The First Tee has always been an organization dedicated to creating brighter futures. Across schools and programs throughout the country, this network of 150 local chapters has helped countless students gain valuable life skills to propel them toward their goals.
Our local chapter, First Tee – The Lowcountry, has long been one of the broader organization’s most dynamic members. Through classes at their stunning Gumtree Road facility and in classrooms across Beaufort and Jasper counties, they have elevated our community’s youth and guided them to become exactly the kind of citizens we need.
This past year, they took their impact even further by granting one deserving student the inaugural First Tee – The Lowcountry Secondary Education Scholarship. Joshua Smith, last year’s recipient, is using the funds he received to finance his education at The United States Air Force Academy.
“One thing most people don’t realize about the service academies is that students still have to come up with a fair amount of tuition money on their own,” said Pat Zuk, Executive Director for First Tee – The Lowcountry. “Joshua is a really good kid. He actually just came back to update the board on how he’s doing. He’s getting really into engineering. He is not only going to be great for the community at large, but he’s also exactly who you want in the armed forces.”
Smith’s scholarship, presented this past April during the First Tee Gala, was spearheaded by national First Tee trustee and Palmetto Bluff resident John Bankhead. Awarding the scholarship in honor of his parents, Bankhead told C2 at the time:
“That’s one of the things that drew me to (First Tee) – working with youth and setting up scholarships.”
This year’s scholarship will be granted to a deserving student thanks to two stalwart benefactors of First Tee – The Lowcountry, Ken and Joan Campbell. One of the earliest donors to the then-fledgling program when it launched 11 years ago, the Campbells were only too happy to keep this invaluable scholarship going.
“When we explained it to Ken and Joan, they doubled the amount they were giving,” added Zuk.
Their generosity will help another student this year as the beneficiary of the 2025 First Tee – The Lowcountry Post-Secondary Education Scholarship. Eligible students must meet the following criteria:
Be a current or former First Tee – The Lowcountry participant.
Be in their senior year of high school or currently enrolled in a post-secondary two- or four-year program.
Have a minimum 2.0 GPA.
Exemplify First Tee’s dedication to community, embodying the nine core values, participating in Life Skills classes, and engaging in community service.
“For our donors like The Campbells and John Bankhead to make this kind of financial commitment is a real gift to us,” said Zuk. “Thanks to them, these young people can pursue whatever they want beyond high school, whether it’s a two- or four-year program or trade school.”
Interested students can apply through The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry or at firstteelowcountry.org.
Parents rely on sports – and trained coaches – to help their children build character and learn life skills, including working with others.
CHICAGO, Ill. & PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 19, 2024) – While 93% of parents agree that kids can learn important life skills from playing sports, four out of five parents also believe there is a shortage of high-caliber coaches today.
That is from a new survey by global consulting and market research firm, The Harris Poll, and youth development organization, First Tee. The U.S.-based survey was conducted online in April 2024 with feedback from 2,049 adults.
The survey captured data on youth involvement in extracurricular activities and sports. The data was also analyzed by gender, age, race, education, and income, among other characteristics.
“Since our mission is centered on positive youth development, we think it is important to seek parents’ perspectives as the world around them continues to change and their kids face new challenges,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “It helps us better understand and serve youth, and in the case of this study, it reinforces the importance of our investment in training our coaches.”
First Tee’s network of 150 chapters engages more than 5,000 active, trained coaches who deliver a curriculum designed with input from youth development experts using golf as the platform. The training system is built on research-proven methods of positive youth development, providing coaches with the tools to make kids feel safe, included and empowered. As part of First Tee’s onboarding, each coach is background-checked and completes training from the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
The key findings from the survey include:
89% of parents feel character is a lost value that should be more emphasized in today’s society – an increase of +4 percentage points from the 2023survey. Today’s kids and teens are facing new challenges, and strength of character is essential for overcoming obstacles. Parents understand that need, as nine out of 10parents seek opportunities for their kids to build character.
Parents believe sports can help close the character gap. Parents put their kids in extracurricular activities – with sports being most popular – for socialization and to build confidence. According to 93% of parents, children learn important life skills from playing sports.
Parents believe coaches are essential to youth development. Parents turn to coaches to help teach their kids character, self-confidence, determination and leadership. 91% of parents agree that sports coaching should inspire children to excel both on and off the field.
Safety is critically important to parents. They prefer coaches who have been background checked, with 94% of parents citing it as a priority in today’s world and 83% wishing their child had more access to well-trained coaches.
