Spotlight Archives - Page 2 of 4 - First Tee

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

Participant Spotlight: Meet Juan Hernandez

(Participant Spotlight: Meet Juan Hernandez) Juan Hernandez first came to First Tee – Silicon Valley as a 6^th grader. He was exposed to our program by our long-time youth partner, Redwood City Pal Center. Over the next seven years he took classes at Baylands Golf Links in Palo Alto with the help of the Pal Center and then participated in our Saturday classes at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course in San Jose. Now he is preparing to graduate high school and continue to college where he has been accepted to four schools so far with plans to study Civil Engineering.

Juan’s journey began in the Redwood City Pal Center which is a resource program that co-creates solutions with the community and builds brighter futures for youth and families. They do a fantastic job at exposing their participants to many different experiences like our Life and Golf Skill classes. Participants grades 2-6 are transported from the Pal Center to Baylands Golf Links every Friday in each of our four 8-week seasons. Thanks to the SAGA Foundation’s support of both organizations, we are able to have a successful partnership, which includes covering the cost of their registrations and providing Pal Center with a van that is designated for transportation to our program.

Juan is one of hundreds of Pal Center participants who have had the opportunity to join our classes since 2017 because of our partnership, SAGA Foundation’s support, and Pal Center’s commitment to broadening opportunities for youth. Pal Center’s Executive Director, Ivan Martinez, says, “This partnership exemplifies our mission to connect young people with enriching experiences that might not have been on their radar otherwise. Juan’s journey is just one of many success stories we’ve seen through our partnership with First Tee. By creating access to experiences beyond their immediate environment, we empower our youth to dream bigger and step into new opportunities.” The Pal Center is an important community building organization, and FTSV is proud to be able to offer Golf and Life Skill development to Juan and their other members.

When asked about his experience, Juan said, “I didn’t know anything about First Tee. I never thought I’d play golf or enjoy it. Now, I like it. It’s good exercise, and it’s a good way to socialize and destress yourself. In the beginning, my brother and I were nervous, having never played golf and not knowing anyone there. Coach Matt was the first person I met at the course. He introduced himself and had everyone else introduce themselves with a handshake. Before these classes I wasn’t confident speaking up in front of the group, but Coach Matt helped me to speak up and build that confidence.”

Seven years later he is now one of the leaders in his Grades 9-12 class at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course. He lifts others up and has earned the respect of his peers and coaches. “At First Tee – Silicon Valley you have people helping you, and then you make friends,” Juan says. “Including others and being more outgoing are some of my biggest take aways from FTSV. I sometimes see people at school that are by themselves or don’t have many friends, and I invite them to hang out with me and my friends. First Tee has helped me to be a Go-To person for others and realize who my Go-To people are. I have different Go-To people for different situations, people like my brother, my friends, and my coaches.”

“For other kids starting out, I’d say keep going. It’s good to keep an open mind, in the end, it’s worth it. The program will help you a lot. It will help you clear your vision and help you to learn important life skills that will help you right now and for the rest of your life. Don’t knock it until you try it!”

From all of us here at FTSV, congratulations Juan on all your hard work! We are proud of you!

If you are interested in joining the Spring season, registration opens here on February 19^th, at 11am. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Coach Phoenix via email ([email protected]) or phone (650-887-7104).

Published: 02-07-2025

Mentor Spotlight: National Mentor Month

(Mentor Spotlight: National Mentor Month) Mentorship is the most important part of First Tee – Silicon Valley. For the past 25 years, our coaches have been making a difference in the lives of kids, helping them to learn important life skills and become amazing people. Thank you to the incredible mentors who are the FTSV family. This past year we had over 200 volunteer mentor coaches. Your hard work, care and dedication are what make all the difference!

Let’s meet some of the longtime mentors at FTSV….

Coach John has been coaching for almost 10 years, passing on what he learned as a participant to the next generation of FTSV participants. “As a former participant, it feels like I get to give back what I was taught, just like coaches did for me years ago. Specifically, a lesson that really stuck with me was about dealing with conflicts. Instead of a “I am always right” mentality, FTSV coaches taught me how to work with others to resolve an issue and find win – win solutions using the CARE model.”

