Year Archives - Page 4 of 52 - First Tee

Manny Gallardo Awarded National First Tee Coach of the Year!

On November 20^th, First Tee – Silicon Valley’s (FTSV) Coach Manny Gallardo was awarded National Coach of the Year across all First Tee Chapters world-wide! There are over 150 First Tee chapters, with over 5,000 coaches in the network. Congratulations Coach Manny on this incredible achievement!

Making an Impact

Coach Manny has been a positive force at First Tee – Silicon Valley for over 12 years. He began as a volunteer in 2012, became a paid instructor in 2013, and advanced to a Coordinator in 2017.

Manny has developed over 200 games, worked on resource videos for participants and parents, coordinated golf club donations to participants on financial need, trained other coaches on our building blocks and coach philosophy, developed and coordinated our girls golf and some of our pre-season tournament events, grew our outreach School Program in South County, and helped deliver parent orientations, all while coaching every season, 7 classes a season for the past 10 years! We would simply not be where we are today without Manny elevating our program experience.

“In the 12 years that I have been with First Tee, I can’t think of anyone who embodies First Tee more than Manny,” said Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt. “He is a special person who was meant to be a coach and a mentor. He is universally liked and respected by everyone; coaches, parents, participants, alumni, school directors, and board members because he is a great and caring person. He is driven by helping others, including everyone, and making the experience fun. Participants have credited him for their leadership skills, for playing competitive golf, for taking on new challenges, or for sticking with it during difficult times. Our program is only as good as the people who represent it and we couldn’t ask for a better representative.”

Read What Others Have Had to Say

Click here to read from other participants, coaches and staff about the impact Manny has had on them.

Congratulations Manny Gallardo National First Tee Coach of the Year!

Interested in becoming a coach and making a difference like Coach Manny? Please visit our VOLUNTEER PAGE. No golf experience necessary!

Published: 12-11-2024

Annual College Day Tournament

On November 9^th, First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) hosted its Annual College Day Tournament where our 36 participants paired up with a collegiate player from Santa Clara or Stanford in a triple format tournament. For the second straight year, we invited 6 participants from the First Tee – Greater Sacramento to join us in our friendly competition. Thank you so much FTGS for making the trip!

Each middle school participant partnered with a player from Santa Clara women’s team while the high school participants partnered with the men’s team from Santa Clara and Stanford. All of our players put their life skills to the test by demonstrating it towards the college players. FTSV participant, James Carlo, in particular, displayed a proper First Tee greeting by removing his hat and shaking hands with Santa Clara’s coach John McCord.

Kayden and Varnika teamed up with Stanford’s Jay Leng and shared their experience:

“Being able to play with Jay at the College Play Day was such a great experience because it showed me how a college player like Jay approached the game and showed his passion for golf. Which gave an insight on the skill and commitment required to play at the college level. It showed me that it’s possible to continue sports after high school and it’s achievable.”

“Playing in the College Day Tournament was an awesome experience. I got to play with Jay, a college golfer from Stanford, and it was super inspiring—it definitely motivated me to keep working hard pursuing my passion for golf.”

In a very tight competition, we awarded medals to the top 3 teams for middle school and high school. Thank you everyone for playing with honesty, integrity, and having a ton of fun!

Annual College Day Tournament Results

1st Place

6^th-8^th Grade: Suri Lau (FTSV) and Ami Im (Santa Clara) score of 27

9^th – 12^th Grade: Paavni B. (FTGS) and TK Chantananuwat (Stanford) score of 26

2nd Place

6^th-8^th Grade: Jesse Jang (FTSV) and Chloe Lam (Santa Clara) score of 29

9^th – 12^th Grade: Kristen Tang. (FTSV) and Calder Overfelt (Santa Clara) score of 27

3rd Place

6^th-8^th Grade: Caroline Yuan (FTSV) and Brianna Park (Santa Clara) score of 30

9^th – 12^th Grade: Sophia Tang. (FTSV) and Matt Robles (Santa Clara) score of 27

Closest to the Pin

Jayden Aguinaga (FTSV) and Brian Ma (Stanford)

Straight Drive

Kaiden Wong (FTSV) and Nathan Wang (Stanford)

Next tournament will be March,1^st 2025

For information about these tournaments and more, visit Our Opportunities page or contact Manny Gallardo – [email protected].

