Grants Archives - First Tee

The Moca Foundation $30K 2025 Grant for Gilroy Youth

(The Moca Foundation $30K 2025 Grant for Gilroy Youth – Published 08/01/2025) The Moca Foundation provided $14K to support course sessions for Gilroy youth and $16K to support our School Program at Gilroy Title 1 Schools.

Moca Foundation Funds will underwrite financial aid at Gavilan

First Tee – Silicon delivers our youth development program at 3 locations throughout Silicon Valley with Gavilan College Golf Course serving South County youth. We make our programs accessible to youth of different backgrounds and perspectives and affordable to families experiencing financial hardship. The Moca Foundation grant will help underwrite financial aid which is available on a sliding scale and can reduce the fee to $20-$180 per session. Gilroy/Gavilan Course Program is growing and so is the need for Financial Aid. In 2024, FTSV had 19% of FTSV Gavilan participants receive financial aid. We will be able to increase financial aid this year thanks to Moca’s support.

Moca Foundation Funds will underwrite 5 Gilroy Title 1 Schools

We are also excited to announce that The Moca Foundation will be providing a financial aid grant to underwrite 5 Gilroy Title 1 Schools. The 3 Gilroy Schools: South Valley Middle School Solorsano Middle School, and Mt, Madonna High School that MOCA provided funding for last year are returning plus 2 new schools: Glen View Elementary School and Eliot Elementary School. Our goal is to transition/recruit low-income kids from our School Program to our Course Program at Gavilan Golf Course. The Moca Grant will underwrite golf and games equipment, training and a field trip to Gavilan for these 5 schools.

May van Scherrenburg, The Moca Foundation Associate Director shared…

“We are proud to support First Tee – Silicon Valley’s efforts of character and leadership development for Gilroy youth for our 3^rd year. I have experienced first- hand with my son Drake participating for 6 years how they foster a culture of acceptance and provide mentorship. Golf provides a powerful vehicle to help kids build the strength of character and life skills that they can use both on and off the golf course.”

If you are interested in learning more about how you can support our programs or improvements, please contact Judy Dixon Deaton, Development Director [email protected] or 408-508-4881.

Intero Foundation $5K Grant Supports Our Mission

(Intero Foundation $5K Grant Supports Our Mission) First Tee – Silicon Valley recently received a generous $5,000 grant from Intero Foundation . Special thanks to Intero agents Lisa & Steve Guerrero (FTSV Board Director) for inviting us to apply. These funds will help us adequately invest in our capacity to serve the growing number of youth in our programs while increasing the quality of what we do. In 2024, 5,642 Course Participants and School Students, who were 85% Ethnically Diverse and 57% Low-Income, experienced our life skills and golf skills program. All of our youth development programs (on-course, in-school, and after-school) are growing and FTSV relies heavily on foundations like Intero that are supportive of youth development and our mission.

Intero Foundation Inc. $5K Grant Supports Our Mission

The Intero Foundation’s mission…

To positively impact the communities Intero Real Estate serves through supporting nonprofit programs that advance the health, education and well-being of children and seniors. It is the heartbeat of Intero Real Estate Services and embodies their core values of creating a thriving community. They are an all-volunteer organization founded on the principles of always striving to build a better future which aligns with FTSV’s unique approach to transform lives and gives kids a brighter future. We believe teaching core values and life skills through golf is the foundation of strong character, which leads to success in life.

The Intero Foundation was created in 2002, at the same time Intero Real Estate
Services Inc. (Intero) was founded to serve Silicon Valley’s growing real estate
market. Intero’s founders believed it was important to give back to the
communities where Intero agents live and serve. Since its inception, and thanks
to over 20 years of hard work by its agents and employees raising funds to support local charities, the Intero Foundation has given more than $7 million to 225+ local nonprofits and we are grateful to be one of those non-profits in 2025.

Published: 05-21-2025

CYGF $15K Grant Supports Our Mission

(CYGF $15K Grant Supports Our Mission) First Tee – Silicon Valley recently received a generous $15,000 grant from CordeValle Youth Golf Foundation (CVYGF). This will underwrite our 2025 Volunteer and Instructor Uniforms (hats & shirts) and a portion of our paid lead Instructor compensation. We are a growing chapter that relies heavily on golf enthusiasts and youth development foundations like CVYGF to support our mission.

About CordeValle Youth Golf Foundation

The non-profit CordeValle Youth Golf Foundation was founded in 2004. The foundation’s mission is to expand access to the sport of golf for children of all income levels by directly supporting successful youth golf programs throughout the Santa Clara County. The goal is to provide youth with the opportunity to learn the sport, receive lessons and equipment. Additionally, have access to practice space, and compete, and build positive life skills.

The Foundation annually awards approximately $100,000 in grants to deserving programs. This foundation is funded through a $50,000 annual contribution from CordeValle Golf Club. Also, they raise an additional $50,000 per year through CordeValle’s public charity tournaments.

CordeValle Youth Golf Foundation and First Tee – Silicon Valley are equally committed to expanding opportunities for youth of all income levels to access to the game of golf. Through the discipline and challenge of golf, youth in the Santa Clara County are provided a community with a safe environment and positive life alternatives that build confidence and character, ultimately helping them succeed in our community and in life.

CordeValle has been the location for our annual FTSV Invitational since 2005.

