(Ameriprise Financial Tournament Benefits FTSV) For the second time, the Ameriprise Financial Associate and Client Tournament on June 10th at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club benefited FTSV. Ninety-two golfers raised $4,600 to help us provide financial aid so low-income kids can have access to our youth development program. Our goal is to develop life-long golfers of all levels while teaching life skills.
A special thank you to Chi Kim & Family, Gabe Wang and Kenneth Lee for hosting and for your partnership. Thank you for helping us mentor MORE kids!
To highlight the importance of these types of fundraising partnerships, FTSV’s Jennifer Barrientos (Dennis Kettmann Memorial Scholarship recipient) was invited to be a speaker.
Read more about Jennifer Barrientos’s achievements HERE.
If you have an upcoming tournament and would like to make First Tee – Silicon Valley the beneficiary, please click here.
Celebrating 130 Years, Ameriprise Financial putting clients first since 1894. Generations of clients have entrusted Ameriprise Financial with their futures. Reaching beyond standard financial and retirement plans to provide a personalized financial advice strategy that is right for you. Banking, investments or insurance, find out how Ameriprise compares to other financial services companies, CLICK HERE.
(FTSV 13th Annual OPEN Supporters & Winners) FTSV’s 13th Annual OPEN tournament on June 6th was a great day for all. The weather couldn’t have been better at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club for the 124 golfers including 10 top sponsors who came together for a great cause, raising a total of $140,000. Proceeds benefit First Tee – Silicon Valley’s financial aid program. We teach life skills and golf skills on-course, in-school, and after-school. Our programs are accessible to youth of different backgrounds and perspectives and affordable to families experiencing financial hardship.
One of our teen participants, Juan Hernandez, shared the impact our program has had on him and his brother saying “I graduated from Highschool today and I will be going to Sacramento State to study Civil Engineering. I am going to be the first in my family to attend college. I know the skills I have been developing in First Tee – Silicon Valley will help me to make the most of it. Skills such as goal setting, collaborative communication and building a go-to-team full of people who challenge me and support me are going to make me successful.”.
We would like to recognize all the individuals behind our Sponsorships.
Presenting Sponsor: SAGA Foundation (David Bartoshuk)
Hosting PLUS Sponsors: PGA TOUR Superstores in Cupertino & East Palo Alto (Kate Nielsen & Brad Hanson)
Hosting Sponsors: Gallagher (Mike Gallagher)
Contributing Sponsors: Hallagan Huston Family Foundation (Ron Hallagan), PwC (Sarah Beelaard), Panera Bread (Jeff Burrill), Pinnacle Bank (Doug Moffat), Bill Powar, Ajinomoto (Max von Poelnitz), Luna Mexican Kitchen (John Lopez)
DGDG Car Hole-in-One – no winners but special thanks to Jeremy Beaver for their sponsorship.
Thank you to our Raffle Donors and Winners
La Rinconada Country Club – Derek Anderson
Almaden Golf & Country Club – Kevin Kelly
Silver Creek Valley Country Club – Alan Eustace
Boulder Ridge Golf Club - Tom Tate
San Jose Country Club – Bill Powar
The Peninsula Golf & Country Club – Lucas Wendt
Callaway Elyte Driver & Hyperlight Zero Stand Bag- Kathy Kwan
Scotty Cameron Putter – Steve Almassy
The Clubhouse in Fremont – John Turner
Total Wine Private Wine Class for 20 – Steve Baroni
Daytrip in Tesla Cybertruck – Rod Wade
Thank you to our Live Auction Donors & Supporters:
Eden Rift Vineyards ATV Tour & Tasting for 8 with Christian Pillsbury & Michelle Wei – Ken Miller
49ers 2-Game Package Plus Tailgate Parking x 2 – Gareth Hunt & Robert Carrillo/Mathew Turner
Special Day at Mayacama Golf Club with Mike Blach – Ron Hallagan
An Evening with San Jose Sharks with Randy Hahn – Steve Almassy
Spectacular Golf for 8 at CordeValle Golf Club x 2 – Ron Hallagan & Rod Wade
SF Giants Experience + Memorabilia – Steve Almassy
Warriors VIP Sandisk Courtside Lounge Experience x 2 – Steve Baroni & Ron Hallagan
Special Day at Olympic Club with Kolbey Moreno – Eric Arnold
Thank you to our MC & Auctioneer Randy Hahn – Emmy Award winning Sharks television broadcaster
Thank you to Board of Directors and Ambassadors who participated or helped with sponsors: Victor Arrañaga, Sarah Beelaard, Steve Almassy, Max von Poelnitz, Shawn Fox, Steve Guerrero, Andrea Brenholz , Dick Budelli, Don DeLorenzo, Ron Hallagan, Doug Moffat, Kunal Shalia, Alex Worbel.
