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FTSV Participant Awarded Ace Certification!

(FTSV Participant Awarded Ace Certification!) First Tee – Silicon Valley is excited to share that Evan Santoso was awarded the distinguished honor of being Ace-Certified!

What does it mean to be awarded Ace Certification?

Ace is the highest level of certification at First Tee and less than 1% of First Tee participants from across the country achieve Ace certification. Evan will receive local and national recognition from First Tee for completing his Ace classes and the post-class documents. More importantly, his work in our Ace classes helped him apply the First Tee Life Skills to college and career exploration, and to his give-back volunteer opportunities. The Ace classes also assisted in developing transferable skills that will aid him in his professional development.

About Evan Santoso

Evan is a rising senior at King’s Academy in San Jose. He began our program as a participant in 2017 and volunteered as a coach since 2023. Additionally, he was selected to be in a leadership position on our Junior Council where he has spent upwards of 50 of his own hours creating a few highlight videos that we used for our Family Fest and Coach Appreciation events.

Going the extra step is something that Evan takes pride in. Part of his Ace Give Back project requires participants to volunteer in addition to FTSV. Evan chose to volunteer for his Church who, when they observed his skill set, made him their Video Director & Camera Operator. There he created an official handbook for future video directors to live stream and broadcast. This handbook was not requested by his boss, but Evan thought it could help provide more clarity for the next person that takes on the role.

“Taking the Ace classes not once but twice has really opened my eyes to a world of academic and professional opportunities I didn’t realize was available,” says Evan. “Not only have I been able to practice using researched tools and networking skills to explore different colleges and potential career choices, I feel like I have been able to find out more of who I am as a person in the process!”

“The valuable life and work skills I’ve learned at FTSV like how to communicate and collaborate well with others has given me confidence to talk to adults from all walks of life and network with professionals from different fields.”

As mentioned above, Evan edited and helped direct a First Tee – Silicon Valley Promo video as part of a Junior Council Project. (See below)

There are (4) 8-week Ace sessions, each with post-class projects.

Education – financial planning for college (budgeting, saving, grants, scholarships), college application process, school identification and exploration strategies.
Career – resume-building, interview skills, transferable, adaptive and content skill development, and professional correspondence.
Golf – golf psychology, optimal practice habits.
Volunteer – going above and beyond, learning transferable skills, networking, professionalism

FTSV Participants Awarded Ace Certification, participant must be:

14 years old
Be in our program for a minimum of 3 years; and attend a minimum of 2 seasons per year.
Attend our 4 Ace-Future Planning Classes (Career, Golf, Education, Give-Back)
Complete the 4 Ace-Future Planning post class documents
Submit a letter of recommendation
Be selected by a panel of First Tee National judges

“Congratulations Evan for your outstanding work” says Program Director Chris Moreno-Hunt. “We are proud of how you look out for others and your desire to go above and beyond. You are hardworking and lift others up in class. I have no doubt you will continue to be successful and utilize the tools learned in Ace to achieve your goals.”

To find out more about our Ace-Future Planning classes and how to be Ace-Certified, please reach out to [email protected] or 408-508-4884.

**LEFT** – Tristan Hipolito **RIGHT** – Evan Santoso

Published: 06-11-2025

FTSV 13th Annual OPEN Supporters & Winners

(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)

View your Foursome Photo

FTSV 13th Annual OPEN Scramble Tournament Winners

First Place – Score 56

Joe Dermer, Jake Dermer, Eric Arnold, Dom Nicoli

Second Place – Score 57

Kolbey, Kennedy, Ernesto & Kyleigh Moreno

Contest Winners

Dryvebox Closest-to-the-Hole

Alexis Chu 2’6”

Jackson Burrill 13’6”

Closest-to-the-Hole

Lake #8 – Jeff McCrea 3’10”

Mountain #2 – JJ Jovellanos 11’

PGATSS Putting Contest:

3 players made 1 putt

Steve Almassy, Justin Hook, Rick Austin

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.

Published: 06-09-2025

7th Annual Parent University – a resounding success!

(7th Annual Parent University – a resounding success!) On Saturday, May 17^th, 2025, Alum Rock Union School District (ARUSD) and First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) once again teamed up to bring the 7^th 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.

