Alum Rock School District (ARUSD) and First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) partnered to deliver a community resource event, called the Parent University. The event was hosted at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course with over 550 students and families from across the ARUSD community coming out to join the festivities. FTSV set up games and activities all around the golf course, and each venue was packed with families learning how to play golf and experiencing our typical games.
The day began with speeches by ARUSD Board of Trustees, Interim Superintendent, Dr. Imee Almazan, California Assemblymember, California State Assembly Member Ash Kalra, and California State Senator, Dave Cortese.
“We were grateful to have Assembly Member Kalra and Senator Cortese join us. They have been avid supporters of FTSV and advocates for preserving and improving Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course as an asset for the community, especially Eastside residents. Both spoke in celebration of Rancho and FTSV’s important life skills education for so many kids.”
FTSV President & CEO, George Maxe
Parent University – Game On!
Everyone then made their way out to the various stations around the golf course and rotated stations. Each station had a life lesson and golf skill for the families to engage in. Participants who enjoyed the games, were able to register for our 8-week summer season. Afterwards, families ate lunch, listened to music, and enjoyed the beautiful day.
“We were honored to partner with ARUSD and we look forward to this event each and every year. Parent University is an exceptional example of a community coming together to serve and benefit its residents. Our hope is that families see our program and Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course as a safe and welcoming option.”
“Thank you to Jesus Araujo, Student Services Interim Director for ARUSD, and Alum Rock School District for their continued support and belief in what our First Tee – Silicon Valley Life Skill program can bring to their schools and students.”
FTSV Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt.
Interested in having your school or youth development program partner with First Tee – Silicon Valley? Please contact our Program Coordinator, Joe Stuban at 408-508-4885, [email protected], or visit our outreach page.
Interested in joining our program as a participant, give us a call at 408-408-4884, email [email protected], or check out our youth classes page.
FTSV’s 12th Annual OPEN full-shotgun tournament on June 7th was a huge success. The weather couldn’t have been better at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club for the 160 golfers including 17 sponsors that came together for a great cause, raising a total of $190,000. Proceeds benefit First Tee – Silicon Valley’s financial aid program. We teach life skills and golf skills on-course, in-school, and after-school. Our programs are accessible to youth of different backgrounds and perspectives and affordable to families experiencing financial hardship.
One of our teen participants, Tristan Hipolito, was in attendance to share the impact our program has had on his leadership skills, “I never thought I would be the type of person that was capable of interviewing executives, mentoring youth, organizing improvement plans for my high school team, and most of all, representing my chapter (First Tee – Silicon Valley) on a national panel. FTSV gave me the tools to be a better leader and the opportunity to push myself – for that I am so grateful.”
We would like to recognize all the individuals behind our Sponsorships
Presenting Sponsor: SAGA Foundation (David Bartoshuk)
Hosting PLUS Sponsors:
EmmaLily Winery (Steve Petersen)
PGA TOUR Superstore (Brad Hanson & Nicholas Kendall)
Hosting Sponsors:
Hallagan Huston Family Foundation (Ron & Ryan Hallagan)
PwC (Sarah Beelaard & DJ Wheeler)
Gallagher (Mike Gallagher)
Contributing Sponsors:
Guerrero Properties – Intero Real Estate (Steve & Lisa Guerrero)
Pinnacle Bank (Doug Moffat)
Ernst & Young LLP (Scott Whelton, Gareth Hunt, Blake Bridges)
D&V General Engineering Contractors (Mark Petersen, Gregg Fisher, Nada Maxwell)
Luna Mexican Kitchen (John Lopez)
Panera Bread (Jeff Burrill – who generously donated lunches)
FTSV 12th Annual OPEN Scramble Winners
First Place – Score 54 Brad Rocca, Nate Deaton, Tom Skinner, Eric Arnold – Repeat Champions!Second Place – Score 56 Ryan Hallagan (pictured), Jeff Lai (pictured), Adam Duong, Joshua Duong
PGATSS Putting Contest: 8 players made 1 putt – Dave Vanoncini, Bill Feulner, Rich Gillern, Jody Kirk, DJ Wheeler, Casey DeCarlos, Bret Treece, JC Nuno
Closest to the Pin: Lake #8-Mark Zunich 7’6”, Mountain #2-John Leetch 5’8’’, Canyon #5-Ross Huffman 14’11”
DGDG Car Hole-In-One – no winners but special thanks to Jeremy Beaver for their sponsorship
Thank you to our MC & Auctioneer Dan Rusanowsky – voice of the Shark’s Radio Network and recent recipient of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster.
