime physical activity.”

The National Association of Counties serves nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees. The recognition of First Tee – Greater Richmond and Henrico County came in the “Community and Economic Development” category and was one of 34 awards garnered by the county this year.

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Brandon Howard, PGA, Selected for 2023-24 PGA LEAD Class

RICHMOND, Va. (April 27, 2023) – Belmont Head Golf Professional Brandon Howard, PGA, has been selected as one of 15 PGA Members for the 2023-24 PGA LEAD class, the PGA of America recently announced.

Howard joined the First Tee – Greater Richmond organization in January as the head professional at Belmont and oversees the day-to-day operation of the historic facility, including staffing, sales, patron relationships, teaching and events. Howard came to Belmont with over 10 years of experience in the golf industry, including time as the Head Golf Professional at Somerby Golf Club in Rochester, Minn., and as the Player Development Coordinator for the City of Westminster, Colo.

“Brandon’s desire to grow the inclusivity of the game and industry was key in his selection to become our Head Professional at Belmont,” First Tee – Greater Richmond Vice President of Operations Mark Lynch, PGA, said. “His belief in making the game and facility welcoming to everyone drives our vision at Belmont and First Tee – Greater Richmond, and his efforts within PGA LEAD will continue to shape how we act and impact growth across the PGA of America.”

Established in 2016, PGA LEAD is the Association’s leadership development program, created to identify, mentor and progress PGA Members from diverse backgrounds along a guided path to volunteer leadership roles at the Chapter, Section and National levels of the Association. PGA LEAD also helps PGA Members who have a desire to serve and make an impact on nonprofit boards within the communities where they work and live.

This 18-month leadership development program reinforces the PGA of America’s commitment to create a game, workforce and industry supply chain that better mirror America’s demographics. More specifically, the PGA is committed to inclusive governance, environments, systems and structures that create the opportunity for all PGA Professionals to develop, grow and lead.

“I am excited to see the continued interest in PGA LEAD as it continues to thrive in helping PGA Members receive the training and skills needed to ascend into leadership positions throughout the Association,” said PGA of America President John Lindert, the Director of Golf at the Country Club of Lansing in Lansing, Michigan. “This program helps bring a diverse cross section of talented PGA Members together as leaders in a host of important positions within the golf industry nationwide, which will help position the PGA of America’s overall growth and success for decades to come.”

PGA LEAD is a complement to PGA WORKS – a strategic initiative designed to diversify the golf industry’s workforce. Among the alumni of the PGA LEAD are three PGA Section presidents, three Section vice presidents, two Section secretaries, 19 Section board members and 19 national committee members.

2023-2024 PGA LEAD Class Members
Jackie Buckley, PGA – Scioto Country Club – Columbus, Ohio; Southern Ohio PGA Section
Jason Dochney, PGA – JSJ Inc. – Tulsa, Okla.; South Central PGA Section
Peyton Durham Hemme, PGA – Westchester Country Club – Rye, N.Y.; Metropolitan PGA Section
Langston Frazier, PGA – Belle Haven Country Club – Alexandria, Va.; Middle Atlantic PGA Section
Melissa Hatten, PGA – Talisker Club – Park City, Utah; Utah PGA Section
Marvin Gene Herrod Jr., PGA – Sunset Country Club – St. Charles, Mo.; Gateway PGA Section
Brandon Howard, PGA – Belmont Golf Course – Richmond, Va.; Middle Atlantic PGA Section
Cathy Kim, PGA – Baltimore Country Club – Baltimore, Md.; Middle Atlantic PGA Section
Heather King, PGA – MCAS Miramar Memorial – San Diego, Calif.; Southern California PGA Section
Brendan Locke, PGA – GOLFTEC Wisconsin – Madison, Wis.; Wisconsin PGA Section
Nolan Rheam, PGA – Olde Florida Golf Club – Naples, Fla.; South Florida PGA Section
Nick St. Onge, PGA – Country Club of Lincoln – Lincoln, Neb.; Nebraska PGA Section
Missy Williams, PGA – Tara Golf & Country Club – Bradenton, Fla.; North Florida PGA Section
Ronnie Valerio, PGA – Temecula, Calif.; Southern California PGA Section
Len Zamora, PGA – Scotts Park Golf Links – Albuquerque, N.M.; Sun Country PGA Section

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River City Collegiate Classic Nominated as RVA Sports Awards “Moment of the Year”

RICHMOND, Va. (Dec. 20, 2022) – The inaugural River City Collegiate Classic presented by Truist is among the three nominees for the RVA Sports Awards’ “Rebkee Moment of the Year,” it was announced on Friday. The “Moment of the Year” award is given to the participants in a moment in the past year that energized Richmond sports fans, displayed remarkable athletic skill, or demonstrated incredible sportsmanship.

The RVA Sports Awards recognize those athletes and leaders who have made a major impact on their community through sports. The second annual RVA Sports Awards show will air live from Altria Theater on Saturday, Feb. 4. The community can vote on the RVA Sports Awards – through Sunday, Jan. 15.

“We were thrilled to enter into the partnership with First Tee – Greater Richmond to create the River City Collegiate Classic as we continue our efforts to bring more diversity and accessibility to the game of golf,” said Steve Schoenfeld, Executive Director of the Dominion Energy Charity Classic. “The fact that the launch of the RCCC is a finalist for the RVA Sports Awards is unexpected, but certainly exciting!”

The inaugural River City Collegiate Classic was a partnership between First Tee – Greater Richmond, the Dominion Energy Charity Classic and The Country Club of Virginia, with seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) competing at both CCV’s James River Course and the renovated and reimagined Belmont Golf Course.

Virginia Union took the inaugural team championship, led by individual medalist Alkin Barkley. VUU head coach Lee Coble described the three days as a “breakthrough event for collegiate golf.”

“Thanks to the staffs at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, the Country Club of Virginia, Virginia Union and First Tee – Greater Richmond for their efforts to make this event possible,” said Kelly Brown, First Tee – Greater Richmond’s Vice President of Impact. “For our First Tee participants to get to play alongside these first-class student-athletes during the Am-Am furthers our vision to strengthen the character of our community.”

In addition to the two days of competition, the event also included the Harris Williams Am-Am at Belmont, where two amateurs from the Richmond business community were paired with one of the collegiate student-athletes and a junior golfer from First Tee – Greater Richmond.

Additional information on the RVA Sports Awards is available here.

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