Published: 05-22-2025

Intero Foundation $5K Grant Supports Our Mission

(Intero Foundation $5K Grant Supports Our Mission) First Tee – Silicon Valley recently received a generous $5,000 grant from Intero Foundation . Special thanks to Intero agents Lisa & Steve Guerrero (FTSV Board Director) for inviting us to apply. These funds will help us adequately invest in our capacity to serve the growing number of youth in our programs while increasing the quality of what we do. In 2024, 5,642 Course Participants and School Students, who were 85% Ethnically Diverse and 57% Low-Income, experienced our life skills and golf skills program. All of our youth development programs (on-course, in-school, and after-school) are growing and FTSV relies heavily on foundations like Intero that are supportive of youth development and our mission.

Intero Foundation Inc. $5K Grant Supports Our Mission

The Intero Foundation’s mission…

To positively impact the communities Intero Real Estate serves through supporting nonprofit programs that advance the health, education and well-being of children and seniors. It is the heartbeat of Intero Real Estate Services and embodies their core values of creating a thriving community. They are an all-volunteer organization founded on the principles of always striving to build a better future which aligns with FTSV’s unique approach to transform lives and gives kids a brighter future. We believe teaching core values and life skills through golf is the foundation of strong character, which leads to success in life.

The Intero Foundation was created in 2002, at the same time Intero Real Estate
Services Inc. (Intero) was founded to serve Silicon Valley’s growing real estate
market. Intero’s founders believed it was important to give back to the
communities where Intero agents live and serve. Since its inception, and thanks
to over 20 years of hard work by its agents and employees raising funds to support local charities, the Intero Foundation has given more than $7 million to 225+ local nonprofits and we are grateful to be one of those non-profits in 2025.

Published: 05-21-2025

PwC and AWS Volunteer Day at Rancho Del Pueblo

(PwC and AWS Volunteer Day at Rancho Del Pueblo) On Tuesday, May 13^th, 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.

Download the Flyer

Published: 05-15-2025

First Tee Level I Coach Training Recap

(First Tee Level I Coach Training Recap) On March 8^th, First Tee – Silicon Valley had 12 coaches participate in a Level I coach training. The Level I training is one of four First Tee National trainings that make up the First Tee Coach Program. The Coach Program is an educational training program that prepares First Tee coaches from around the country to effectively deliver the First Tee’s Life and Golf Skill Curriculum.

Level I training is done locally, and Levels 2, 3, and 4 are held at different locations around the country. Coach Chris and Coach Manny are both trained to deliver the Level I training for First Tee – Silicon Valley as Level 4 certified coaches and as long-time program staff – over 25 years combined.

The Training Program is primarily focused on creating experiences for coaches to learn the application of the Coach Building Blocks – Activity-Based, Mastery Driven, Empowering Youth, and Continuous Learning. Coach Chris and Manny delivered the Coach Building Block theories and best practices to the attendees who then had the opportunity to apply what they learned by delivering the lessons to each other.

“In coaching, we never stop learning,” says FTSV Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt. “Every class and every participant are different. The more we can practice best coaching techniques, the better we are at adapting to each individual and each class situation. That is why we have more than four First Tee – Silicon Valley trainings each year in addition to the National Coach Program that is offered by First Tee Headquarters. The more prepared we are, the better the experience for the participants.”

To learn more about becoming a coach and building your coach skill set, please visit our volunteer page, or reach out to [email protected], 408-508-4884

Published: 04-03-2025

ACE – Career Class for FTSV High School Participants

(ACE Career Class for FTSV High School Participants) This spring season, First Tee – Silicon Valley is delivering the Ace – Career Class to 21 FTSV high school participants. The Career class is one of (4) 8-week Ace classes offered throughout the year.

In this Ace class, participants are:

Building their elevator pitch and develop their personal brand
Identifying their work & lifestyle values, ideal career characteristics, and personal identity, then using them to identify matching career industries and functions
Pursuing different methods for career exploration and identification
Practicing informational interviews and job shadowing techniques
Reviewing resume-building best practices and cover letter approaches
Exploring and building LinkedIn profiles
Practicing networking techniques
Learning and demonstrating job interviewing strategies

We are fortunate to also have a few guest speakers give their professional and work expertise during the classes. Each week the content is delivered through group work, games and activities, and peer to peer demonstrations.

This upcoming summer we will be delivering our Ace Golf classes that covers the following:

Golf psychology – “the mental game” approaches
Optimal practice habits
Golf goal setting and application
Advanced golf techniques

The goal of our Ace classes is to bridge the life skills that we learn throughout First Tee to the next steps of their upcoming adult life. Additionally, we aim to equip our high schoolers with specific tools to succeed post high school.