Thank you to our Raffle supporters for donating Golf foursome plus carts. Raffles Prize Winners:
1) La Rinconada Country Club – Andrew Beelaard
2) Half Moon Bay Golf Links– Nathan Hamby
3) Almaden Golf & Country Club– Dave Vanoncini
4) Silver Creek Valley Country Club– Ron Hughes
5) Saratoga Country Club– Justin Lee
6) Boulder Ridge Golf Club – John Crevelt
7) San Jose Country Club – Rob Sisco
8) Peninsula Golf & Country Club – Joe Chan
9) Bay Club Football – Steve Guerrero
Thank you to our Live Action Supporters:
1) EmmaLily Winemakers Dinner for 10 with Steve Petersen – Bill Feulner
2) Klay Thompson Signed Designer Basketball Shoes – James Cilker
3) VIP 49ers Game Experience Package – Blake Bridges
4) 49ers 2-Game Package Plus Tailgate Parking – John Wong
5) Dan Rusanowsky Go Teal Experience – Lucas Watson
8) San Jose State vs Stanford Tailgate Experience for 4 – Ross Huffman
9) San Jose State vs Stanford Tailgate Experience for 4 – Eric Arnold
10) Special Day at Mayacama Golf Club with Mike Blach – Ken Miller
11) Warrior 4 Courtside Lounge Tickets – James Cilker
Thank you to our Board Members for their support: Steve Almassy, Victor Arrañaga, Jr, Sarah Beelaard, Andrea Brenholz, Steve Guerrero,and Lucas Watson
Our Participating Board Ambassadors: Dick Budelli, Ron Hallagan, Doug Moffat, Steve Petersen, Tiffany Sparks, DJ Wheeler, James Woodbury and Alex Wrobel.
Thank you to our Tournament Coordinators: Development Director Judy Dixon Deaton & Marketing Coordinator Nicole Woodson,
Thank you to our other Staff: President & CEO George Maxe, Program Director Chris Moreno-Hunt, Operations Coordinators Julie Donnellan & Victor Manrique, Program Coordinators Manny Gallardo, Phoenix Jarrell-Desch, Joe Stuban, Tanner Riley & Felix Jasso.
Thank you to our Adult Volunteers: Nestor Arivizu and Roni Castro plus Alumni Nancy Rivera and Francesca Sumcad.
Thank you to our Participant Volunteers: Tristan Hipolito, Alexandra Varo, Jennifer Barrientos, Kristen Tang, Sophia Tang, Salma Rivera and Zachary Smart
Thank you to Cinnabar Hills Golf Club: Nick Starr, Tournament Director, and Adam Schiro, GM, and Food & Beverage and Grounds Staff for a perfectly run tournament.
Proceeds from the Open will help us impact the lives of youth by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. We believe that all kids deserve the chance to grow in a supportive environment with mentors guiding them. We are dedicated to growing our program so it is accessible to MORE kids. Please contact our Development Director, Judy Dixon Deaton 408-508-4881 – [email protected] to discuss sponsorship or underwriting opportunities for next year’s Open on June 6, 2025.
Thank you to the 36 First Tee – Silicon Valley participants who took part in our annual Tag Team tournament on Saturday May 11th at Rancho Del Pueblo Golf Course. Participants from FTSV teamed up with players from each of the four grade levels for the highly anticipated “Par Wars” Golf Tournament. The essence of the tournament lay not only in the pursuit of victory, but also in the spirit of collaboration and unity that permeated the event. As FTSV participants joined forces with their younger counterparts, a sense of mentorship and mutual respect blossomed, creating a dynamic synergy that propelled teams towards success.
Tag Team Highlights
One of the day’s highlights was the closest to the pin contest on hole 1, where precision and nerve were put to the test. In a display of skill and determination, Joshua Jang from grades 9-12 and James Carlo Vergara from grades 2-4 rose to the challenge, their shots landing with pinpoint accuracy to claim the coveted awards.
