More Kids Archives - First Tee

Change the Game for MORE Kids! Meet Li An Panfil

(Change the Game for MORE Kids! Meet Li An Panfil – Published 10/23/25) Li An was a standout participant with First Tee – Silicon Valley since 2013. She is now a freshman at UCLA where she is studying healthcare.

In her time with FTSV she participated in every class offered, including our four Ace seminar classes (Career, Education, Give Back, and Golf). Li An also volunteered regularly, giving almost 300 hours as a FTSV volunteer coach in Gilroy. She also coached and organized Girls Golf events and lead several subcommittees in our FTSV Junior Council. Throughout Li An’s many FTSV engagements, she always went above and beyond and distinguished herself as a respected leader.

Li An’s high character, community contributions, and FTSV engagement helped her selections for the following National Opportunity Achievements:

We Asked Li An about How First Tee – Silicon Valley Impacted Her

“First Tee – Silicon Valley played a big role in developing my perseverance and helped me become a stronger communicator and learn skills that are transferable everywhere in life. It’s a big community feeling, spreading knowledge and helping us to improve and be our best selves.”

Li An applied the life and work skills that she learned and coached in FTSV. As a result, she succeeded academically, built a network of support, lifted others up around her, and achieved scholarships that helped her attend UCLA.

A National Leader with Local Heart.

Among the 140 First Tee chapters nationwide, First Tee – Silicon Valley is at the top or near the top in the following categories:

85% participant diversity
48% participants from low-income households
55% retention rate including a 75% teen retention rate
1:4 mentor-to-kid ratio

These numbers reflect our commitment to making sure every child has access to caring mentors and meaningful opportunities.

Be Part of the Change.

As we look to 2026, we need your help to build on this momentum. A monthly pledge is the most powerful way you can support our kids. Your commitment provides the stability and resources necessary to help thousands of youth grow into resilient, confident, and compassionate leaders.

Help Us Grow Our Impact and the Number of Kids We Serve!

Our youth development programs are accessible to youth of different backgrounds and perspectives and affordable to families experiencing financial hardship. We care for kids with safe spaces, quality coaches, character curriculum, and a culture of respect.

Course Program — ensure high quality classes that are affordable and accessible to all (full cost for one participant to take an 8-week class = $500 – or pledge $40 per month)
School Program — equip teachers to deliver our curriculum in their setting (cost of equipment, training, and curriculum per school = $2,000 – or pledge $165 per month)
Opportunities — provide our kids with special experiences outside of our classes (cost of quarterly tournaments or scholarship = $5,000 – or pledge $415 per month)

Make your monthly pledge today—and help us Change the Game for MORE Kids tomorrow.

Make the Pledge!

Change the Game for MORE Kids in 2026!

(Change the Game for MORE Kids in 2026! – Published 10/03/25) First Tee – Silicon Valley invites you to make a monthly pledge (beginning now or starting in this coming year) to help us Change the Game for MORE Kids & Teens!

Make your monthly pledge today—and help us Change the Game for MORE Kids & Teens tomorrow.

Make the Pledge!

Help us grow our impact and the number of kids & teens we serve!

Course Program — ensure high quality classes that are affordable and accessible to all (full cost for one participant to take an 8-week class = $500 – or pledge $40 per month)
School Program — equip teachers to deliver our curriculum in their setting (cost of equipment, training, and curriculum per school = $2,000 – or pledge $165 per month)
Opportunities — provide our kids with special experiences outside of our classes (cost of quarterly tournaments or scholarship = $5,000 – or pledge $415 per month)

FTSV is Celebrating our 25th Anniversary in 2025! Be a $5K for 5 years $25K Grand Champion supporter helping us raise $2.5M! Make your recurring pledge here and look to the right to learn about ways you can donate.

We Have the Space. Now We Need Your Support.

Thanks to our 25-year agreement for expanded access at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course, our capacity has doubled. That means we now have the ability to reach 10,000 kids & teens annually—but growing our impact requires the financial support of people like you. Your monthly pledge makes it possible for us to deliver on this opportunity.

Mentoring is Priceless.

Think about the mentor who made a difference in your life. That kind of guidance—listening, encouragement, and wisdom—shapes kids forever. Over the years, First Tee – Silicon Valley has provided this transformative mentorship to more than 100,000 young people. Your steady monthly support ensures every child in our program has a mentor by their side.

Long-Term Impact That Lasts a Lifetime.

We’re proud of the results our youth development program delivers:

100% of our long-term participants graduate high school.
100% go on to college.
100% gain life skills that make them caring, responsible citizens.
75% of our high school participants give back as junior mentors.

This kind of consistency is possible only when our supporters are consistent too. That’s why monthly pledges are so vital.

Kids Need Us Now More Than Ever.