Thank you to our Tournament Coordinators: Development Director Judy Dixon Deaton & Marketing/Events Coordinator Nicole Woodson
Thank you to our Staff: President & CEO George Maxe, Program Director Chris Moreno-Hunt, Operations Coordinator Julie Donnellan, Program Coordinators Manny Gallardo, Phoenix Jarrell-Desch, Tanner Riley, Austin Westly
Thank you to our Volunteers: Michael Freday, Joshua Joo, Diego Garcia, Gabe Garcia, Nico Hernandez, Sahara Huchim, Zoe Huchim, Kai Nishihara, Vian Tran, Norah Yang, Dharini Sitaraman, Jennifer Barrientos, Jerry Moore, Leonardo Villegas, Ben Hsu
Thank you to Cinnabar Hills Golf Club: Tournament Director Nick Starr, General Manager Adam Schiro, and Food & Beverage and Grounds Staff for a perfectly run tournament.
Proceeds from the Open will help us impact the lives of youth by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. We believe that all kids deserve the chance to grow in a supportive environment with mentors guiding them. We are dedicated to growing our program so it is accessible to MORE kids.
Please contact our Development Director, Judy Dixon Deaton 408-508-4881 – [email protected] to discuss sponsorship or underwriting opportunities for next year’s Open in June.
(7th Annual Parent University – a resounding success!) On Saturday, May 17th, 2025, Alum Rock Union School District (ARUSD) and First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) once again teamed up to bring the 7th annual Parent University to Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course. The event, which has long been a resounding success, was no different this year, with 705 students and their families coming out for a community day of fun and games at the golf course.
At the practice facility and on several holes throughout the course, FTSV set up a taste of what our programs offer, with fun games and activities all backed up with a specific life skill to focus on. Each station was packed with students and their families, many of whom were trying out golf for the very first time. Each group rotated through the stations before gathering for lunch and live music in the afternoon.
The focus of Parent University has always been on gathering the community and bringing valuable resources to the families of Alum Rock. ARUSD’s Student Services Department helped organize a ton of fantastic experiences for attendees, including several info booths, a great raffle, and even the ARUSD Jazz Band. And in a show of force as to just what this type of event means for the community, we were even joined by two local officials, Santa Clara County Supervisor Betty Duong and State Assemblymember Ash Kalra, who provided their encouraging remarks to kick-off the event.
From left: FTSV Board Victor M. Arrañaga Jr., ARUSD Superintendent German Cerda, CA State Rep Ash Kalra, Supervisor Betty Duong, FTSV CEO George Maxe
Here’s what their saying about the 7th Annual Parent University
Each year, FTSV is proud to partner with ARUSD and come together to serve and benefit the residents of our community. “FTSV was so pleased to play host once again at ARUSD’s Parent University at Rancho. The event was a huge success giving so many students and families the opportunity to experience golf and FTSV’s life skills curriculum. Rancho is FTSV’s home program location and East San Jose’s community golf course, so utilizing it in such a way is a perfect pairing for ARUSD and FTSV.” said George Maxe, FTSV President & CEO.