As the tournament reached its peak, excitement filled the air, ending in a thrilling conclusion that saw victory bestowed upon deserving teams. In third place, with a total team score of 159, Ella Julian, Jorge Pachuca, Joey Jang, and Bryanna Perez showcased their talent and teamwork, earning well-deserved recognition for their efforts. Earning second place honors with a total team score of 158 were Lorenzo Choto, Antonio Perez, Jesse Jang, and Erik Chavez, whose stellar performance and unwavering resolve propelled them to the podium.
Yet, with a total team score of 141 it was James Carlo Vergara, Benjamin Hughes, Fernando Flores, and Coach Phoenix who emerged as the ultimate victors, their exceptional skill and teamwork propelling them to first place glory. Their triumph symbolizes the power of collaboration and determination, serving as a shining example of what can be achieved when individuals come together as a team.
The Results
Another great thanks to CourseCo for donating a foursome at Deep Cliff as a raffle prize. The winner was James Carlo Vergara!
As we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners of the Tag Team Golf Tournament, let us also recognize the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie that defined the event. In a game where success is measured not only by scores, but also by the bonds forged and memories made, every participant is a winner in their own right. We announced that we had a secret agent scouting the field. Coach Stefan was tasked with finding a participant displaying the best golf etiquette, sportsmanship, and integrity during tournament play. While winning is a great goal, we must never lose ourselves and who we want to be in the heat of competition. Two participants stood out the most and were awarded the sportsmanship award. Congratulations to Adam Rosas and Jared Ibarra for their display of our First Tee – Silicon Valley values and life skills that we instill in every participant that joins our family!
Calling all FTSV Alumni! First Tee Alumni Network invites local FTSV Alumni to a San Francisco Giants game.
Network with fellow First Tee Alumni, Headquarters staff and chapter representatives in a luxury hospitality suite at the San Francisco Giants game on August 11th! Whether you are in San Francisco or the surrounding area, please join us at the San Francisco Giants game at 12pm for an afternoon full of fun, food, and baseball.
The FTSV Alumni Club
Having a chapter alumni club allows us to continue nurturing our relationships with FTSV staff and alumni, strengthening our community and bonds with each other as we navigate our professional stage of life.
Our group will focus on three main pillars: Networking, Opportunities, and Giving Back.
Networking: quarterly meetings, engage and network with FTSV alumni and staff, alumni mentorship program
Opportunities: speak at FTSV events, represent FTSV at golf outings, and career development opportunities
Giving Back: volunteer coaching, opportunities to join the FTSV board and become an official advocate for FTSV
Members must be 18 years or older. Members must have completed at least two sessions of the First Tee program. We encourage you to invite your fellow FTSV alumni to grow our community to stay connected and involved with our chapter!
Questions? Want to sign-up?
Call or email Phoenix Jarrell-Desch if you’re interested in attending the Giants game or FTSV’s Alumni Club. [email protected] 650-887-7104.
Join us as a volunteer coach! Has it been a goal of yours to get more involved in your community? To contribute in a positive way to others? To learn more about yourself, and improve your leadership, communication and problem-solving skills? If so, come join us at First Tee – Silicon Valley!
FTSV Coaches work together as a team in our classes to help participants develop their life skills, all while setting their own personal goals for what they want to improve during the season. Coaching with FTSV is an opportunity to not only help others, it’s an opportunity to help yourself. Throughout the season, coaches reflect on how classes are going and discuss different coaching strategies for delivering material, all while providing one another constructive feedback and advice.
FTSV Life Skills: Goal Setting
One of the life skills that First Tee teaches is Goal Setting. Our participants practice creating short-term and long-term goals, making sure that they are specific, time sensitive and do-able. With these skills, FTSV participants have been able to accomplish some pretty incredible feats in school, in their communities, and on the golf course. Our coaches practice their Goal Setting in a similar way, setting specific goals for themselves and what they want to practice while coaching. FTSV believes that everyone can benefit from clear goals and a growth mindset, participant and coach alike. Let’s level up together!
Our coaches and volunteers play a CRUCIAL role in FTSV’s ability to succeed. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on community members determined to make a difference to work with us, delivering our fun life skill curriculum to the participants. We strive to maintain a 4 to 1 student to instructor ratio, so every volunteer and coach makes it possible to grow and accomplish this goal. Not only will you be contributing to changing lives and growing character, but you will also continue to develop and hone your own mentorship and leadership skills, while being a part of something bigger than yourself.