“While every generation confronts their own unique challenges, kids are facing new barriers to character development,” said Harris Poll CEO Will Johnson. “Our research findings make it clear: Parents, when registering your kids for the upcoming school year, don’t forget the critical development that comes outside the classroom.”
This is the second annual research collaboration between The Harris Poll and First Tee.
For the results of the 2023 parent survey, click here.
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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. Since 1997, First Tee has expanded to reach millions of kids annually through its network of 150 chapters, 11,000 schools and 1,900 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 The Harris Poll The Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. It works with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. One of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., The Harris Poll has tracked public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963, and is now part of Stagwell, the challenger holding company built to transform marketing.
### MEDIA CONTACTS: Annika Mayers, First Tee [email protected] 904-273-3513
Actors Michael Peña and Kathryn Newton will headlinethe two weeklong retreats focused on sharpening leadership skills.
WEST CREEK RANCH, Mont. (August 5, 2024) – First Tee and PGA TOUR Superstore are set to host 40 teens from across the country at West Creek Ranch, an intimate setting in Montana for leadership development, community building and connection. Owned by PGA TOUR Superstore chairman and First Tee board member Arthur M. Blank, the picturesque ranch is the perfect setting for a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these teens to explore leadership development, community building and problem solving. Students spend much of the time in outdoor interactions including whitewater rafting, horseback riding and archery, based on the belief that connections made in nature provide benefits that cannot be replicated in the classroom.
Each week will tee off with keynote speakers who will discuss their individual leadership, share life experiences and examine how they have grown through opportunities and challenges. The first week will feature actor Michael Peña, while actor and First Tee alumnus Kathryn Newton will be the featured speaker during the second week.
The First Tee Leadership Summit is designed to help teens grow their leadership skills through hands-on activities that require teamwork and personal strength. Daily leadership themes include pursuing goals, growing through challenges and building positive self-identity.
This is the fourth consecutive year that nonprofit youth development organization First Tee and PGA TOUR Superstore will hold this event at West Creek Ranch. This year’s group comes from 25 cities across the country, with 20 teens attending each week. West Creek Ranch is a 6,600-acre working ranch in Emigrant, Montana, that is bordered by the Yellowstone River and Gallatin National Forest.
“We are excited to host these 40 impressive teens for an unforgettable week of personal growth and relationship building,” said Dick Sullivan, Executive Chairman & CEO, PGA TOUR Superstore. “So many lessons from golf can be applied to life, and we truly believe in the positive impact sports can have on kids and teens, which is why we’re proud to support this event and partner with First Tee chapters across the country.”
“Thank you to Arthur Blank and PGA TOUR Superstore for their continued generosity in supporting this event,” added Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “The lessons these young leaders will take away from Montana will shape their futures in remarkable ways.”
At the conclusion of the Summit, four students will be selected for the First Tee College Scholarship Program and will receive financial support as well as access to mentorship and professional development opportunities throughout college.
To be eligible for the Summit, teens completed a five-week Leadership Series that was hosted at PGA TOUR Superstore locations across the country, before completing applications that outlined their leadership experience and goals. For more than a decade, PGA TOUR Superstore and Arthur Blank have championed First Tee’s mission through donations and by supporting participant events, including the Leadership Summit and the Leadership Academy, which is held in Atlanta.
The Leadership Summit is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee to expose teens to new challenges and inspire them as they prepare to embark on life after high school.
Clemson, South Carolina (June 27, 2024) – Norah Yang of Los Altos, California, and Trent Mierl of Austin, Texas, won the girls’ and boys’ divisions of the 4th annual First Tee National Championship at the Walker Course at Clemson University. The event brought together First Tee’s elite golfers for an opportunity to showcase how the program has helped build the confidence, perseverance and skills needed to play at the next level.
Yang finished the tournament 6-under-par and shot a final round 69 to clench the victory on the girls’ side. She is a rising high school senior with a 4.0 GPA. She’s been a volunteer coach at First Tee – Silicon Valley for three years and finished 3rd at the 2023 PURE Insurance Championship, a PGA Tour Champions event that pairs First Tee juniors with professional players for a week of competition and mentorship at Pebble Beach.
“It has been amazing playing at Clemson this week,” Yang said. “I have met so many amazing players from all the other chapters and had so many great experiences. Getting here and winning would not have been possible without First Tee and all the skills they have taught me.”