ARUSD Superintendent German Cerda said, “First Tee is a shining example of the powerful impact that school and community partnerships can have. It was truly inspiring to see so many families come together for this special event, where both students and parents were introduced to the game of golf—many for the very first time. Moments like these remind us what meaningful engagement really looks like.”
Interested in having your school or youth development program partner with First Tee – Silicon Valley? Please contact our Program Coordinator, Tanner Riley at (408) 508-4885, [email protected], or visit our outreach page.
(PwC and AWS Volunteer Day at Rancho Del Pueblo) On Tuesday, May 13th, PwC and Amazon Web Services employees “rolled up their sleeves” to clean-up the streets, parking lot and FTSV storage areas at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course. This was the first, of what we hope will be many more, quarterly Corporate Volunteer Days in May, August, November and February.
Corporate volunteerism is a pillar of corporate social responsibility, and by encouraging employees to volunteer their time and give back to their community’s nonprofits, there are considerable benefits. Employees gain positive team building experiences, while providing a valuable service to the local community.
Amongst the 12 PwC and 9 AWS volunteers, were 7 FTSV staff members there to facilitate the clean-up. “The volunteers in my group were from different walks of life and it was really interesting to hear their stories as we worked” said Nicole Woodson, FTSV Marketing Coordinator. “We were laughing, talking about the various tasks at our companies and forming relationships. It was a very positive teamwork experience for all of us”.
Throughout the morning, corporate volunteers cleaned and organized FTSV’s storage areas for our incoming summer class kids. Additionally, they swept and raked the sidewalks, streets and parking lot. In total, 30 large garbage bags were filled with trash and debris.
“First Tee – Silicon Valley and Rancho are very grateful to the PwC and AWS employees who helped us spruce up Rancho and FTSV’s storage. We want the best for all FTSV participants including an environment that is safe, clean and organized. The higher the quality program we offer, the greater the positive impact we can have on kids’ and teens’ lives,” said George Maxe, FTSV President & CEO.
If you your company would like to participate in the next Corporate Volunteer Day, contact George Maxe [email protected] 408-288-2937.
On Sunday, September 22nd, First Tee – Silicon Valley participants attended the PURE Insurance Championship to go walk Pebble Beach Golf Course in support of our very own Joey Jang.
For this trip, the generous Monterey Peninsula Foundation granted us funds to charter a bus to take 38 participants and 6 chaperones to show our support for Joey and the First Tee. The attending participants were invited based on how long they were in our program and how active they are in our golf opportunities. From taking multiple classes to being in our tournaments, these participants truly have a passion for the game of golf.
The main focus of this field trip is to validate their commitment to our program. By watching these selected First Tee tournament players, we hope this trip inspires our own participants to continue their golf journey with us at First Tee.
The PURE Insurance Championship is an opportunity for committed First Tee participants to be able to play with Professional and Pro-Amateur PGA players at one of the most recognized golf courses in the world- Pebble Beach. The process to get into this tournament requires an application process as well as a referral from your chapter, then the finalized entries are made by First Tee National.
Joey Jang, from Gilroy, was selected to represent our chapter with his partner- 95’ US Open Championship Winner, Corey Pavin. Joey has been part of FTSV since 2016 and has continued to grow as a person through our volunteering opportunities. He gives back on Saturday’s at Gavilan while also maintaining a student-athlete career at Christopher High School. Joey finished -5 on the weekend and ranked within the top 25 in the Tournament. We are beyond proud of how well Joey played and handled himself and will continue to support him as he continues his junior year at Christopher.
We would like to thank the coaches who volunteered as chaperones – Alex W., Nestor A., Amado V., Emma V., and James P. Without the 5 of you, we would not have been able to have this awesome trip. We also wanted to recognize the parents of the invited participants. Thank you for bringing the excited kids to us and trusting us with your children yet again.
The KRTY.COM Writers Cup will benefit First Tee – Silicon Valley. Join some of Nashville’s country music songwriters on October 7th at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club for a day of golf, guitars and giving back!