Ready to join us as a volunteer coach?
Does this sound like a good fit? Join us as volunteer coach and mentor! Please visit our volunteer page to apply. Email [email protected] if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you on the course!
In this month’s spotlight, we are highlighting participant Nico Hernandez, a rising sophomore at Gunn High School in Palo Alto. He was first introduced to First Tee – Silicon Valley by a family friend as early as a kindergartener. Nico is now inspiring a whole new generation of young golfers as a volunteer coach.
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.”
Going beyond 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 to tackle any challenge. His positive attitude and mindful approach to his activities has helped him and the people he’s around to flourish. FTSV looks forward to hearing about your future achievements, Nico!
Nico is a shining example of the kinds of participants and junior coaches that FTSV has in the program.
Be a participant, coach, or mentor like Nico!
Registration for our Summer session opens on Wednesday, May 15th. Please visit the website to learn more about how to register and how to apply as a volunteer coach.
This story was written by a member of the FTSV Junior Council. Please email [email protected] if you are interested in learning more about our FTSV Junior Council.
Thank you to the 71 coaches who attended the mentor training. FTSV recently completed the quarterly off-season mentor training for Instructors and Volunteer Coaches. Based on feedback and challenges from the season, the training is tailored to facilitate growth in the returning coaches and bring the new coaches quickly up to speed.
New Mentor Training
Because so many amazing people have joined FTSV to mentor and coach, the quarterly trainings split coaches into a Returning Group and New Group. In the New Coach training, Program Coordinators review the mission of FTSV – to build character and help youth succeed in life – and go through the curriculum with the volunteers. Every week, coaches are teaching a Life Skill, a Golf Cue, and a Golf Ready, and it’s important that everyone knows how these are all connected. Next, volunteers are introduced to games, learning how and why the games are structured and adapted to fit the weeks lessons. FTSV uses specific techniques to change games so there is a seamless integration of that week’s Life Skill and Golf Cue into the fun and exciting activity. After completing this training, volunteers have the skills and the tools necessary to mentor and make an impact on our kids!
Returning Mentor Training
In the Retuning Coach training, feedback is used to design specific review points, allowing FTSV coaches to use their challenges and experiences from the previous season to grow as mentors. In this training, Coaches reviewed Two Rights Make a Right. This is a strategy where coaches provide two positive options for students struggling with their behavior instead of removing them from the learning. They also practiced asking participants “What’s Your Plan?”, a way for coaches to encourage participants to think through their actions and make thoughtful choices. Lastly, the Returning Coaches spent time on the driving range, working on their delivery of the golf cues so that participants will receive similar feedback across classes. Together this training helps the awesome volunteers use the challenges from last season and make themselves more capable and confident going into their next season.
Being a volunteer mentor
The FTSV volunteer coaches are the backbone of our program, and the quarterly trainings use everyone’s unique experiences for the group benefit. When challenges arise, First Tee coaches push themselves to continue learning, to keep a positive growth mindset, and to strive to be the best mentor they can be. From everyone in the FTSV office, thank you very much to all our amazing coaches!
Join our team, learn/develop coaching skills, make a difference in the youth, and give back to the community! Please help us spread the word. The more positive and dedicated coaches, the better the program, and the more impactful it is for our youth.
Read More about becoming a coach and mentor. Download the volunteer brochure HERE.
In this month’s coach spotlight, we highlight Joe Stuban.
Easy doesn’t change you. For one to grow, there needs to be a challenge to push the change. This is true of our participants, and it is also true of our coaches. Program Coordinator Joe Stuban faced a unique business situation and shared his experience growing through challenges.
Coach Joe began as a participant in First Tee – Silicon Valley and returned as a part time coach before finally becoming a Program Coordinator. He coaches all age levels, including most of the 9th-12th grade sessions. When he isn’t on the course, you can find Coach Joe in the office, hard at work coordinating the School Program, among other things. This outreach partner program is important to FTSV as it shares the Life Skill curriculum with large numbers of students at their school, introducing them to our organization and the wonderful game of golf.
Challenge Accepted!