Mierl, who will play golf at the University of Missouri next year, shot a blistering 65 in the final round to finish 9-under for the tournament. He’s been a member of First Tee for nine years and is a volunteer coach at his chapter. He’s the only player to compete in all four First Tee National Championships, with the inaugural event taking place in 2021, and said it was special to win in his final attempt.
“I came up one shot short of the playoffs in the first National Championship,” he said. “I’ve met great people here and made so many great memories. This is my favorite junior golf event, and it feels like I came full circle in my final chance to win at the same golf course where I fell just short.”
Both winners were awarded with the Tattersall Cup in honor of event chairman Fred Tattersall.
Two players were also awarded exemptions to the 2024 PURE Insurance Championship. As First Tee juniors can only play in the PURE Insurance Championship once, this year’s exemptions went to Gianna Singh from First Tee – Greater Sacramento and Spencer Ives from First Tee – Naples/Collier. The tournament will be broadcast on Golf Channel, Sept. 20-22.
Based on their play at the First Tee National Championship, two players will also earn spots in the PGA TOUR’s Pathways to Progression program, which aims to support talented golfers from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in the sport. The PGA TOUR will announce the full roster for its Pathways program, including the two players who earned their spots at the First Tee National Championship, in the coming days.
“Congratulations to all of our participants in the field and especially to Trent and Norah for an outstanding performance in becoming the 2024 First Tee National Champions,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “This event plays an important role in helping these young people prepare for the next level. We are extremely proud of this event and of the teens who work hard on their game all year preparing. Thank you to Clemson University for hosting for the second time, we look forward to coming back again.”
The First Tee National Championship is held annually at various college golf courses around the nation, providing First Tee participants the opportunity to network with others from across the country. Next year’s event will take place at Notre Dame University.
The field included 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-18, who were selected based on their golf skills and competitive golf experience. A full list of results is available here.
The National Championship is one of more than 10 national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters to empower and motivate teens as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities.
For the first time, this year’s tournament will be streamed on Gamekast with live scoring available on Golf Genius.
Clemson, South Carolina – (June 21, 2024) – The Walker Course at Clemson Universitywill host the First Tee National Championship next week, June 25-27, 2024, bringing together 48 of the organization’s top golfers for a 54-hole event designed to showcase how the program has helped them build the skills, positive attitude and perseverance needed to play collegiate golf.
The field includes 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-18, who were selected based on their golf skills and competitive golf experience. Fourteen players in the field have already committed to college golf teams. First Tee held its inaugural National Championship at Clemson in 2021 and all six of the past winners are members of college golf teams. That includes 2023 winner Megan Meng of First Tee – Greater Trenton, who’s in the Top 10 in the AJGA Rankings and will begin her collegiate career at Northwestern this fall.
In advance of this year’s competition, the event will feature a keynote address by First Tee – Greater Richmond alumnus Gavin Parker, PGA, who shares his love for the sport on his popular social media channels. Participants will also attend a careers in golf panel to learn more about working in the industry.
“First Tee continues to play an important role in the development of teens, both on and off the course,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “Our National Championship is an opportunity for participants who want to take their game to the next level to showcase their skills. The week provides them with competition and an enriching opportunity to get them ready for playing in college and beyond.”
For the first time, viewers can stream the First Tee National Championship on Gamekast. Scoring will also be available on Golf Genius.
In addition to crowning a male and female tournament winner, one boy and one girl from the field will be awarded spots in the PGA TOUR’s Pathways to Progression program, a player development program that aims to achieve greater diversity in golf through an increased focus on developing talent from diverse and historically underrepresented groups.
First Tee – Greater Austin’s Danica Lundgren earned a spot in the Pathways program at last year’s National Championship, held at Stanford University. She’s back in the tournament field this year before joining the Nebraska Cornhuskers women’s golf team this fall.
Two exemptions to this year’s PURE Insurance Championship will also be up for grabs. The PGA TOUR Champions event pairs pro and junior players for a week of competition and mentorship at Pebble Beach each September.
The First Tee National Championship is held annually at various college campuses around the nation, providing First Tee participants the opportunity to network with others from across the country and take in the college experience. Next year’s event will take place at the University of Notre Dame.
The Championship is one of more than 10 national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters to empower and motivate teens as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities. For more information on the tournament and First Tee, visit www.firsttee.org.