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.”

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 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

Participants vs. Parents Tournament: A Day of Fun and Friendly Competition

On Saturday, November 9th, a day of fun and friendly competition at Rancho Del Pueblo Golf Course: The Participants vs. Parents Tournament. Both kids and parents competed against each other in a match. In the end, it was the kids who came out on top, winning with a total score of 125, narrowly edging out the parents’ score of 130. The tournament was designed to offer a twist on traditional golf, with a variety of fun games and challenges throughout the course. Both participants and parents were given the chance to show off their skills, as well as their creativity.

Hole 3: Soccer Golf Challenge

One of the highlights of the day was the Soccer Golf Challenge on hole 3. Players took a break from their traditional golf swings and instead had to use their feet to get the ball into the hole. The rules were simple: no clubs allowed, just soccer-style kicks. The kids seemed to have the edge in this challenge, with their youthful energy and soccer skills giving them an advantage over the parents. The short, strategic kicks required for this hole had everyone laughing, especially when the ball veered off course in unpredictable ways.

Hole 7: Spin the Wheel – Random Club Challenge

On hole 7, things took a quirky turn with the Spin the Wheel challenge. Players had to spin a wheel to determine which random club they would use for the hole. From wedges to drivers, the wheel could land on anything, forcing participants to adapt their strategy quickly. The unpredictability of the challenge kept everyone on their toes, and the parents’ strategic thinking was tested as they were often forced to use a club that wasn’t the ideal choice for the hole. Still, the kids embraced the randomness, showing that sometimes, having fun is more important than precision.

Course Contests: Closest to the Pin & Longest Drive

In addition to the hole-specific challenges, the tournament also featured two exciting course contests: Closest to the Pin on hole 5 and Longest Drive on hole 4. Both contests were fiercely contested, with bragging rights on the line.

Parents Long Drive: Will (225 yards)

Parents Closest to the pin: Will (44 inches)

Kids Long Drive: Siwat (130 yards)

Kids Closest-to-the-Pin: Leo (10 inches)

While the final scores were close, with the kids narrowly winning by just five points, the real highlight of the day was the camaraderie between parents and children. The tournament wasn’t just about golf; it was about bringing families together, encouraging friendly competition, and making memories that would last a lifetime.

The Participants vs. Parents Tournament was a huge success, combining the thrill of golf with the joy of spending time with family. It was clear that everyone—whether they were swinging a club or kicking a soccer ball—was a winner in the end.

Published: 12-4-2024

Girls Golf Autumn Play Day: A Fun-Filled Day of Learning, Practice, and Play!

The sun shined bright as our participants gathered for our much-anticipated Girls Golf Autumn Play Day: A Fun-Filled Day of Learning, Practice, and Play. Designed to inspire our young golfers, we kicked off the session with the icebreaker: name badge creation. Each participant had the chance to design their own name badge adding a bit of personality and flair before heading out for a day full of golf and camaraderie with our coaches and two members from the San Jose State Women’s Golf team.

After creating name badges, we commemorated the day with a group photo. The participants gathered in front of hole nine to capture the moment.

On-Course Play: Putting Skills to the Test

With the group picture behind them, the participants were ready to take their skills to the course. Each hole had a different theme. On two holes, our participants played a round with San Jose State University team members Kate Roberts and Tessa Kremser. From tee box to green, the San Jose State Women’s golf team offered encouragement and advice when needed.

Our participants also competed the pumpkin patch driving challenge and the scare the scarecrow approach shot challenge. Our participants definitely scared the scarecrow with some awesome golf shots!

It’s a Wrap! Girls Golf Autumn Play Day was a Success

The day ended with our post game activities, food, and a raffle. Our participants enjoyed time taking photos in our photo booth as well as decorating fall portraits and mason jars. Our Junior Council, who helped put the event together had a few remarks regarding the event.

“I loved seeing the girls having fun and creating bonds while playing on the course!” – Coach Li An “It really brightened my morning seeing the energy and excitement the kids brought out to the Girls Golf event!”