CARE = Communicate, Actively Listen, Review Options, End with a Win-Win

For Coach John, it’s the people that make FTSV so special. “FTSV has developed a really good community of people, including the coaches, volunteers and full-time staff. The people are what makes you want to keep coming back. I get to work alongside people who really care about what we do and mentoring kids, and it makes even the challenging days fun and rewarding.”

Coach Tracy started volunteering with FTSV in 2019. As a former Division 1 college golfer and LPGA player, Coach Tracy has plenty of elite golf experience, making her an incredible asset to FTSV. “First Tee – Silicon Valley means that I can share my lifelong passion for golf with the upcoming generation of golfers,” says Tracy. “And while it’s great to see their golf skills improve over the season, it’s even more rewarding to help them learn and apply the life skills in their daily lives.” Coach Tracy is fantastic at turning golf instruction into memorable life lessons, helping participants to thrive both on and off the golf course. On top of coaching with FTSV, Coach Tracy is currently the Mountain View High School girls’ golf coach, and the team took the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League El Camino Division title this year. Congrats Coach Tracy and the Mountain View High School girls!

Since 2017, Coach Jeffy, who has had two of his children in FTSV, has been working with FTSV to make a positive impact in the lives of young people. With clear expectations and thoughtful questions, Jeffy helps our high schoolers think about their goals, make effective plans, and learn how to effectively communicate with peers and in the workplace. He contributes to the positive, supportive environment that exists within FTSV. He’s a living example of what a mentor should be.

“There are parents that think we need to just teach kids golf, but all of our Life Skill behaviors/tips are things that should start at home; FTSV coaches just reinforce them. I encourage parents, if they aren’t going to volunteer, to please be involved in what we are trying to help their kids learn. It’s going to be that much more effective if you can talk with your kids at home about what they are working on in class and help continue that learning.”

Join us!

If you are interested in joining our coaching staff, working as a mentor and making a difference in your community, please visit our website to learn more, or fill out this form to get started. No golf experience necessary. Training is provided. Everyone has life experience! Hope to see you out on the course.

Published: 01-10-2025

Changing the Game for MORE Kids: Meet Nico Hernandez

FTSV is Changing the Game for MORE Kids: Meet Nico Hernandez, a long-time participant and volunteer Junior Coach (at Baylands Golf Links), Nico is now inspiring a whole new generation of young golfers.

Grateful for all that FTSV has done for him, Nico takes pleasure in giving back to the First Tee community, arriving early to help set up for the day’s activities, and staying late for tear down. Nico says, “I’m super passionate about doing whatever I can for our participants because I’ve been there myself. My goal is to become a future generation leader and understand anything they’re going through because I’ve experienced the same thing from my own time as a participant.”

Changing the Game outside the Golf Course

Nico’s enthusiasm and dedication extends beyond the golf course. He excels in a variety of pursuits, putting the skills of setting and achieving goals that he’s learned from First Tee to work. Not only has he become the fastest swimmer on his swim team, Nico also turned a dream into reality by starring in his own weekly podcast at school. He explains, “Setting goals is like laying out a path to improve and achieve anything you want. When I set a goal, I can easily visualize my progress. It boosts my mental well-being and helps me move forward. Through my time with First Tee, I feel like I’ve not only gotten better at golf but also grown as a person. I’ve learned how to set short-term and long-term goals as steps to achieve my final goal along with my coaches and friends.”

No matter if it’s academics, social interactions, or golf, Nico feels confident in tackling any challenge. His positive attitude and mindful approach to his activities has helped him and the people he’s around to flourish.

Mentoring is Priceless. If you had a mentor growing up, you know that having someone to listen and give guidance to overcome life’s challenges can be transforming. When we look back on the over 100,000 kids First Tee – Silicon Valley has worked with, we are filled with pride and joy knowing that our mentors and our youth development program was there for the kids of our community.

Our Kids Face Heavy Stuff. The pressures of social media, loneliness, mental health struggles, family dynamics, peer and family judgment, inequities of living in Silicon Valley and devastating world events are all adversely affecting youth. FTSV creates a supportive, safe, and positive environment where kids are empowered to be themselves, and feel included!

There are many Ways to Give to First Tee – Silicon Valley and help us Change the Game for MORE Kids… like Nico. $40 a month for high-quality mentorship teaching our character-building life lessons that have proven to make a difference.

Donate Now!

