FTSV and ARUSD team up for Parent University

(FTSV and ARUSD team up for Parent University Published 5/21/2026) On Saturday, May 16^th, 2026, Alum Rock Union School District (ARUSD) and First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) once again teamed up to bring the 8^th annual Parent University to Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course. The event, which has consistently been a successful community event, was no different this year with over 500 students and their families coming out for a day of fun, food 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 golf games and activities all with a specific life skill to focus on. Each station was had ARUSD students and their families trying out different golf shots to fun, colorful, and engaging targets. Many of the families were trying out golf for the very first time. Each group rotated through the stations before gathering for lunch, music, and a raffle 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 Mariachi. Before the games began, the California Senator of District 15, Dave Cortese provided encouraging remarks to kick-off the event.

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.

Interim Superintendent Sandra Garcia had this to say about the event.

“FTSV provides students and families in East San Jose with programming that builds self-confidence, resilience, and character. Their partnership with Alum Rock – with Parent University and in-school programs – contributes to building stronger student academic outcomes and life skills in and out of the classroom. We are thankful for the partnership and commitment of FTSV in making Parent University Family Golf Day a reality for our families.”

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.

6th Annual Fund the Kids – Presented by Jacobs

(6th Annual Fund the Kids – Presented by Jacobs Published 5/19/2026) Join Jacobs – South County Regional Wastewater Authority for the 6th Annual Fund the Kids Golf Tournament, benefiting First Tee – Silicon Valley on Saturday, September 26^th, 2026 at Gilroy Golf Course.

Jacobs has been the Contract Operator for the South County Regional Wastewater Authority (SCRWA) plant in Gilroy since 1984. Under a long-term service agreement, Jacobs maintains the integrity of the wastewater system. It is the goal of SCRWA to protect public health and the environment and ensure economic vitality of the Gilroy-Morgan Hill region. The plant operator’s objective is to provide the best quality recycled water at a superior value to the residents.

This plant has won numerous awards, including Plant of the Year Award for several years in a row, while many of their employees have also won individual awards, winning Laboratory Person of the Year numerous times, with the most recent in 2022.

Community involvement is an extension of the Jacobs’ and the SCRWA culture. They care about their surrounding communities. This is why Jacobs’ felt compelled to sponsor the 6th Annual Fund the Kids Golf Tournament, benefiting First Tee – Silicon Valley.

(Read about last year’s tournament HERE)

6th Annual Fund the Kids Sponsorship Levels

$1,500 – HOST SPONSORS: Signage at registration, lunch area, and beverage stations. Recognition on website, on socials, program and 1-Foursome. Sponsor may be on-site with giveaways and/or info.
$1,000 – CONTEST SPONSORS: Signage at the (3) contest holes (closest to the pin, longest drive & putting), website, recognition on socials, program and 4-lunch invites. Sponsor may be on-site with giveaways and/or info.
$500 – SUPPORTING SPONSORS: Signage at (2) Tee boxes, website, recognition on socials, program and 2-lunch invites.
$300 – HOLE SPONSORS: Signage at (1) tee box, recognition on social and program.

New Ambassador – Meet Jason Luehrs

(New Ambassador – Meet Jason Luehrs Published 05/12/2026) First Tee – Silicon Valley is excited to welcome our newest Board Ambassador – Jason Luehrs. We asked Jason a few questions to get to know him.

Can you give us a brief background about your personal and professional life?

“I have spent most of my life in various regions of the Bay Area, having grown up in the East Bay, moving to the South Bay after going to Fresno for college, where I first picked up a club and started my golfing journey. With a business degree in hand, I have had the good fortune of working with a lot of good people over the years helping to build and grow a number of private companies, and have been able to continue my career as a consultant doing similar work. I enjoy being active and in addition to golfing, I regularly play soccer, go hiking, and try to keep up with my young son and dog.”

Why FTSV?

“As I evaluated where I wanted to invest my time and energy for new endeavors, I wanted golf to be a part of it. As I learned about FTSV and how the organization approaches teaching life skills and golf skills, it aligned with many of my views about the game of golf and its intertwining lessons of both personal and professional life. I also really enjoy the community aspect that FTSV embodies and the involvement opportunities it provides.”