Published: 02-07-2025

FTSV Awarded USGA IDEA $15K Grant

First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) was awarded the USGA IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility) $15K Grant to underwrite our Spanish-language instructors and volunteers to assist with programming in the predominantly Hispanic communities that we serve.

FTSV wants to grow our partnerships with Title I schools to bring our Community Partner School Program to more kids in underserved and underrepresented communities. We intentionally recruit Title 1 schools near our on-course golf locations. The School Program equips educators to successfully deliver FTSV’s curriculum of life skills through golf. It includes equipment on loan, training, support, coordination, and a field trip to FTSV course locations. Our staff collaborates with the schools to attend on-site parent information meetings and community events, where we can promote transition to our Golf Course program.

We currently have 2 adult Spanish-speaking part-time employees, Victor and Lina, who help us facilitate marketing outreach to the Spanish community. FTSV creates Spanish version videos and collateral materials. Our Spanish-speaking staff members make follow up phone calls to Spanish-speaking parents and assist them in registering for, and navigating our Golf Course program. They assist in demystifying golf jargon and golf course play outside of our program. Lastly they promote our local/regional/national opportunities, including scholarships, national academies, our tournaments, golf course discounts, our golf club lease program. In other words, they will simplify the process, establish important relationships that will break down barriers, and help participants maximize their engagement in our program offerings.

USGA Directs $200,000 Annually Toward Local Programs

As a founding partner of First Tee, the USGA directs $200,000 annually toward local programs that help build up young people and address the barriers that many face at this critical entry point into the game. FTSV was one of 28 chapters that received up to a $15,000 IDEA grant.

Since the grant program’s inception in 2021, the USGA has awarded 100 grants to more than 50 chapters, supporting initiatives that strengthen inclusion among participants, coaches and volunteers. In total, $810,000 has been awarded to date, with several chapters receiving funding year-over-year to sustain the growth that has been generated from grant activities.

“The work that so many First Tee chapters have done – and will continue to do – as a result of IDEA grant funding is inspiring and goes well beyond the golf course,” said USGA CEO Mike Whan. “It’s important that we not let up on these efforts and continue to deliver resources toward the programs that help eliminate financial, language or accessibility barriers so that even more kids can enjoy our game.”

“Our chapters are reaching young people from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds, offering not only direct access to the game of golf but empowering them to become future leaders,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “Our network is stronger because of the USGA’s continued investment in our mission.”

The National Golf Foundation reports that 3.5 million youth currently play golf, marking a 40% increase in participation from 2019-23. Additionally, the junior segment is more diverse than the overall golf population, with higher percentages of females, people of color and adaptive golfers than ever before.

The means by which young people connect with the game varies greatly from community to community.

(Read the Full Press Release)

Published: 11-1-2024

FTSV Awarded PGA TOUR Superstore $31K Grant

As part of First Tee National’s partnership with PGA TOUR Superstores, First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) was awarded a $31K Grant – $16,000 in support of our upcoming teen retention initiatives and $15,000 in support of our DE&I initiatives.

FTSV Teen Retention Initiatives

Our greatest teen recruitment challenge is teens’ lack awareness that golf is an option. Teens stop exploring new sports at this age and if they do explore, sadly golf is not always seen as “cool.”

FTSV believes strongly in and is committed to longitudinal mentoring and character development. The longer that we have to walk alongside kids, the broader and deeper their personal growth. Forming high quality developmental relationships with our experienced coaches is the most important element in the transfer of life skills to teen participants. We strive to maximize mentoring time (e.g., purposeful Q&A with participants about a class’s lessons and life skills) and minimize the “noise” of so many moving parts required to conduct quality programming. We draw from Positive Coaching Alliance and The Search Institute to deliver coach training that equips our staff with proven and effective relationship-building strategies.

The PGATSS $16K grant will support the coaching required for our existing and expanding teen initiatives. More specifically, this grant ensures experienced program coordination, which includes coaching delivery that is essential to maintain and improve our teen support.

FTSV DE&I Retention Initiatives

Our programs are accessible to youth of different backgrounds and perspectives and affordable to families experiencing financial hardship. Appreciating diversity, respect, integrity, active listening, and empathy are at the core of what we teach the youth we serve.

FTSV’s greatest challenge in reaching underserved/underrepresented youth is convincing parents that golf, in general, and our program, in particular, are a good opportunity and an affordable option for their kids and teens. A disproportionate percentage of the low-income youth in our service area are Latino. Many parents speak only Spanish and most believe that golf is too expensive and unwelcoming.

To overcome this challenge, FTSV intentionally partners with Title 1 schools near our on-course golf locations, which are located in lower income areas. Our School Program equips educators to successfully deliver FTSV’s curriculum of life skills through golf. It includes equipment on loan, training, support, coordination and a field trip to FTSV course locations. In addition, FTSV staff collaborates with the schools to attend on-site parent information and community events, where we can promote transition opportunities to our on-course golf program and connect with parents. Our staff uses this opportunity to break down stereotypes of golf, connect with parents, and provide information on the life skills curriculum, scholarships and future opportunities afforded to FTSV participants.

The PGATSS $15K grant will underwrite annual school partner fees for a total of 8 Title 1 Schools to ensure we are reaching underserved youth with the goal of transitioning them to our on-course program utilizing our financial aid program.

FTSV is very grateful that PGA TOUR Superstores chose our chapter to be a recipient of their generous grants to further these important initiatives.

Published: 09-12-2024