Volunteering Archives - First Tee

Join the Movement: Empowering Youth through Volunteerism at First Tee – Silicon Valley! At FTSV, we are constantly seeking passionate individuals who are committed to shaping the lives of young people and providing them with the tools they need for a bright future. By volunteering your time as a coach or mentor, you’ll help instill core values and essential life skills in our kids and teens, guiding them toward success. Together, our coaches and volunteers create a positive and safe space for growth, allowing young people to flourish and develop into confident, capable leaders. With just a few hours of your time, you can make a lasting, meaningful impact on their lives.

Why Your Role is Essential

The involvement of community members like you is absolutely vital to FTSV’s success. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on volunteers who are eager to make a difference in the lives of youth. Our coaches and mentors help deliver a fun, engaging curriculum focused on life skills development. In order to maintain an effective, personalized experience for our participants, we aim for a 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio, meaning every volunteer is important. By volunteering, you’ll not only help build character in young people, but you’ll also have the opportunity to grow your own leadership and mentorship abilities, all while being part of something much larger than yourself.

The Importance of Giving Back to Your Community

Volunteering and giving back to your community aren’t just about helping others—it’s also about feeling good about yourself and being a part of something bigger. Studies show that giving your time and energy can boost your mood, increase feelings of purpose, and create a sense of fulfillment and belonging.

As the saying goes, “be the change you want to see in the world.” By volunteering at FTSV, you’re doing just that—you’re helping to create a future where kids and teens have the opportunity to succeed, grow, and become the next generation of high character leaders. Every caring action, every piece of advice a coach delivers, no matter the size, can make a big impact.

Please considering visiting our volunteer page to apply.

Published: 11-8-2024

(Benefits of Volunteering on your Mental Health) There are many benefits to the community when we volunteer our time. Did you know there are also benefits to your mental health?

Angela Thoreson, a licensed independent clinical social worker in Psychiatry & Psychology in Austin, Minnesota, wrote in a Mayo Clinic article that “ Research has shown that volunteering offers significant health benefits, especially for older adults…”

The main benefit of volunteering is noticeable improvements in mental health. Angela Thoreson explains that “Volunteering reduces stress and increases positive, relaxed feelings by releasing dopamine… Reduced stress further decreases the risk of some physical and mental health problems, such has heart disease, stroke, depression, anxiety and general illness.”

As an adult, research shows that volunteering “leads to lower rates of depression and anxiety especially amount people 65 and older.” Additionally, volunteering as an adult “can give you a sense of purpose” writes Trish Lockard in an article for National Alliance on mental Illness (NAMI). “Dedicating time to a cause can give you new direction and allow you to find meaning in something unexpected. It can also take your mind off your own troubles while keeping you mentally stimulated.”

FTSV Coaching is Impactful!

Coaching participants about FTSV’s Life Skills – collaborating with others, pursuing goals, overcoming challenges, showing respect, making good choices, and building a positive self-identity – gives volunteer coaches that worthy cause to rally behind and building blocks to living a happy and healthy life. When you teach those skills, you must also demonstrate them, and that will lead to improved mental health.

Being part of a team also leads to improved mental health. First Tee – Silicon Valley is looking for adult coaches to join our team of over 200 coaches. By becoming a coach or volunteer, you will contribute to the development of the life skills and character of our participants, helping to set them up for the future. You will also benefit personally through the people you will meet and work with.

We rely on Volunteers like you!

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. If volunteering as a coach sounds like a good fit for you, please visit our volunteer page where you can apply. Please also consider inviting a friend, or a work colleague.

Updated: 2-7-25 Published: 10-22-2024