(First Tee – Silicon Valley to Receive $2.125 Million Secured by Senator Cortese to Invest in Youth Leadership and Development Published 9/21/2026)
San José, CA – First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) will be receiving $2.125 in state funding secured by California State Senator Dave Cortese (D-San José) as part of the Legislature’s 2026 Budget Bill Jr. package. The funds are an investment in FTSV’s youth development programs that are accessible to youth of different backgrounds and perspectives and affordable to families experiencing financial hardship.
“First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) is deeply grateful for Senator Dave Cortese’s long-time, and heartfelt commitment to and support of our youth development programs. Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course in East San Jose is essential to our instruction, which includes core values, life skills, work skills, leadership principles, and career planning. This investment will strengthen FTSV by enabling us to help more kids and teens with additional class options and improved operations,” said President & CEO George Maxe.
with Board Chairman Victor M. Arrañaga, Jr.
Senator Cortese’s connection to FTSV spans 26 years while he was a San José City Councilmember, Santa Clara County Supervisor, and now California State Senator. He supported FTSV’s original program, Eagles at Rancho junior golf, when it was created by the San José Sports Authority in 2020. He supported FTSV and advocated for Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course (Rancho) – FTSV’s main program location – multiple times when the City of San José wanted to develop the open space. Now he is supporting FTSV and Rancho with this investment of district funds to improve FTSV’s program spaces, including an expanded classroom, and operations.
“Investing in our young people means investing in the places where they learn and build confidence,” said Senator Cortese. “This $2.125 million investment will strengthen an important community facility in East San José and help ensure that First Tee – Silicon Valley can continue providing educational and developmental opportunities for local youth through sport.”
FTSV will be coordinating the use of this investment with Rancho’s operator and leaseholder, CourseCo, and the City of San José including the department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services, District 5 Councilmember Peter Ortiz, and the Mayor’s Office of Innovation and Public-Private Partnerships.
“Investing in our young people today creates lasting impacts tomorrow,” said San José Mayor Matt Mahan. “I want to thank Senator Cortese for consistently bringing home dollars that make a difference in our region, in this case supporting First Tee, which helps keep our East Side kids on course — in life and on the green.”
FTSV’s presence at Rancho has had a major impact for over 25 years helping children and investing financially. The program has grown significantly serving over 110,000 kids and teens. In 2025, 5,936 Course Participants and School Students, who were 85% Ethnically Diverse and 64% Low-Income, experienced its life skills programs. FTSV and its donors have made a noteworthy investment to achieve these results – over $10,000,000 on its Rancho-based programs alone. There are many stories of its FTSV’s impact and on Senator Cortese’s involvement.