We are excited to share an amazing opportunity for First Tee — Silicon Valley and our community. We can make every gift go further, reach more kids and teens in our community, and make a bigger impact than ever before thanks to the Charles Schwab Challenge Grant.
From now through 2026, this matching grant will help us deliver the life-changing impact of our program to kids from all walks of life. We will be able to expand our reach like never before and connect with kids and families in new and innovative ways. And we will be able to support the next great generation of mentors and leaders.
Our chapter’s ability to receive this match will be tied directly to your support! Help us reach our Year-End Goal to raise $400K and add 300 new donors.
Your donation will help us make a bigger impact in our community, reaching more kids and teens like Nancy Rivera who is being recognized for her intentional and innovative commitment to community service following the First Tee’s Innovators Forum in San Jose Calif., Oct. 8-11. Nancy is one of two participants selected from the 28 participants who attended the Forum to receive a $10,000 educational stipend to support her continuing education.
Nancy has been a participant of First Tee – Silicon Valley since 2017, has completed all 4 projects at the Ace level, and has taken more classes since 2017 than any other participant. She is a 17-year-old senior at University Preparatory Academy and is set to be a first-generation high school graduate. Through her service project, she plans to provide educational support for bilingual families that will be offered in accessible community areas. The workshops will be offered in Spanish and include resources on how to effectively communicate and support their child as they pursue post-secondary education, such as the process of completing the FAFSA, SAT/ACT and scholarship opportunities, how to navigate online resources, and more.
Click here to watch video of Nancy learning she received a $10K scholarship!
Nancy stressed the importance of carrying on and embodying First Tee values of giving back, and respecting diversity. She said, “This sport and program is very different from all the other ones I tried out because it included a little bit of everything. Yes, they help my golf game, but it is so much more… I am proud to be part of a group that promotes respect and appreciating diversity and provides tools on how to help and think of others. Respect is a BIG part of our daily lives, especially living in the Bay Area where we have a diverse community. Learning collaborative communication strategies has been a key takeaway that I’ve learned in this program and carried with me in my volunteering. I’ve learned what it means to truly actively listen and how listening involves asking follow up questions to better understand the perspectives of others…Being able to listen, show empathy, and understand the rest of your team are definitely characteristics of being a good leader, which is what FTSV wants us to be and what I want to be.”
We appreciate your ongoing support and your commitment to Building Game Changers.
To donate today, visit https://www.firstteesiliconvalley.org/donate/