What are you looking forward to as an Ambassador?

“I am really looking forward to having an impact on so many young lives. Being an ambassador will allow me to share some of my stories and lessons I have learned along the way, while also giving me an opportunity to share more about FTSV with my network all through my passion of golf.”

All board members, staff, coaches and instructors see themselves as Mentors. Do you have any memorable mentors?

“As I have progressed through various endeavors in my life, I have consistently had someone that I could seek out for guidance and to act as a sounding board, but early in my professional career I was fortunate to find a mentor that I have trusted for many years. The mentorship has grown and evolved into a friendship that I truly value, but I still find myself seeking them out for that same guidance and sounding board that was the root of the relationship.”

Volunteer your time and talent as a board member, like Jason Luehrs.

Coaching, Cultivating Donors, Event or Campaign Fundraising, Representing FTSV at outside events or working on special projects with the CEO. Get Started – Join Us!

12 FTSV Alumni Hired as Paid Coaches!

(12 FTSV Alumni Hired as Paid Coaches! Published 05/08/2026) Every summer FTSV hires recent FTSV alumni to help coach our classes. This year our summer hires are all in college and are choosing to spend their summer with us giving back to the program that has meant so much to them. Li An Panfill, Ashely Pang, Dylan Chang, and Tristan Hipolito completed their coach onboarding steps and will join 8 other alumni (check back in June to learn their names, once they complete their onboarding steps).

Between the 12, they have over 100 years of combined FTSV participation and over 3,275 hours of volunteer coaching. They have taken and coached a lot of FTSV classes and know first-hand the impact that this program can have on youth.

Here are some of the reasons why they are returning to the program to coach in their words:

I am excited to be back in this community. I now have a lot of examples of how the life skills pop up in life, and I want to share that with others.
FTSV has been such an important routine throughout my life. It’s all about giving back.
I miss FTSV and I owe it to myself and to others at FTSV to give back. I have more life experiences that will help me in my coaching.
Giving back is so important to me and my family. FTSV has helped me network, organize, and navigate professional settings.
I want to continue to be part of this community where I can mentor others and see the impact.

All 12 have made a substantial and positive impact on our program for years. We are excited for them to lead the next generation of participants.

Join our 12 FTSV Alumni Coaches

The summer season runs the week of June 9^th and will end August 8^th with June 30^th – 4^th off due to the Fourth of July holiday. Onboarding for the summer has started. Please consider joining our team by clicking here. Click here to view our current staff and coaches.

FTSV Coaches work together to deliver our structured life and golf skill program to participants ages 7 to 17 (in-person training is provided). As a result, coaches help participants build character and a form a process-focused learning foundation that will help them succeed in life.

Coaching with FTSV is not only an opportunity to help others, but also an opportunity to meet like-minded people, and improve your transferable skills. Throughout the season, coaches learn different coaching strategies and receive feedback on their leadership and communication approaches. We also deliver a coach training once before each season on research-backed coaching topics.

Please contact Chris Moreno-Hunt, Program Director, at [email protected], if you have any questions.

New Ambassador – Meet Matt Cunningham

(New Ambassador – Meet Matt Cunningham Published 05/07/26) First Tee – Silicon Valley is excited to welcome our newest Board Ambassador – Matt Cunningham. We asked Matt a few questions to get to know him.

Can you give us a brief background about your personal and professional life?

“I was born and raised in Northern Ireland – 20 minutes from where Rory McIlroy grew up – before moving to the US to play college soccer and pursue a degree in Marketing. After graduating from Menlo College, I began a career in marketing and spent the first few years working within different sports organizations, as well as supporting a couple of local non-profits as a marketing/social media contractor. These days, I work full-time in a cybersecurity startup but continue to support those non-profits as a marketing contractor on the side.”

“Outside of work, I have a wife and a Samoyed puppy who is about to turn one. When I am not spending time with them on the weekends, there is only one other place to find me – the golf course!”