“The girls were fascinated watching the SJSU golfers playing with them, having shared smiles and laughter throughout the day” – Coach Abigail

“I loved watching the kids interact with the San Jose State golfers. It made me so happy to see the girls surrounded by such positive role models as they continue to explore golf” – Coach Varnika

“Seeing all the kids get excited to take photos (Polaroid), crafts and just having a fun time together playing golf and interacting with one another was honestly the best feeling ever!” – Coach Chloe

The event was a perfect blend of fun, learning, and teamwork – showcasing the power of golf to create a community by bringing people together of all ages or experience. With events like these, it’s safe to say that many of the young participants will continue to grow in the sport, carrying with them the lessons they gathered in their Fall Play Day experience.

Special thanks to SJSU members Kate and Tessa for taking the time out of their day to give our participants an experience to remember.

Special thanks to our Junior Council who were tasked with putting together, budgeting, and coordinating the entire event. We’re very proud of you! Our Junior Council is made up of 20 high school FTSV participants. For more information on how to join, please email [email protected].

Lastly, thank you to Coach Gracie, Alexia, and all of our volunteer coaches for making this Girls Golf Event so memorable!

Next Girls Golf will be March,1^st 2025. For information about these play days and more, visit Our Opportunities page or contact Manny Gallardo – [email protected].

Published: 12-4-24

Origins of #GivingTuesday: When did Giving Tuesday Start?

Origins of GivingTuesday: When did Giving Tuesday Start? According to the national GivingTuesday organization, “GivingTuesday was born and incubated at the 92nd Street Y and its Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact in New York City. GivingTuesday is now an independent nonprofit and a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.”

2024 #GivingTuesday: December 3^rd – #GivingTuesday happens annually on the Tuesday after the Thanksgiving Holiday.

The fundamental idea and vision of the GivingTuesday concept is Generosity. The GivingTuesday organization says “Generosity is uplifting, generative, equalizing, and connecting.” Furthermore, “Generosity is GivingTuesday’s universal rallying cry and the foundation of our strategies.”

Origins of GivingTuesday: When did Giving Tuesday Start? FTSV

This #GivingTuesday, First Tee – Silicon Valley needs help from YOU to Change the Game for MORE Kids!

We are committed to providing affordable access to all youth – no matter their financial hardship or background. We need support from the community to grow affordable access for our youth development golf and life skills program at our 3 golf course locations. Help us provide an 8-week session to 200 additional participants.

Origins of GivingTuesday: When did Giving Tuesday Start? Change the game

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

Give Now!

Published: 11-27-24

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.

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 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

Join the Movement: Empowering Youth through Volunteerism

Join the Movement: Empowering Youth through Volunteerism at First Tee – Silicon Valley! At FTSV, we are constantly seeking passionate individuals who are committed to shaping the lives of young people and providing them with the tools they need for a bright future. By volunteering your time as a coach or mentor, you’ll help instill core values and essential life skills in our kids and teens, guiding them toward success. Together, our coaches and volunteers create a positive and safe space for growth, allowing young people to flourish and develop into confident, capable leaders. With just a few hours of your time, you can make a lasting, meaningful impact on their lives.

Why Your Role is Essential

The involvement of community members like you is absolutely vital to FTSV’s success. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on volunteers who are eager to make a difference in the lives of youth. Our coaches and mentors help deliver a fun, engaging curriculum focused on life skills development. In order to maintain an effective, personalized experience for our participants, we aim for a 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio, meaning every volunteer is important. By volunteering, you’ll not only help build character in young people, but you’ll also have the opportunity to grow your own leadership and mentorship abilities, all while being part of something much larger than yourself.

The Importance of Giving Back to Your Community

Volunteering and giving back to your community aren’t just about helping others—it’s also about feeling good about yourself and being a part of something bigger. Studies show that giving your time and energy can boost your mood, increase feelings of purpose, and create a sense of fulfillment and belonging.

As the saying goes, “be the change you want to see in the world.” By volunteering at FTSV, you’re doing just that—you’re helping to create a future where kids and teens have the opportunity to succeed, grow, and become the next generation of high character leaders. Every caring action, every piece of advice a coach delivers, no matter the size, can make a big impact.

Please considering visiting our volunteer page to apply.

Published: 11-8-2024