Changing the Game for MORE Kids: Meet Norah Yang

FTSV is Changing the Game for MORE Kids! Meet Norah Yang, 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. Norah has represented FTSV at the First Tee National Championship at Stanford University in 2023 and at Clemson in 2024, and at the PURE Insurance Championship held at Pebble Beach in 2023 where she placed 3rd.

Norah responds to her golf achievements: “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…”

Norah on the lessons she has learned about setting goals, leadership and overcoming challenges off the course

“First Tee means a lot to me, it has taught me so many lessons outside of what schools offer,” says Norah. “For example, I use goal-setting skills to manage my high school activities and apply the Nine Core Values to deal with various challenges and setbacks in my daily life. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to learn with the First Tee, and I am so happy to now be in a position where I can start to give back by volunteering to coach incoming FTSV students.”

Meet Norah Yang: National Championship 1

Meet Norah Yang: National Championship 3

Of all her achievements, Norah’s 1^st place win at the First Tee National Championship in June, was the most notable. Norah finished the tournament 6-under-par and shot a final round 69 to clench the victory on the girls’ side.

“It has been amazing playing at Clemson …” Norah 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 – Silicon Valley and all the skills they have taught me.”

Based on her play at the First Tee National Championship, she will also earn a spot in the PGA TOUR’s Pathways to Progression program, which aims to support talented golfers from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in the sport.

We are a National Leader. We lead the nation among the 140 First Tee chapters in several key program measures including the highest number of participants selected to national academies and leadership opportunities:

85% diversity 48% low-income

55% retention 1:4 mentor ratio

There are many Ways to Give First Tee – Silicon Valley Change the Game for MORE Kids… like Norah. $40 a month for high-quality mentorship teaching our character-building life lessons that have proven to make a difference.

Give Now!

Changing the Game for MORE Kids: Meet Alexandra Varo

FTSV is Changing the Game for MORE Kids! Meet Alexandra Varo. As a participant, Alexandra attributes much of her achievements to the support and skills learned at First Tee – Silicon Valley.

Alexandra’s achievements include:

FTSV participant and volunteer since September 2021
Selected for the First Tee Game Changers Academy & Leadership Summit
HS Scholar-Athlete Award: 2021-2023
President’s Volunteer Service Bronze Award: 2023
Volunteer math tutor
Joyce Taylor Award and Scholarship

“I can say that I am a different person now than when I first joined First Tee – Silicon Valley,” says Alexandra. “I consider First Tee – Silicon Valley to be my greatest support system that has given me a place to practice and develop my personal skills.”

A recent graduate from Willow Glen High School, Alexandra is currently attending San Jose State University. She has been an outstanding participant with FTSV since she started in 2021 and quickly started volunteer coaching. As a coach, she has accumulated over 220 hours of service, giving back her time in a meaningful and effective way. Alexandra regularly attends our Girls Golf events as both a participant and a coach and assists at our fundraisers.

“I enjoy volunteering as well as participating in First Tee because it provides an environment where I am able to learn more about myself, learn important life lessons through golf, and gain confidence” says Alexandra. “Throughout the golf seasons, I have learned how to become a better leader and I enjoy assisting in classes to contribute to a positive and fun environment for participants. I look forward to continuing in First Tee as a participant and a volunteer.”

There are many ways to help First Tee – Silicon Valley Change the Game for MORE Kids… like Alexandra. $40 a month for high-quality mentorship teaching our character-building life lessons that have proven to make a difference.

Give Now!

Published 12-05-2024

Changing the Game for MORE Kids: Meet Isabella Herrera

Changing the Game for MORE Kids: Meet one of FTSV’s most active participants – Isabella Herrera.

Isabella is a rising senior and has been a highly engaged participant since 2013. She has taken multiple classes each year, participated in our Girls Golf program, represented our chapter at PGA TOUR Superstore events, has volunteered at our community outreach events, and coached classes. Isabella is also an Ace program participant, taking on the extra challenge as she works to become Ace certified.

Amongst many of Isabella’s accomplishments and opportunities, she participated in the First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow Jr. A five-day learning and empowerment academy. Attending participants participate in important conversations embracing topics of self-awareness, inclusivity, and community building. First Tee invites its partner, RISE, a national leader in the sports community championing social justice, to facilitate engaging and interactive workshops paired with introspective activities and reflections led by our nationally trained First Tee coaches.