Why FTSV?

“I attended last year’s Open as a guest in a donor’s foursome, and having already had a baseline awareness of FTSV, I knew I need to get involved in some way after seeing first-hand the impact FTSV has on the local youth. Playing golf as a youth myself taught me more than simply how to hit a ball – it taught me discipline, patience, perseverance, and taking calculated risk, traits that have all served me very well since moving to the US. I feel personally aligned with FTSV’s mission because I believe the personal development aspect of golf is often overlooked, let alone prioritized in youth participation. Pairing this with the emphasize on providing access to the game for those who might not otherwise be capable of doing so, it feels like a perfect match.”

What are you looking forward to as an Ambassador?

“I’m excited to support the organization in any way I can and to meet the other board members to collaborate on bringing more awareness to the team’s mission. I’m looking forward to becoming a resource for the team, hopefully for many years to come, and can’t wait to get started.”

All board members, staff, coaches and instructors see themselves as Mentors. Do you have any memorable mentors?

“If I could pinpoint one person to being the biggest mentor in my life, it would be my oldest brother, Stephen. He paved the way for moving to the US when he voyaged across the Pacific seven years prior to me, and has been my guide in navigating life ever since. Outside of him, I have a lot of thanks to give to several sports coaches throughout my youth and college years, who all help shape me into the man I’ve become today in one way or another – which is another reason why I feel so strongly aligned with FTSV’s mission.”

Volunteer your time and talent as a board member, like Matt Cunningham.

Coaching, Cultivating Donors, Event or Campaign Fundraising, Representing FTSV at outside events or working on special projects with the CEO. Get Started – Join Us!

New Ambassador – Meet Bau-Lin Yueh

(New Ambassador – Meet Bau-Lin Yueh Published 4/29/2026) First Tee – Silicon Valley is excited to welcome our newest Board Ambassador – Bau-Lin Yueh. We asked Bau-Lin a few questions to get to know him.

How would you describe your career?

“I’ve been in the financial services industry for over 20 years, with deep roots in mortgage banking. Transitioning into holistic financial services, I now focus on helping individuals and families with retirement planning, estate planning, and wealth accumulation. My specialty lies in creating tax-free distribution strategies to ensure long-term financial security. One example of this is leveraging our Hybrid Long-term Care to protect your assets and generate tax-free income.”

“Beyond my professional work,” Bau-Lin continued, “I am deeply committed to community service and education, particularly in supporting youth development. My goal is to leverage my professional background and personal passions to make a meaningful impact on the organizations I serve.”

Why FTSV?

“What truly drew me to First Tee – Silicon Valley is the organization’s unique approach to character development through the game of golf. I have always believed that the values learned on the course like integrity, perseverance, responsibility and respect are essential life skills for young people. My experience volunteering in an after-school math programs like Singapore Math solidified my desire to support educational and developmental initiatives for youth. FTSV provides the perfect intersection of my interest in the game and my commitment to helping the next generation build a strong foundation for their future.”

As an FTSV Board Ambassador, what are your goals?

“As a new Ambassador, I am most looking forward to engaging with the community and helping to expand the reach of FTSV’s mission. I am excited to participate in events like the upcoming OPEN and to assist with welcoming golfers and registration. Being part of the OPEN allows me to contribute to the organization’s goals and secure the resources needed to sustain these vital programs. I also look forward to collaborating with the Board of Directors and other Ambassadors to share our collective passion for youth development.”

“Yes, I have been fortunate enough to have mentors throughout my life and professional career who have guided me. Their influence taught me that success isn’t just about individual effort, but about the guidance and wisdom shared by those who came before us. This firsthand knowledge of the profound impact a dedicated mentor can have on personal and professional growth is exactly why I am so eager to support the character-building work that happens at First Tee.”

Volunteer your time and talent as a board member, like Bau-Lin Yueh.

Coaching, Cultivating Donors, Event or Campaign Fundraising, Representing FTSV at outside events or working on special projects with the CEO. Get Started – Join Us!