Social pressures, loneliness, mental health challenges, family struggles, and inequities across Silicon Valley weigh heavily on today’s youth. At FTSV, we provide a safe, supportive, and inclusive community where kids are free to be themselves and discover their inner strength.

A National Leader with Local Heart.

Among the 140 First Tee chapters nationwide, First Tee – Silicon Valley leads the way:

85% participant diversity
48% from low-income households
55% retention rate
75% Teen retention
1:4 mentor-to-kid ratio

These numbers reflect our commitment to making sure every kid & teen has access to caring mentors and meaningful opportunities.

Be Part of the Change and Change the Game for MORE Kids in 2026!

As we look to 2026, we need your help to build on this momentum. A monthly pledge is the most powerful way you can support our kids & teens. Your commitment provides the stability and resources necessary to help thousands of youth grow into resilient, confident, and compassionate leaders.

Donate NOW!

Changing the Game for MORE Kids: Meet Norah Yang

FTSV is Changing the Game for MORE Kids! Meet Norah Yang, a leader and role model in her classes as a FTSV participant and as a volunteer coach. She has been active as a participant since 2015 and began volunteering as a FTSV coach in 2022.

As it relates to her golfing acumen, Norah led her high school golf team to a league championship as a freshman and was awarded MVP in 2021. She has qualified for the USKids World Championship twice and the IMG Junior World at Torrey Pines. Additionally, Norah has placed high in several AGJA tournaments. Norah has represented FTSV at the First Tee National Championship at Stanford University in 2023 and at Clemson in 2024, and at the PURE Insurance Championship held at Pebble Beach in 2023 where she placed 3rd.

Norah responds to her golf achievements: “There are so many applicants for these wonderful events, and to be selected makes me feel so honored and proud. First Tee had supported me every step of my golf journey, from not even knowing how to hold a golf club to being able to compete nationally with amazing golfers. It has taught me so much…”

Norah on the lessons she has learned about setting goals, leadership and overcoming challenges off the course

“First Tee means a lot to me, it has taught me so many lessons outside of what schools offer,” says Norah. “For example, I use goal-setting skills to manage my high school activities and apply the Nine Core Values to deal with various challenges and setbacks in my daily life. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to learn with the First Tee, and I am so happy to now be in a position where I can start to give back by volunteering to coach incoming FTSV students.”

Meet Norah Yang: National Championship 1

Meet Norah Yang: National Championship 3

Of all her achievements, Norah’s 1^st place win at the First Tee National Championship in June, was the most notable. Norah finished the tournament 6-under-par and shot a final round 69 to clench the victory on the girls’ side.

“It has been amazing playing at Clemson …” Norah said. “I have met so many amazing players from all the other chapters and had so many great experiences. Getting here and winning would not have been possible without First Tee – Silicon Valley and all the skills they have taught me.”

Based on her play at the First Tee National Championship, she will also earn a spot in the PGA TOUR’s Pathways to Progression program, which aims to support talented golfers from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in the sport.

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

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 Give First Tee – Silicon Valley Change the Game for MORE Kids… like Norah. $40 a month for high-quality mentorship teaching our character-building life lessons that have proven to make a difference.

Give Now!

Change the Game for MORE Kids!

First Tee – Silicon Valley needs help from you to Change the Game for MORE Kids!

We have MORE Capacity. First Tee – Silicon Valley is thrilled to share that we have a new 25-year agreement for expanded access at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course which doubles our course capacity. We have the space to help 10,000 kids annually – now we need the funding to support our growth.

Mentoring is Priceless. If you had a mentor growing up, you know that having someone to listen and give guidance to overcome life’s challenges can be transforming. When we look back on the over 100,000 kids First Tee – Silicon Valley has worked with, we are filled with pride and joy knowing that our mentors and our youth development program was there for the kids of our community.

We have Long-term Mentoring Impact. Our intentional focus on the recruitment, retention and progression of our participants has a big impact.

100% of our long-term kids and teens graduate high school

100% of our long-term teens attend college

100% learn life skills that make them good citizens!

75% of our long-term high school participants give back as junior mentors

85% diversity 48% low-income

55% retention 1:4 mentor ratio

Meet Alexandra. “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.” Listen to Alexandra share her personal story and how FTSV is helping her on her journey to be the first in her family to attend college.

$500 Donation. Will underwrite one low-income course participant and one Title 1 student to experience our school program. That’s $40 a month for high-quality mentorship teaching our character-building life lessons that have proven to make a difference.

Ways to Give. We are locally funded by people like you! Consider a recurring or one-time donation or select FTSV as your Company Matching or Donor Advised Funds charity.

Click Here for credit card donation or make a pledge to mail us a check.

PUBLISHED: 11-7-2024