In 2019, FTSV engaged 19 schools to take part in our School Program, but in 2020 the growing School Program came to a screeching halt due to COVID. Schools closed down and many of the school staff that we developed a partnership with left, leaving uncertainty about future collaboration with us. On top of those concerns, the school curriculum had to be adapted to accommodate the changing landscape, including safety protocols. Challenge is where one pushes themself to grow, to learn from mistakes, and to adapt, and that is what Coach Joe set out to do.
Coach Joe shared some of the ways that he feels he grew during this transformational time.
“I learned a lot about myself during this time – how to make adjustments, and how to see progression as a journey and not a straight line. I learned how to be more organized, something that was absolutely necessary during this transition. I learned how to collaboratively communicate with school staff of all levels and picked up new skills in project management, communication, facilitation and delegation During this time, I worked harder than I had ever worked before, determined to turn a challenge into success. What started out as an intimidating, looming challenge ended up being the perfect fuel, just what I needed to push me to be my best self, to rise to the occasion.”
Growing through Challenges
At First Tee – Silicon Valley, the participants are taught how challenge is necessary for growth. We teach tips regarding how to show perseverance, how to see adversity as informative and an opportunity to learn, and how to learn from others. Having the proper positive perspective is necessary to not just overcome a challenge, but to improve from it. These life skill tips are critical for the development of youth, and is just as important as someone gets older. Coach Joe is a testament to how we can make positive outcomes through challenges. By addressing a business challenge – and growing personally in the process – the First Tee – Silicon Valley School Program is in a better place. We now have over 25 schools with strengthening partnerships!
Thanks Coach Joe!
Join our team, learn/develop coaching skills, make a difference in the youth, and give back to the community! Please help us spread the word. The more positive and dedicated coaches, the better the program, and the more impactful it is for our youth.
Read More about becoming a coach and mentor. Download the volunteer brochure HERE.
The summer schedule is now posted here. Classes are broken down by grade group so feel free to invite a friend and take part in our Summer classes.
Financial aid is available
We make our programs accessible to youth of different backgrounds and perspectives and affordable to families experiencing financial hardship.
Collaborating with Others
Each week our participants experience one of our 6 Life Skills and 6 Golf Cues. Our life skills cover everything from showing respect, to pursuing goals, making good choices, building a positive self-identity, overcoming challenges, and collaborating with others.
Golf is mostly considered an individual sport, but golfers have lots of opportunities to interact and build relationships with others when they play or practice. A typical 9-hole golf round takes 2.5 hours to play and that is plenty of time to develop interpersonal skills and meet new people. In our 1.5-hour classes, our participants learn to communicate and collaborate with their playing partners during our games. They learn what it means to ask open-ended questions, what active listening requires, how to demonstrate sportsmanship, and how to invite and learn from different perspectives. Through golf they work on the skills that help them build friendships and be great teammates.
JOIN US!
We encourage youth 2nd grade and above to join our program and ask that you help spread the word. For more information click here. Click here to view our program video and learn more from our participants, parents, and coaches!
First Tee – Silicon Valley is excited to share one of our four Ace Class Projects, the ACE Career Project. In the spring of each year, we offer an 8-week Career planning project for participants 10th grade and above. Over the course of the season, our participants explore:
Career research into industries and job functions,
Transferable, content, and adaptive skills,
Their own interests & values, & how they map to different career clusters,
Informational interview strategies,
Job shadowing, interviewing, and networking,
Writing their resumes , LinkedIn profile, and cover letters, and
Professionalism and interview skills.
What we teach in the ACE Career Project Class
The goal of the project is to help participants dig deeper into their own interests, skills and abilities, and then provide them the tools to find a match with potential careers. We also teach them how to develop their professionalism and to network in the work place. Career exploration and preparation is a daunting task and we strive to break down the process into manageable steps.
“It’s been my good fortune to teach our Career class for many years now,” said George Maxe, FTSV President & CEO. “Our teens are usually unaware of the endless career options out there and anxious about entering the world of work. We make a special effort to help them demystify both, become more knowledgeable about careers, and build their confidence and optimism about their futures.”
What is ACE and ACE Certified?
All 10th graders and above (new or returning) can take the Ace Career and other Ace classes. However, in order to be Ace-certified, which is the highest First Tee participant honor, participants that have been in our program for more than 3 years may also complete the supplemental Ace course work and submit an application for Ace-certification.
Want to learn more?
