Tag: May 2024

Parent University – A Resounding Success

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.

Published: 06-12-2024

Calling All FTSV Alumni!

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.

FTSV Alumni community online

Published: 05-14-24

Join us as a Volunteer Coach!

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!

Published: 05-08-24

Participant Spotlight: Nico Hernandez

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.

Published: 05-03-2024