All 9th graders and above may take the upcoming Ace-Golf classes. All 10^th grade and above participants can take the Ace – Education class in the fall and the Ace Career in the spring. To be Ace-certified, which is the highest First Tee participant honor, participants that have been in our program for more than 2 years may also complete the supplemental Ace course work and apply for Ace-certification. Ace certification is optional and is supplemental to taking the 4 in-person classes.

We are proud of these Ace classes and would love for more FTSV participants to experience them. To register, please click here.

For more information on our four Ace classes, please click here, email [email protected], or call 408-508-4884.

Published: 04-03-2025

FSTV Trainings for Instructors and Volunteer Coaches

Each off-season, FTSV hosts a training for our Instructors and Volunteer Coaches. These trainings take place the weekend before each new season begins and offer both new and returning coaches and volunteers alike the opportunity to expand their coaching techniques and grow as leaders in our chapter. Thank you to the 24 paid instructors and 65 volunteer coaches who attended these trainings!

FTSV Coaching Philosophy

FTSV is about teaching life skills and positive character through golf, and we bring this same philosophy to our coaches and volunteers. While these trainings cover the four main building blocks of First Tee nationwide (Empowering Youth, Mastery Driven, Activity Based, and Continuous Learning), we dive deeper into those building blocks and give coaches practice with specific coaching techniques that we research, and that we learn from partner organizations like Positive Coaching Alliance and The Search Institute. The knowledge and skills taken from this training will help our coaches and volunteers make a greater impact on the community we serve.

Instructor Training

We started off the day with our Instructor training – most of these coaches have been involved in FTSV for many years and some even started off as participants! Instructors serve as class leaders and empower, offer direction, support and feedback to our volunteer coaches during class. Bringing all our instructors together is a great way to recap our coaching goals from the previous season, look at participant survey results, and turn our focus towards refining our skills for the next season.

Later that afternoon, 65 of our volunteers came out to learn more about our activity-based coaching strategy using the Try-Show-Try-Play technique, how to foster engagement with fun breaks during activities, and how to seamlessly deliver our life skill curriculum using our Focus-Ask-Reward system.

Coaching is an ongoing journey of self-exploration and personal development, which is why we ask our coaches to attend all 4 coach trainings each year. It is also why we consistently identify and incorporate fresh and proven coaching tips that reinforce our coach approach and curriculum into each training.

FTSV coaches are the backbone of our program. They are the mentors that guide our participants and help them feel welcomed. We want them to always be learning and feel empowered to help others. Hopefully our trainings are accomplishing that goal. From everyone in the FTSV office, thank you very much to all our amazing coaches!

To find out more about how to be a FTSV Coach, please click here.

Published: 03-26-25

Mentor Spotlight: Meet Austin

(Mentor Spotlight: Meet Coach Austin) First Tee – Silicon Valley is excited to welcome Coach Austin to our team as our newest Program Coordinator. Austin will be coaching at Baylands Golf Links during the week as well as Rancho del Pueblo on Saturdays.

Originally from Santa Rosa, Coach Austin grew up playing golf in high school, where he fell in love with the game. “I really like the individual aspect of it; it’s you against the course. You have to navigate the environment while also navigating your own internal environment, and that’s really cool to me.”

Austin graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo majoring in Sports Management from the Department of Recreation Parks, and Tourism industry. He has previous experience as a Program Coordinator and Youth Soccer League Director. Austin says, “I’m determined to build communities and influence the culture within them in order to create positive and unforgettable experiences that help people be their best.”

Sports have played a big role in Austin’s life and he fully believes in the power that sports has to make a positive difference. “There are so many role models in sports. Sports are full of metaphors for life, full of adversity and triumph. You have to learn how to be humble and respectful of others when you succeed, and how to shake things off and learn when things get hard. It’s a great place to practice one’s individual development, while also working with others either in competition or on a team.”

Other than sports, Austin spends his free time being outdoors with his girlfriend and his dog, Otto, and also plays the guitar. He has played since he was 14 and used to perform at open mics back in Santa Rosa. His favorite musician is Jack Johnson. Like FTSV and Coach Austin, we are all better together!

If you are interested in becoming more involved with FTSV, please visit our website.

Published: 03-07-2025