In addition to the Career project, we have Golf, College, and Give Back projects. For more information on our four Ace projects please click here, email [email protected], or call 408-508-4884.
On March 2nd, First Tee – Silicon Valley had 11 coaches participate in a Level I coach training. The Level I training is one of three First Tee National trainings that make up the First Tee Coach Program. The Coach Program is an educational training program that prepares First Tee coaches from around the country to deliver the First Tee’s Life and Golf Skill Curriculum.
Level I training is done locally, and Levels 2 and 3 are held at different locations around the country. Coach Chris and Coach Manny are both trained to deliver the Level I training for First Tee – Silicon Valley as Level 3 certified coaches and as long-time program staff – over 20 years combined!
The Coach Building Blocks
The Training Program is primarily focused on creating experiences for coaches to learn the application of the Coach Building Blocks – Activity-Based, Mastery Driven, Empowering Youth, and Continuous Learning. Coaches Chris and Manny delivered the Coach Building Block theories and best practices to the attendees who then had the opportunity to apply what they learned by delivering the lessons to each other.
“One of our goals is for coaches and participants to be continuously absorbing and applying newly acquired skills,” says FTSV Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt. “In coaching, we never stop learning. Every class and every participant are different. The more skills we can build, the more we can adapt to each individual and each class situation. That is why we have more than four First Tee – Silicon Valley trainings each year in addition to the National Coach Program that is offered by First Tee Headquarters. The more prepared we are, the better the experience for the participants.”
Want to become a coach?
To learn more about becoming a coach and building your coach skill set, please visit our volunteer page, or reach out to [email protected], 408-508-4884
The mentors in First Tee – Silicon Valley are the most important part of the program. It is because of their care, time and effort that we are able to make an impact on our participants. This month, we would like to highlight one of our amazing mentors, meet Jeffy Chang.
Jeffy Chang is a shining example of the role models we are proud to call our coaches at FTSV. For Jeffy, respect is everything. For others, for surroundings, and for one’s self; respect is the foundation that we build our character upon. This foundation is what’s key according to Jeffy, and that “this foundation is how [our participants] are going to approach life…it’s what they build on as a person.” Helping to establish that foundation of respect is an emphasis of Jeffy’s. Talking to the participants lucky enough to work with him, it is clear he is having a very positive impact.
Jeffy started volunteering in 2017
After seeing the impact FTSV was having on his children in their first couple seasons, Jeffy wanted to help make that same impact on others. He noticed, “For my kids, it was a safe haven, and a place that was familiar.” Jeffy began volunteering and never turned back, accumulating over 1800 hours of service to date. He coaches up to 4 classes a week and serves on our Board of Ambassadors, while also working and being there for his family. Once his kid’s started high school, they also joined as volunteer coaches, so now the Chang’s coach 2-3 classes every Saturday. First to arrive and last to leave on program Saturdays, the entire family puts all First Tee life skills on full display, positively impacting the supportive environment that exists at Rancho del Pueblo.
When asked about why they come back week after week, Jeffy said:
“When we were here on the weekends, I could sense more confidence in my kids. Saturday was their place; they knew how to interact and what to do. School is very different; you don’t see bullying at First Tee and it gives kids the space to grow and push themselves. When you push to challenge yourself, that’s that growth mindset.”
When talking to Jeffy, it’s clear that he sees the learning opportunities of First Tee going beyond what happens on the golf course. The learning doesn’t stop once the participants leave their session. These Life Skills will continue with them into all other aspects of their lives.
Jeffy has advice for parents of First Tee participants, saying:
“There are parents that think we need to just teach them golf, but all of our Life Skill behaviors/tips are things that should start at home; First Tee 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.”
Here at First Tee, we love talking with parents about the Life Skills that we are sharing in our sessions and how we would love to work more directly with them on ways to continue their kids’ learning outside of the golf course. All of the coaches are more than happy to check in. Let’s get to know each other better!
If you too would like to become more involved and make a positive impact on the kids in our community, please visit our website to learn more about the volunteer opportunities available. It is our mentors that make what we do possible. As the significant commitment of our awesome coaches like Jeffy reveal, the greater the involvement of high quality mentors, the greater the positive impact on kids.
Thank you, Jeffy, for all that you and your family give to our First Tee – Silicon Valley community, and thank you to all our First Tee – Silicon Valley mentors!