National Volunteer Week THANK YOU!

Thank You, Volunteers – First Tee Silicon Valley

First Tee – Silicon Valley

Thank you, volunteers

Your time and heart make our mission possible

To every volunteer who has shown up, given their time, and poured their heart into our young people — thank you. Words can hardly capture the depth of our gratitude.

The hours you dedicate and the care you bring help shape the lives of the next generation, on and off the golf course. Because of you, our kids are learning more than a sport — they’re building character, confidence, and a foundation for life.

9,510

Volunteer hours contributed

215

Total volunteers

These numbers tell a story of generosity, commitment, and community — and you are the heart of it all.

With deep gratitude, The Board and Staff at FTSV

(Published 4/20/26) National Volunteer Week, celebrated annually in April, serves as a powerful reminder of the profound impact that selfless service has on communities across the country and around the world. Founded in 1974 in the United States, it is a time dedicated to recognizing and honoring the millions of individuals who generously give their time, talents, and energy to causes greater than themselves. The week holds deep significance not only because it shines a spotlight on the tireless work of volunteers, but also because it actively inspires others to get involved, cultivating a culture of civic engagement and compassion. Volunteering strengthens the social fabric of communities, fills critical gaps in services that governments and organizations alone cannot meet, and fosters a sense of belonging and shared purpose among people of diverse backgrounds. Ultimately, National Volunteer Week is a celebration of humanity at its most generous.

(Paragraph written with help from Claude AI)

FSTV Trainings for Adult & Junior Coaches

(FSTV Trainings for Adult & Junior Coaches Published 4/2/2026) Each off-season, FTSV hosts a training for our Instructors (paid) and Volunteer Coaches. These trainings take place the weekend before each season begins and offer both new and returning coaches and volunteers alike the opportunity to expand their coaching techniques and grow as leaders within FTSV. Our instructor training usually takes place in the morning, and our volunteer training occurs in the afternoon.

However, this past season we tried a new approach, one where we combined the instructors with the adult volunteers in one training session on Saturday, March 14^th. The goal was to have our coaches meet each other and build new connections. We are fortunate to have over 230 coaches, but when they sign up for a class, they are together with their same small cohort for the 8-week season and often do not get to meet many of our other coaches. This training brought close to 60 of our adult coaches together and created opportunities for them to learn from each other.

The first section of the training highlighted our volunteer coach of the year, Alex Wrobel.

The second section focused on developing conversational skills and how to be effective listeners. The third section focused on how to seamlessly integrate our life skills into activities. The last section was a lunch where everyone spent time connecting.

FTSV is about teaching life skills and positive character through golf. We bring this same philosophy to our coaches. Our quarterly trainings are based on the four main building blocks of First Tee chapters nationwide (Empowering Youth, Mastery Driven, Activity Based, and Continuous Learning) taking a deep dive into each building block. The goal is to give coaches practice with specific coaching techniques that we learn from partner organizations like Positive Coaching Alliance and the Search Institute as well as from other outside research-based sources.

“We are fortunate to have so many great people coaching our youth,” says FTSV Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt. “We hope that trainings like this one provide everyone with feeling like they are a part of something meaningful and big.”

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, which is why we ask our coaches to attend all 4 coach trainings each year. From everyone in the FTSV office, thank you very much to all our amazing coaches!

FSTV Junior Volunteer Coach Training

On March 14^th, FTSV hosted a Junior Volunteer coach training at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course. The goal was to tailor the training for our high school volunteers by tying in the curriculum from our Ace – Give Back class.

We had over 135 junior volunteers in 2025. Most of them were/are FTSV participants who looked up to their junior coach when they were younger. Now that they are in high school, they are excited that it is their turn to give back and inspire the younger generation.

The training gave coaches various tools to be successful in leading our participants. We focused on professionalism as it relates to body language, tone, and engagement. Then we covered how to go above and beyond in their coach planning and preparation. Lastly, we explored the differences between mentoring and friendship.