First Tee – Silicon Valley presents our 12th Annual Open Scramble Golf Tournament on Friday, June 7th at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club. The Open will be our only golf tournament fundraiser this year with a full-field shotgun utilizing all 27 holes and the opportunity for many companies and individuals to show their support. Click here to Register to Sponsor or Play.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Presenting – SAGA Foundation
Hosting Plus – EmmaLily Winery and PGA TOUR Superstore
Hosting – Hallagan Huston Family Foundation and Gallagher and PwC
Contributing – Guerrero Properties, Pinnacle Bank, EY, Luna Mexican Kitchen, D&V Engineering, Panera Bread
All proceeds benefit First Tee – Silicon Valley, 501(c)3 #46-3102278
Gather your clients, co-workers and friends for a great day of camaraderie to help MORE kids! Our unique approach to youth development transforms lives and gives kids and teens a brighter future. We teach life skills and golf skills on-course, in-school, and after-school. Our programs are accessible to youth of different backgrounds and perspectives and affordable to families experiencing financial hardship.
$20,000 Presenting Sponsor – 3 foursomes and 2 hole sponsor signs plus co-branded logo on all signage, website, socials, newsletters, flyer and program ($16,250 Tax Deductible)
$10,000 Hosting Sponsor – 2 foursomes and 1 hole sponsor sign plus logo on sponsor signage, website, newsletter and program ($7,500 Tax Deductible)
$6,000 Contributing Sponsor – 1 foursome and 1 hole sponsor sign plus logo on sponsor sign and program ($4,750 Tax Deductible)
$2,500 Foursome or $1,250 Twosome Sponsor – 18 holes of golf, shared cart, boxed lunch, tee prize, on-course beverages and snacks, dinner and awards program per player ($1,250/$625 Tax Deductible)
$1500 Hole Sponsor – 1 hole sign, program and sponsor sign listing, plus 2 dinner invites ($1,500 Tax Deductible)
$100 Contest & Raffle Bundle Add On –Per player includes all Contests – Putting, Closest to the Pin and Car Hole-In-One Plus 1 Mulligan and 10 Raffle Tickets.
Option to pay by credit card now or register and pay later by mailing check to: First Tee – Silicon Valley 2797 Park Avenue, Suite 205 Santa Clara, CA 95050
Tournament Timeline
10:30am – Check In, Tee Prize, Range Open, Lunch
12:00pm – Welcome In Carts
12:30pm – Shotgun Start
5:30pm – Dinner & Awards
7:00pm – Closing Remarks
The tournament will be played as a “scramble” format. Each team member will hit from the tee. Two tee shots from each player must be used during the round. The team will select which of the four (4) tee shots it will use for its second shot. Each team member will hit their second shot from the location of the selected tee shot. This process will continue until the ball is holed out. The highest team score per hole will be MAX Bogey (1 over Par) to maintain a good pace of play. 1 Mulligan per player if purchased with Contest/Raffle Bundle. Mulligans apply only to one player — not the entire foursome. Prizes will be awarded to the First and Second Place Teams with the lowest scores.
Please Contact Judy Dixon Deaton for Sponsorships or other information (408) 508-4881 or [email protected]
On Sunday, September 30th, First Tee – Silicon Valley took a field trip to Pebble Beach Golf Links for the PURE Insurance Championship. Program Coordinators and volunteers brought 40 participants to the beautiful golf course, not only to watch the PGA TOUR Champions play, but also to support three of our very own FTSV participants playing on teams with Pros. Camille Thai, Norah Yang, and Joshua Jang all did a fantastic job representing FTSV and we are incredibly proud of them. Their life skills of sportsmanship, integrity and respect were on full display, not to mention their golf skills, which they have developed over the years with plenty of hard work.
The PURE Insurance Championship is an international showcase for First Tee and has been played at Pebble Beach Golf Links since 2004. This event pairs up PGA TOUR Champions (age 50 and over) with First Tee players in a Best Ball format. The groups play the first two days at Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach. If after these first rounds the group is in the top 10, they go on to play Sunday at Pebble Beach and compete for the top spot. All three of our participants represented FTSV beautifully, and were even able to secure 3rd and 6th place overall.