Teens from across the U.S. will learn about leadership from executives within the Arthur M. Blank family of businesses.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. and ATLANTA, GA. (June 17, 2024) – The First Tee Leadership Academy in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore returns from June 17-22. The weeklong Atlanta event will bring together 48 teens from across the country who will learn about operating successful teams from executives within the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, PGA TOUR Superstore and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
The event is headlined by basketball legend Maya Moore, a 4-time WNBA, 2-time NCAA and 2-time Olympic champion, who off the court, has been a dedicated advocate of criminal justice reform. Participants will also hear from leaders like Atlanta United CEO Garth Lagerwey, Atlanta Falcons President Greg Beadles, PGA TOUR Superstore Chairman and CEO Dick Sullivan and Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Chief of Staff Kelley Gulley.
It will feature workshops on communication, developing a winning culture and more. Attendees will get a taste of the college experience, with the Georgia Institute of Technology serving as its hub. The group will also visit sites across Atlanta, including the PGA TOUR Superstore Support Center, the Coda building, Atlanta United’s training facility, the College Football Hall of Fame and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
“Our participants learn valuable skills at the First Tee Leadership Academy and have made friendships they will carry with them well beyond their time in Atlanta,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “We are grateful to PGA TOUR Superstore for supporting these truly life-changing events.”
PGA TOUR Superstore has been a partner of First Tee for more than a decade, providing financial support and in-kind donations. It provides chapter grants to promote teen retention and supports national events like the Leadership Academy, Leadership Summit and Leadership Series.
The First Tee Leadership Academy is one of ten national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters to inspire and empower teens as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities.
To be eligible to apply for the Academy, teens were required to participate in a five-week Leadership Series that was hosted at PGA TOUR Superstores across the country this past spring.
Members of the First Tee College Scholarship Program receive financial support, mentorship and professional development opportunities.
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – (June 4, 2024) – First Tee is thrilled to welcome 24 new members to the First Tee College Scholarship Program. Entering its fifth year, the program recently celebrated its first graduating class, and now boasts 94 current or former members. Like those who have come before them, each of the new First Tee Scholars has shown dedication to school, extracurriculars, volunteerism and especially First Tee, averaging 9.5 years of involvement with the youth development organization.
The 14 young women and 10 young men who comprise the 2024 Scholar class were selected from a pool of 150 applicants. They boast an average GPA of 4.0 and SAT score of 1350. Ten members of the new class are participants in the Ace Program, First Tee’s capstone experience. Four plan to play collegiate golf, including First Tee – West Virginia’s Argyle Downes, who will play Division I golf at Rutgers.
Members of the First Tee College Scholarship program not only receive financial support, but they are also matched with an adult mentor and provided annual professional development opportunities.
“Spring is an exciting time of the year when we welcome a new group of First Tee Scholars,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “The scholarship program has grown significantly since it launched in 2020 thanks to our generous donors and sponsors. We look forward to supporting our Scholars on their path to success.”
Ten First Tee Scholars graduated from college this spring. Several plan to attend graduate or medical school, while others are starting careers with companies like AWS, BNP Paribas Bank, PwC, Proctor & Gamble and the NFL.
Participants across First Tee’s network submitted applications to be a part of the latest Scholar class. Following an online application process, finalists were selected by a committee
for one-on-one interviews. In addition to academic performance, applicants were considered based on financial need, chapter involvement, community service and other criteria.
Up to $32,000 in scholarships will be awarded to participants whose projects generate the greatest impact
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – (Nov. 9, 2023) – Twenty-eight exemplary teens from across the U.S. will attend the First Tee Innovators Forum in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, home of the PGA TOUR, from Nov. 9-12. Each student will spend four days conceptualizing an original community service project with guidance from First Tee and its partners. Participants will then implement the projects when they return home, with the opportunity to earn a share of up to $32,000 to support future educational pursuits.
During the event, participants will hear from seven-time PGA TOUR winner Billy Horschel, who has demonstrated his commitment to growing diversity in golf and supporting his neighbors in northeast Florida through his own philanthropic endeavors. The teens will participate in interactive workshops and small breakout sessions covering a variety of topics including education, healthcare advocacy and programming.
They will also learn about sustainability on an eco-cruise through the estuaries of nearby St. Augustine with support from TruGreen and receive counsel on their projects from technology consulting firm CapTech, both First Tee Trustees.
Parts of the event will take place at PGA TOUR Global Home and TPC Sawgrass. The purpose of the event is to encourage participants to become innovators in their respective communities, culminating with each teen presenting the plans for their project.
“Our participants have produced creative and impactful community service projects since this event launched – addressing issues like food insecurity and environmental sustainability – and we look forward to seeing what this group of impressive teens will uncover throughout the event week,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “Thank you to Doug MacKenzie for making this event possible, and for our partners CapTech and TruGreen for participating in the experience.”