The experience is designed to enlighten, inspire, encourage, and position our teens to be Game Changers in their current and future communities. The academy is the ultimate tribute to Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., a fearless champion of change.

According to Isabella “A game changer is someone who is constantly pushing personal and societal boundaries in order to create a lasting impact on the world around them.” She does so consistently in her role as a junior coach, leading and teaching by example. She also pushes herself as a member of the Youth on Course Leadership Council, advocating for her peers on a national level.

During the week, Isabella attended workshops, met inspirational people, and completed group activities all based around building leadership and teamwork skills. For Isabella, one of the most memorable actives was when she played golf with Victoria Arlen. Victoria is a four-time paralympic medalist in swimming, an ESPN sportscaster, and even performed on Dancing with the Stars, all after having to re-learn how to walk after losing the ability to eat, speak, walk and even more.

Changing the Game by embracing your self-identity

For Isabella, her biggest take away was about herself identity. “My self-identity isn’t something casual I brush past, it’s something I should fully embrace and be proud of. The more pride I have, the more connection I have to myself and that strengthens my self-identity. Putting myself out there when I play golf is what makes me special. Golf is traditionally a white male sport, so being able to not only represent girls but also Latinas when I am playing hopefully can help inspire others to do the same, not just in golf but in sports in general. Representation matters!” Isabella has been a voice for Diversity, Identity and Equality within the game of golf and continues to advocate through outreach and awareness amongst her peers and beyond.

There are many ways to help First Tee – Silicon Valley Change the Game for MORE Kids… like Isabella. $40 a month for high-quality mentorship teaching our character-building life lessons that have proven to make a difference.

Ways to Give

Published: 11-22-24

Changing the Game for MORE Kids: Meet Tristian Hipolito

Changing the Game for MORE Kids: Meet one of First Tee – Silicon Valley’s long-time participants – Tristian Hipolito.

Tristan has been a wonderful part of our program since he transferred from the First Tee East Bay chapter 9 years ago. Tristan is one of the most active participants in our program, taking multiple classes every season, participating in all of our off-season events, and coaching on Saturdays. He is an empathetic and thoughtful individual who leads by example and is committed to self-improvement.

Leadership in Action

As a participant, Tristan continuously goes above and beyond. He speaks up and contributes to Life Skill discussions, works exceptionally hard on improving his golf game, and actively seeks out other ways where he can be of service. He recently represented First Tee in the national Participant Advisory Council in Florida where he was one of eight selected from around the country. Tristan is also a member of our Junior Council where he leads his subcommittee on raising money and donations for our chapter.

Tristan often speaks about developing these leadership skills through the Life Skill lessons taught by FTSV Coaches and Mentors. Specifically, Goal Setting and Overcoming Challenges. Tristan spoke about these skills at the FTSV 2024 OPEN Tournament:

Recently, Tristian was awarded the 2024 Dennis Kettman Memorial Scholarship. Each year golfers in the Dennis Kettmann Memorial Tournament raise funds to remember Dennis. Their generosity underwrites this special $5,000 college scholarship for a FTSV chosen participant.

85% diversity 48% low-income

55% retention 1:4 mentor ratio

There are many ways to help First Tee – Silicon Valley Change the Game for MORE Kids… like Tristan. $40 a month for high-quality mentorship teaching our character-building life lessons that have proven to make a difference.

Ways to Give

Participant Spotlight: Edwin Sanchez

First Tee- Silicon Valley participant spotlight: Edwin Sanchez has been hard at work giving back to his community and being the change that he wants to see in the world. He is leading neighborhood clean-up projects, volunteering with us as a youth mentor and coach, and even serving as a part of the District 3 Youth Commission. On and off the course, Edwin continues to show what it really means to be involved and make a difference. Great work, Edwin!

Edwin joined FTSV as a participant 5 years ago. Since then, he has taken over 17 classes, participated in many of our tournaments and events, and started volunteering as a junior coach, passing on the Life Skill knowledge he has learned to the younger participants. Edwin is a committed and caring FTSV participant, and this extends to other parts of his life as well.