Camille, Norah and Joshua all had lots to say about how this big weekend went for them.
Camille ThaiNorah YangJoshua Jang
For Camille Thai, the whole weekend was just surreal. She made many new friends, learned a lot from her Pro, Jerry Kelly, and left the weekend excited and hopeful for the future. Parts of the weekend were nerve wracking, specifically learning how to play with professionals, but as the tournament went on, Camille was able to get comfortable in her golf game and fully enjoy the experience. As Camille came down hole 18, FTSV participants stood up against the ropes, cheering her on and watching her finish her round with poise. Then, Camille came, sat down with the participants, and signed autographs, creating life time memories for her newest, young fans. It was really an incredible sight to witness, and the whole day is something everyone involved will remember for a long time.
The relationships and community Norah Yang built over the weekend will stay with her for a long time to come. From meeting and spending time with other First Tee participants, to listening two-time major winner Christie Kerr speak about managing stress and being present in the moment, and spending time playing with and learning from her pro, YE Yang, Norah left the weekend knowing more about the game of golf, herself, and the wonderful and supportive community she has within the game. For her, this tournament was a wild, full-circle kind of experience. Ten years ago, back in 2013, Norah remembers watching our FTSV participant Michelle Xie win this same event and becoming inspired by another amazing, female youth golfer. Now, through years of hard work and personal development, Norah feels like she is in the place to do the same thing, inspiring another generation of young golfers to be their best selves.
While he already knew First Tee was a community of support and collaboration, Joshua Jang left Pebble Beach and the PURE Insurance Championship with a deepened appreciation and understanding of just how much golf and First Tee have shaped him and his wonderful community. Before the weekend, Joshua had not played Pebble Beach before, so when he stepped on to the course Friday late in the afternoon, he was blown away by the picturesque nature of the course. With the perfect sunset over the ocean, the gentle sea breeze and the perfect condition of the course, the everything felt almost unbelievable. As Joshua played his practice rounds, he met many great people, including caddies who went out of their way to help him with strategy and staying relaxed, and other First Tee participants from across the country. What stood out to him the most from the weekend, even more so than just the awe of playing in such a big tournament, was all the different cultures and people he experienced. He said he was surprised how much difference he noticed between people from different parts of the country, while still having so much in common, especially in their very strong life skills and love and appreciation for the game of the golf and the community that comes with it. To Joshua, the part of First Tee that stands out to him the most is the community, the group of people who value communication, mentorship, collaboration and all of the First Tee core values. The PURE Insurance Championship put this on full display for him, and reaffirmed his connection to FTSV.
Support our 3 FTSV participants as they compete in the 2023 PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship
First Tee – Silicon Valley Ace participants Joshua Jang, Norah Yang, and Camille Thai will be competing next week in the PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links, September19th to the 24th. You can watch the tournament on Golf Channel Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (22nd-24th) from 3-6pm. You can also watch in person. Click here for more information. Best of luck to Joshua, Norah, and Camille!
Meet Joshua
Joshua is a standout FTSV participant and volunteer coach. Joshua has been an engaged participant since 2016 and a dedicated FTSV volunteer since 2020, amassing over 200 volunteer hours. He’s taken initiative and collaborates well with our staff on ideas for program improvements. He is also a high-performing competitive golfer. He recently qualified for the 112th California Amateur Championship and is a 3-year starter for his varsity golf team. “I feel that my selection for the PURE Insurance is a testament that First Tee has always been about more than just golf,” says Joshua. “First Tee – Silicon Valley has been an important part of my life, and the strong sense of community and support for one another has helped me realize what it means to be part of a positive change larger than oneself.”
Click here to watch Joshua Jang find out he was selected on Golf Channel.