The 28 teens attending the forum were selected based on academic achievement, community service, chapter involvement, leadership, essay responses and letters of recommendation.
First Tee is a youth development organization teaching life skills and helping kids and teens build their strength of character through golf. The First Tee Innovators Forum is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee Headquarters to encourage and motivate participants as they progress through the program and toward high school graduation.
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 kids and teens 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.
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (Sept. 24, 2023) – After a week of competition and mentorship, Alyssa Stewart and Brayden Casolari are the junior winners of the 2023 PURE Insurance Championship impacting First Tee, an official PGA TOUR Champions event, which concluded Sunday at Pebble Beach.
Alyssa Stewart representing First Tee – Greater Dallas and paired with Justin Leonard, and Brayden Casolari representing First Tee – Pine Mountain and paired with Brian Gay, claimed the female and male Pro-Junior titles, respectively. Stewart and Leonard finished 28-under, while Casolari and Gay capped off the event 21-under, climbing three spots up the leaderboard Sunday to clinch the victory.
Stewart and Leonard took the lead Saturday after recording a 59 at Spyglass Hill and extended their advantage Sunday, shooting a 63 at Pebble Beach. Meanwhile, Casolari and Gay birdied 18 on Sunday to secure their come-from-behind victory in the Pro-Junior competition, shooting an 8-under 64 at Pebble Beach.
In its 20th year, the PURE Insurance Championship brings First Tee participants from chapters across the country to Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course, where they demonstrate the skills and values they’ve practiced at First Tee to play alongside PGA TOUR Champions players and amateurs from the business world. The annual event was televised internationally on Golf Channel.
“The 80 players in the junior field represented First Tee well this week,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “Our program aims to instill confidence and perseverance in the young people it serves, and I think those traits were on display during the tournament. A special congratulations to Alyssa and Brayden 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 week an unforgettable experience for our participants.”
Stewart is a 17-year-old high school senior who is committed to play golf next year at Houston Christian University. With a +3.9 handicap, Stewart has set records at two courses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She aspires to play on the LPGA Tour and become a veterinarian.
“I feel amazing right now,” Stewart said after her victory. “Words can’t even describe it. I just have a lot of thanks for my mom, PURE Insurance, First Tee and the PGA TOUR Champions players. Something that I learned this week is that you can’t really dwell on one shot. You have to move forward.”
Casolari is a 15-year-old high school sophomore from Cumberland, Kentucky. He took up golf 8 years ago at Lynch Country Club in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky after borrowing a set of left-handed clubs. Casolari volunteers with the Empty Stocking Fund and Tri-City Little League. He aspires to play collegiate golf and works at a local course. His trip to the PURE Insurance Championship was his first time traveling by airplane.
“This has been a great experience,” said Casolari. “This is my first time out there, and I love this course. My pro and I hit some good shots out there.”
During the week, First Tee partners PURE Insurance and Chevron both celebrated their commitment to First Tee’s mission and raised additional funds to support the First Tee College Scholarship Program through special events. Leaders from PURE Insurance extended a surprise invitation to the scholarship program to 17-year-old Aditi Balakrishna, a high school senior from First Tee – Tri-Valley in Northern California. 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.
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. Since 1997, First Tee has expanded to reach millions of kids annually through its network of 150 chapters, 11,000 schools and 1,900 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
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.
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.
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (Sept. 22, 2023) – PURE Insurance continued its ongoing support of the First Tee College Scholarship Program Thursday during the PURE Insurance Championship impacting First Tee by surprising First Tee – Tri-Valley’s Aditi Balakrishna with an invitation to the program based on her academic record and commitment to helping others.
Balakrishna, who is participating in this week’s PGA TOUR Champions event at Pebble Beach, is a 17-year-old senior at Foothill High School in Pleasanton, California, where she is vice president of the Society of Women Engineers and president of the Neurodiversity Club. Balakrishna founded HappyArt, an organization that creates cards for Bay Area seniors, and she volunteers with First Tee – Tri-Valley and Special Olympics.
Launched in 2020, the First Tee College Scholarship Program currently serves 70 First Tee Scholars selected into the program based on their academic performance, involvement in First Tee programs, financial need and commitment to volunteerism.
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, including a commitment of $1M over five years to support the First Tee College Scholarship Program.
“I’m so proud to continue our involvement with, and support of, this incredible organization,” said Martin Leitch, CEO of PURE Insurance. “It’s particularly gratifying to know that we can impact the remarkable young men and women of First Tee, like Aditi, in such a powerful way.”