Beyond the golf course

He organizes a monthly neighborhood clean-up, getting people together to make positive change. Working with Beautify SJ, Edwin and other community members spend 3 hours every month cleaning and giving back to the neighborhood. When asked about the project, he said “I’ve been doing this for almost 8 months. It fills me with pride to help my community, the place I grew up. FTSV has helped me a lot with my time management and I use that skill regularly, especially on projects such as this one.”

Edwin is also a part of the San Jose Youth Commission, representing District 3. The Youth Commission is a group of young people committed to serving their community through legislation, service projects, and activism. Within this role, Edwin runs a Youth Advisory Committee, working directly with other teens from his district to provide input on policy and programs that impact the city. Currently he is organizing monthly meetings and looks forward to the upcoming projects.

When asked about his passion for social service, Edwin reflected on his upbringing. “My mom took me out almost every week to do some sort of volunteer project. Now that I am in high school, I see a lot of my school field trips are to places I volunteered at in the past, to learn more about the impact these organizations are making. I took a field trip to one place where my name is on a drawing on the wall from when I was there as a kid, and it really showed me that I have been able to make an impact for a while now. I want to continue to make that impact, both to improve my community and also to build my own confidence and experience with leadership and changemaking.”

“If I had one word of advice, take on volunteering and social service at your own pace. It takes a bit to get used to the time commitment, but it will make you feel good about yourself and reinforces your values. Also, it brings you recognition from your community leaders, and will lead to more opportunities in the future.”

Thank you for all your hard work, Edwin! If you would like to get involved in your community as a First Tee Volunteer Coach, please visit our website or reach out to Julie ([email protected]) to learn more. If you would like to join our program as a participant, please visit our registration page.

PUBLISHED: 11-8-2024

Meet New FTSV Board Director: Shawn Fox

First Tee – Silicon Valley recently elected Shawn Fox to our Board of Directors.

Shawn started golfing when Tiger did. His grandfather, who he still plays with, introduced him to the game. He went on to compete in college and other golf tournaments. He shared that golf taught him so many lessons and created so many marquee moments in his life. Shawn lives in Redwood City and plays at Baylands Golf Links (FTSV class course location). He is excited to shift his time to philanthropic endeavors and support a non-profit that he relates to with the character-building mission through a sport he loves. In addition to joining the FTSV Board of Directors, Shawn will also be joining our volunteer coaching staff.

Professionally, Shawn is a solution-oriented leader with more than 18 years of experience driving transformative growth and maximizing performance across diverse organizations. His recent positions were Head of Business Planning at Tesla and Director, Strategy and Commercial Performance at Anheuser-Busch InBev. Shawn graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology, Management and earned his MBA at Columbia Business School.

LinkedIN: Shawn Fox

Shawn is a great addition to our FTSV Board of Directors. Director responsibilities include voting, providing planning, performance, legal and financial oversight, and raising sufficient funds to ensure FTSV’s success. Click Here to meet all our Board of Directors and learn more.

Contact Judy Dixon if you have interest in learning more about our volunteer Board opportunities as a Director or Ambassador.

Published: 11-8-2024

Meet New FTSV Board Director: Maximilian von Poelnitz

First Tee – Silicon Valley recently elected Maximilian (Max) von Poelnitz to our Board of Directors.

Max saw the FTSV banner at Baylands Golf Links (FTSV course class location) and said to himself – “It’s time to get involved.” He moved here 4 years ago and used to do lots of volunteering. The idea of golf to teach children larger life skills felt like a good fit. In addition to joining the FTSV Board of Directors, Max will also be joining our volunteer coaching staff.

Professionally, Max is a climate and food tech investor excited by innovation in personal nutrition, electrification and B2B bio tech. He is currently Managing Director at Ajinomoto CVC and Investor at numerous companies. He has over 15 years of experience across North America and Asia. Max has built numerous start-ups, founded a venture capital firm, invested as a CVC, and joined as an LP in Loyal VC. He received his BA in History from Wake Forest University and earned his MBA at INSEAD.

LinkedIN: Maximilian von Poelnitz

Max is a great addition to our FTSV Board of Directors. Director responsibilities include voting, providing planning, performance, legal and financial oversight, and raising sufficient funds to ensure FTSV’s success. Click Here to meet all our Board of Directors and learn more.

Contact Judy Dixon if you have interest in learning more about our volunteer Board opportunities as a Director or Ambassador.

Published: 11-8-2024