Meet Norah
Norah is a leader and role model in her classes as a FTSV participant and as a volunteer coach. She has been active as a participant since 2015 and began volunteering as a FTSV coach in 2022. As it relates to her golfing acumen, Norah led her high school golf team to a league championship as a freshman and was awarded MVP in 2021. She has qualified for the USKids World Championship twice and the IMG Junior World at Torrey Pines. Additionally, Norah has placed high in several AGJA tournaments. “I am so excited to play,” says Norah. “There are so many applicants for these wonderful events, and to be selected makes me feel so honored and proud. First Tee had supported me every step of my golf journey, from not even knowing how to hold a golf club to being able to compete nationally with amazing golfers. It has taught me so much, and I look forward to representing First Tee – Silicon Valley.”
Meet Camille
Camille has been an outstanding participant in our program for a decade and has assisted us in our fundraising events. A highly ranked golfer who won the IMG Junior Worlds and placed 2nd at the Pinehurst US Kids World Team Championship, shooting 65. “I’m so excited and honored to be selected,” says Camille. “I’ve been with the First Tee for more than 10 years now and it has been instrumental in helping me develop both as a person and a player. I wouldn’t be who I am today without it.”
“We are excited for all three to experience an opportunity of a lifetime,” says Chris Moreno-Hunt, FTSV Program Director. “All three have been dedicated participants, and have made our chapter a better place. We will be cheering them on!”
The Joyce Taylor Eagle Award and $5,000 College Scholarship was presented to Jonathan Tessman at the First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) 2023 Invitational fundraiser on Sunday, July 16th at CordeValle in San Martin, CA. Thank you to all our 2023 Invitational sponsors for their continued support as we celebrate our 20th year to address socio-economic gaps with programs designed to foster diversity, equity and inclusion. FTSV has served over 90,000 youth making our program accessible to youth of different backgrounds and perspectives and affordable to families experiencing financial hardship.
Jonathan was selected for his consistent academic excellence, his exemplary volunteer accomplishments, and for his demonstration of First Tee character and life skills. The purpose of the award is to provide a high school student the financial hope of attending college. For Jonathan, the scholarship will help him with his acceptance to attend UC Berkeley to study Business.
The scholarship was initiated by a very generous 9-year grant by PG&E several years ago by founding FTSV Board Director, Victor M. Arrañaga, Jr. and has since then been supported by her brother Alan Taylor.
In additional to the Joyce Taylor Award presentation, the Invitational included a gathering of Government Affairs professionals from various companies: HP, Inc., PG&E, NGR, Chevron, SoCal Gas, PhRMA, SDGE, SoCal Edison, Niemela Pappas & Assoc, Altria, Lancaster Toyota, and Intuit. Organized by FTSV Board Chairman Victor Arrañaga and FTSV President & CEO George Maxe, sponsors participated in a Legislative Roundtable, dinners, and golf with their colleagues. A special thanks to the following Government Elected Officials who were in attendance for portions of the event: CA Senator Dave Cortese, CA Senator Steven Bradford, CA Speaker Robert Rivas, CA Assembly Member Flora Heath, Silicon Valley Leadership CEO Ahmad Thomas, and Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone.
First Tee – Silicon Valley Board of Directors, staff, and program participants, thank you for your commitment and support of our mission to develop the character of youth through the game of golf.
Joyce Taylor (1957–2010) was a woman known for her intelligence, warmth, and elegance. She graduated with honors (Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of Oklahoma (OU) with a Bachelor’s degree in journalism. Joyce became a highly successful and respected business woman and community leader with a long career in telecommunications. In 1997, she was promoted to Regional President, Bay Area, and then Senior Vice President, External Affairs-Northern California, AT&T, where she oversaw legislative, governmental and external affairs activities in Northern California.
Joyce worked extensively with Bay Area business and community-based organizations. Her support of the Eagles at Rancho del Pueblo junior golf program was instrumental to its growth and success. In 2005, the program became First Tee — Silicon Valley to develop the character of youth through golf throughout Santa Clara County. Joyce’s support helped to build a solid program that has reached over 81,234 youth since 2005. The Joyce Taylor Eagle Award is given annually to provide financial assistance for college to a participant who has consistently achieved academic excellence and exhibits exceptionally good character.