First Tee is a youth development organization that uses golf to teach life skills and values. The First Tee College Scholarship Program extends its impact to alumni by providing support throughout their post-graduate career with Scholars receiving mentorship, professional and personal development workshops and financial support. Select PURE Insurance associates will serve as mentors and the company will contribute to educational sessions, helping share industry knowledge and expertise with scholars who are interested in business and finance.
“Congratulations to Aditi for all her accomplishments in the classroom, on the golf course and in her community,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “Thank you to PURE Insurance for its ongoing support of First Tee. By supporting the PURE Insurance Championship and the First Tee College Scholarship Program, PURE Insurance is supporting our efforts to empower youth and prepare them for the future. ”
First Tee College Scholarship Program is made possible by donors and corporate partners, like PURE Insurance, that stand behind the program and First Tee’s mission.
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. Since 1997, First Tee has expanded to reach millions of kids annually through its network of 150 chapters, 11,000 schools and 1,900 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 PURE Insurance
Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE) is dedicated to creating an exceptional experience for responsible high net worth families, providing customizable coverage for high-value homes, automobiles, jewelry, art, personal liability, watercraft, flood, fraud and cyber fraud. PURE’s low cost of capital, careful member selection and proactive risk management contribute to fair pricing and a Financial Strength Rating of “A (Excellent)” from A.M. Best Company, Inc. PURE has sustained at least 15% annual growth in each year since its inception and now serves more than 100,000 members across the United States.
The international youth development organization recognized Brown for her ability to connect with students and spread her love for golf.
SAVANNAH, Ga. Aug. 24, 2023 – Ariel Brown, an elementary teacher at Savannah Legacy Academy, has been named 2023 Teacher of the Year by First Tee, an international youth development nonprofit that helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf. The award is presented to one teacher each year who has gone above and beyond in delivering the First Tee School Program, which brings First Tee’s character-building curriculum to thousands of school gyms across the country.
Brown has been an elementary teacher at Savannah Legacy Academy since 2014. The school, located in downtown Savannah, was founded and operated by her parents. The Title 1 school serves 100% minority students, and Brown offers First Tee programming there on Fridays. Brown is also a First Tee alumna and was the first coach at First Tee – Savannah when the chapter relaunched in summer 2021.
“As a coach, Ariel thrived from the beginning,” said First Tee – Savannah program director John Parker. “She began encouraging the students in her elementary school classes to enroll in our off-site program. I can without hesitation say that some of our best kids in programming today are there because of Ariel.”
“It’s indeed an honor to see a former First Tee – Savannah participant become the National Teacher of the Year,” said First Tee – Savannah Board Member Teia Acker Moore. “This recognition shows Ariel’s deep passion for the sport and her desire to share her knowledge and skills with others. As a teacher, she has inspired and guided new generations of golfers, imparting not only technical expertise but also sportsmanship, teamwork and personal growth. This journey and Ariel’s achievement as Teacher of the Year highlights the positive impact that First Tee has on shaping individuals’ lives and fostering a sense of community within the golfing world.”
Brown was surprised with the award in her classroom at Savannah Legacy Academy, where she was presented with balloons, flowers and a video with congratulatory messages from colleagues and loved ones. Her achievement was highlighted by Golf Digest.
Since launching in 1997, First Tee has grown into a preeminent youth development organization seamlessly integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum. Its network spans 150 chapters with programs delivered at 1,400 golf courses, 10,000 schools and 1,700 youth centers in all 50 states and select international locations. In 2022, First Tee impacted more than 3.4 million kids and teens with more than 10,000 adults – from volunteers, coaches and board members – as well as teachers from schools across the country working tirelessly to help empower participants.
Through the First Tee Awards in partnership with Golf Digest, First Tee recognizes the dedicated adults and chapters who go above and beyond to bring its mission to life every day.
“The First Tee School Program reached more than 3 million kids last year,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “Obviously, it takes a lot of committed adults to make that happen. But our colleagues at First Tee – Savannah told us Brown stands out for her ability to connect with the kids she serves. Congratulations to Ariel on this well-deserved honor.”
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About First Tee – Savannah
First Tee — Savannah is one of 150 First Tee chapters across the U.S. and select international locations. 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. First Tee — Savannah reaches kids and teens through programs delivered at the 5 program locations, 20schools and 4 youth centers. Learn more at www.firstteesavannah.org.