“Coaching is about giving back, but it is also a great tool for personal development. We are thrilled to have so many junior coaches on this journey. We could not do what we do without our large team of junior coaches. We hope that coaching is giving them a skill set that will assist them in their future careers.” – FTSV Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt.

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. Please tell a friend, colleague, or family member that we are looking for positive and dedicated coaches.

Mentor Spotlight: Meet Coach Blake

(Mentor Spotlight: Meet Coach Blake Published 4/2/2026) First Tee – Silicon Valley is excited to welcome Coach Blake to our team as our newest Program Coordinator. Blake will be coaching at Baylands Golf Links during the week and at Rancho del Pueblo on Saturdays.

Blake graduated from San Jose State University with a BA in Public Relations. He has extensive leadership experience in people management and customer service across different industries and is a certified NRPGI Golf Instructor. “I wanted to work for an organization that makes a difference to the younger generation,” says Blake. “I see FTSV as an opportunity to be a positive role model and mentor. Helping kids build confidence and discover their potential is something I find rewarding every day.”

Blake grew up in junior golf programs and played competitive high school golf. As a result, he believes in the importance of programs like FTSV. Since he began working with us in March, he has fully embraced our commitment to life skills and has demonstrated strong leadership skills for our participants and other coaches.

“Coaching with FTSV has given me a new purpose for being a role model to the kids outside of just the game of golf,” says Blake. “I am finding ways to use the life skills in my life everyday as well. It goes to show you ways of living by the motto of ‘practicing what you preach.’”

When asked what FTSV means to him, Blake said, “FTSV means acceptance of who you are as an individual and being in a family-oriented environment. Everyone is welcomed with open arms and no judgment.”

Other than sports, Blake enjoys music, attending live events, and collecting shoes.

Welcome Blake! We are excited to have you on our team!

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

FTSV Junior Coach Appreciation Game Night

(FTSV Junior Coach Appreciation Game Night Published 3/16/26) On Saturday, March 7^th FTSV celebrated the commitment of our Junior Volunteer Coaches by bringing them together for an evening of games, food, fun and prizes. Games included a long putt, target chipping, musical chairs, Banana Grams, giant Jenga, giant connect four, and Geoguessr. We are fortunate to have had over 134 Junior Volunteer Coaches in 2025. For many of our Junior Coaches they were, or are, current FTSV participants, who looked up to their own Junior Coaches when they were younger. We couldn’t do what we do without them!

This was the second year FTSV entrusted the planning of the Junior Coach Appreciation event to our Junior Council committee.

Our Junior Council consists of 18-25 high school FTSV participants who meet 3 times each season. They break into 3-4 sub-committees focused on everything from fundraising, marketing, AI app building, and event/tournament coordination. This year was the first year FTSV appointed a Junior Council Sub-Committee Chair and event coordinator. Julia V, who has been a standout participant and Junior Coach for FTSV, took on this role and did an outstanding job.

Julia said…

“Serving as a Chair of the Junior Sub-Council Committee for FTSV by leading the “Junior Appreciation Event” was an incredible hands-on experience. Being trusted to guide my committee in planning an event entirely run by juniors showed me the power of collaboration and leadership. I’m especially grateful for my committee members, whose dedication made the event possible. Creating an event by Junior Coaches, for Junior Coaches made it feel truly like our own engaging celebration. As I pursue college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo majoring in Experience and Event Management, I’ll carry forward FTSV’s “Learn by Doing” mindset that made this opportunity so impactful.”

FTSV is proud of the entire Junior Council Appreciation Committee and their hard work to make this a fun night for all our Junior Coaches. Before the close of the evening, the staff honored one Junior Coach with Junior Volunteer Coach of the Year. This year Alonso J was chosen for his leadership, going above and beyond in all of his duties and classes, and most importantly being a person of high character. Congratulations, Alonso, Julia, our Junior Council and all our junior volunteer coaches. You all make our First Tee chapter so impactful.

If you would like to be a volunteer Junior Coach, visit OUR VOLUNTEER PAGE. If you are a teen and would like to participant in the Junior Council, contact [email protected]. Any high school FTSV participant can join the Junior Council.