Category: 2022

First Tee –Silicon Valley recently elected Steve Petersen to our Board of Directors.  Steve is passionate about family, golf and helping underprivileged children learn to play golf.  He is a California native & was raised in East San Jose and currently resides in Morgan Hill.  Steve learned to play golf as a kid in a community without access to a wonderful organization like the First Tee.

Steve has spent his 30+ professional sales career consulting & serving Technology, Software, Healthcare and Financial Services.  He graduated from San Jose State and brings valuable experience from Xerox, Gartner, PWC & EY.  Steve currently works for Microsoft on the National Health Services Team.  Steve is also an entrepreneur and operates his family-owned Micro-Boutique Winery, EmmaLily, Inc.   For more info:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-petersen-6190802/

Steve comes to us with high-energy dynamic leadership skills and an incredible “make It happen” attitude!   Steve shared, “I am excited to join this incredible organization and dynamic Board of Directors!  I am committed to the First Tee SV’s charter of exposing the game of golf by providing positive life lessons to youth in underserved communities.”

FTSV Board Directors vote, provide planning, performance, legal and financial oversight and raise sufficient funds to ensure FTSV’s success. Board Ambassadors give advice, assist with projects, represent the organization in the community at events, help raise funds, and expand FTSV’s network throughout Silicon Valley and beyond. Click here to meet all our Board Members. Contact Judy Dixon if you have interest in learning more about a volunteer Board opportunity.

First Tee – Silicon Valley recently elected Dave Kinser to our Board of Directors. Dave has been playing golf for 58 years and fondly remembers playing as a youth and knows how much golf can provide meaningful experiences. Dave has been a member at Almaden Golf & Country Club since 1990 and served on their board for 6 years.  He believes passionately that all kids should have the opportunity to play the game of golf and experience the joy and discipline the game offers. 

Dave grew up in Humboldt County and graduated from Humboldt State University before finding his way to Santa Clara County.  He brings a multitude of experiences from his executive roles in finance at National Semiconductor and Apple Computer and his roles as VP of Operations for Claris Corp and Intuit.  He currently advises private, venture backed companies.  For more info: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidkinser/

Dave is excited to be able to be part of an organization that is dedicated and passionate in making a positive impact on our local youth through golf.  He shared, “The First Tee of Silicon Valley provides a wonderful and compelling opportunity.  Providing a meaningful and positive experience for all our youth, through golf, with passion.  I am excited to be a part of this incredible organization.”

FTSV Board Directors vote, provide planning, performance, legal and financial oversight and raise sufficient funds to ensure FTSV’s success. Board Ambassadors give advice, assist with projects, represent the organization in the community at events, help raise funds, and expand FTSV’s network throughout Silicon Valley and beyond. Click here to meet all our Board Members. Contact Judy Dixon if you have interest in learning more about a volunteer Board opportunity.

Meet Coach Howie Roth. He joined First Tee – Silicon Valley coaching staff in 2008 and has been one of the staples of the FTSV coaching team.

“It’s been a great privilege for me to have been coaching at the First Tee,” says Coach Howie. “I’ve always enjoyed seeing how much our participants enrich their lives by growing their life skills through our golf activities. And a special highlight for me has been working with coaches that I originally met as students, and observing how effectively they display these skills learned at the First Tee!”

Coach Howie has been a dedicated, impactful, and skilled coach. He has successfully delivered life lessons and mentored hundreds of participants over the years.  Additionally, his mentoring of our volunteers has been just as significant. “When I think of First Tee I think of Howie,” says Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt. “He embodies our Core Values, shows care to those around him, and makes learning fun. He always strives for better, and that mentality has positively impacted our program and benefited his students. We are grateful to have Coach Howie on our team!”

“Coach Howie has been a regular, reliable instructor for us for over a decade,” says CEO and President, George Maxe. “I’ve always loved that he decided to give back to the community in this way after retirement. I deeply appreciate his dedication to FTSV and our kids.”

Interested in making a positive difference like Coach Howie, developing coaching skills, and working together with other like-minded individuals? Please apply to join our team.

How to get started

• Visit our volunteer page and click on the volunteer form.
• Or contact Julie Donnellan at 408-508-4882 or [email protected]
• Click here for our volunteer tri-fold for more information
• We are accepting volunteers year-round, but to be able to coach in the next season you will need to complete the on-boarding steps by 2/15 for Spring, and 5/15 for Summer, 8/15 for Fall, and 11/15 for Winter
• Training provided (golf and life skills)

Our history dates back to 2000 when the San Jose Sports Authority created the Eagles at Rancho del Pueblo (Eagles) junior golf program for East San José youth. In 2005, the Eagles became The First Tee of San José, a new chapter within The First Tee network.  With 21 years of operation, FTSV now has a group of alumni that participated in our program at any level that are attending college, are young professional and are getting involved in the local community.

FTSV would like to invite our Alumni to join us as a volunteer Board Ambassador! Board Ambassadors give advice, assist with projects, represent the organization in the community at events, help raise funds, and expand FTSV’s network throughout Silicon Valley and beyond.  We would love for our Alumni to become Ambassadors. Who would be a better Ambassador than those who have directly experienced our character building classes? Our Alumni know first-hand the impact of the life and golf lessons we teach and how they help build strong character.  The Alumni Ambassador group will provide a meaningful network opportunity while allowing you to be part of a group with a similar passion to positively transform youth in throughout Silicon Valley.

Please contact George Maxe at [email protected] or 408-288-2937 if you are interested.

Please save the dates for First Tee – Silicon Valley fundraising events which are designed for our supporters, both individual and corporate. Attending our events are a great way for all individuals to learn more about us while having fun. They also provide a wonderful opportunity for corporations to sponsor our youth programs while entertaining customers. The money raised from these events and our private Invitational in July represent 55% of our fundraising budget which sustains our youth development program.

Top Golf

• at the new San Jose location on Monday, March 28, 2022
• a fun, social event for golfers and non-golfers
• Registration is available now

Open

• at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club on Friday, June 10, 2022
• a golf tournament, lunch and dinner — our largest event of the year
• Registration opens February 10^th

Classic

• at Baylands Golf Links on Monday, September 12, 2022
• a golf tournament, lunch and dinner — serving the Mid-Peninsula
• Registration opens June 3rd

Challenge Cup

• at Several Silicon Valley golf courses in early December 2022
• an inclusive and friendly challenge between golf clubs
• Registration opens August 1^st

Please contact our Development Director, Judy Dixon Deaton at [email protected] or 408-508-4881, for more information about participating in our events or Sponsorships.