Author: edunne

The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia Welcomes Michael Brown as New Board President

  “Always remember where you came from.  Walnut Lane Golf Club and The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia is where I came from”.  Michael Brown has been named the new Board President of The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia in 2018.  Michael will be taking over for long time President, Jay Sigel. Jay has been integral to the growth and success of The First Tee of Greater  Philadelphia since its inception. Jay is a legendary amateur golfer. In 1983, he became the only golfer ever to win the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur in the same year, which made him only the third golfer to win two USGA individual titles in the same year. He also had a successful career on the PGA Champions Tour. Jay has served as the President of the First Tee of Greater Philadelphia for 37 years.   According to William Hyndman, V, Executive Director of The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia, “Jay’s leadership has helped our chapter grow to where it is today, positively impacting the lives of more than 15,000 young people in our eight county footprint.  Michael Brown is a dynamic successor whose commitment and dedication to our students and golf will further our mission of providing even more kids with The First Tee curriculum to create good golfers but even better people”.   The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia’s eight county footprint includes Philadelphia, Chester, Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, Camden, Gloucester and Burlington counties. Michael Brown, “Brownie” grew up in a row home on Magdalena Street across from the first green at Walnut Lane Golf Club which is now the headquarters of The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia. He started playing golf at Walnut Lane at the age of 12 and he was involved in, the Greater Philadelphia Scholastic Golf Association Classic, the early incarnation of The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia. The golfers at Walnut Lane treated him so well that they even chipped in money so he could play in the U.S. Amateur Public Links championships. Greater Philadelphia Scholastic Golf Association, founded by Jack Gross, Greg Gaul and Walter Smith in 1978 was the predecessor organization prior to integrating with The First Tee in 2004.  It was founded upon the tenet of providing equal access to golf for all young people. Michael played in and placed in the first GPSGA Championship in 1979. “I can tell you that golf has been the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. The people I have met along the way have been tremendous and golf has opened doors that I never would have opened if I did not play golf”, says Michael Brown. “Brownie” does not forget his roots.  He wants to give back to kids to pass on the kindness shown to him as a kid. Michael Brown echoes departing President, Jay Sigel’s sentiment that golf has to have a social conscience and we all need to give back.  Giving back is the opportunity that excites Michael the most about being the new President, Board of Trustee. “I am going to do everything I can.  I will give back at every chance I get.  ” Michael Brown is Group President of InnerWorkings which acquired Brown + Partners in 2007.  Mike and his wife, Beth founded Brown + Partners in 1999. About The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia The mission of The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia is to positively impact the lives of young people by providing standardized curriculum and educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. The First Tee Changes Lives. Young people in our country today are facing critical challenges.  Among these challenges include the fact that eleven million young people do not have a safe place to be after the school bell rings, one in three will reach adulthood not ever having a positive mentor, one in six children are food insecure, one in five students are leaving our schools each year and do not graduate.  The First Tee is addressing these challenges intentionally through character education in its programs, seamlessly integrated with a golf curriculum.  We believe that all young people should have access to safe places and caring adult mentors who provide an experience that helps them to grow socially, emotionally and academically. The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia introduces young people to The First Tee Nine Core Values, Nine Healthy Habits and Life Skills  inherent in the game of life and golf, preparing them for success both on and off the course.   In 2017 alone, through providing equal access to golf, we positively impacted the lives of more than 15,000 kids. In 2018, our goal is to reach 20,000 young people in our eight county footprint. The First Tee has developed programs built on the positive youth development framework.  Our programs provide safe places, intentional and trained caring adults, and developmentally appropriate and empowering curricula.  At elementary schools, youth centers and golf facilities, students participate in a seamless golf and character education program, promoting physical activity, introducing them to a lifelong sport while embedding core values and wellness in every lesson. Nine Core Values: Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance, Courtesy, Judgment. Life Skills: Interpersonal, Goal Setting, Resilience and Self Management Nine Healthy Habits: Energy, Play, Safety, Vision, Mind, Family, Friends, School and community make a difference with our kids. An investment in The First Tee is an investment in Good Students, Good Citizens and eventually, Good Employees.

Historic Philly Fireman’s Hall Has Strong Link To The First Tee

By Greg Gaul, Board Member of The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia Speech From 10/13 Fireman’s Hall 50th Anniversary Celebration   My name is Greg Gaul and while you may not know me, I was one of the founders of Fireman’s Hall Museum.  Today, I’ve been asked to talk briefly about the early history of Fireman’s Hall and tell you something of which you are probably not aware.   Back in 1977, following the launch of the museum, three of the original founders launched another enterprise that finally evolved into what is today The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia.  Aided by others in the founding group including Fire Commissioner Joe Rizzo, John Lang, and Carol Smith.  Jack Gross, Walter Smith and I conceived and formed another non-profit organization dedicated to youth development through golf that is thriving today, some forty years later. The First Tee is a national organization consisting of over 150 chapters.  The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia, our group, is one of the leading chapters touching over 15,000 youths through its varied activities annually.  The First Tee introduces young people to these nine core values that will be character-building behaviors that will serve them well throughout their lives:  Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance, Courtesy, and Judgement.  These are the same attributes that many pundits say are missing in our society today. So it turns out, both Fireman’s Hall and The First Tee have an early shared history.  I would like to point out that both of these organizations, as affiliated groups of the “City of Brotherly Love” in their early days, had a shared mission to reach out and help the public in general with high-minded goals.  For Fireman’s Hall, it was public safety from fire.  For The First Tee it was youth character development through golf.  Both organizations at their inception had the same geographical footprint including the city proper and surrounding communities.   Firefighters have a long-standing affinity for golf, as well.  In the early days of Fireman’s Hall, it was an active supporter of the Joe Rizzo Celebrity Golf Tournament at Bala Golf Club.  That tradition of a connection to golf continues on. Walt Smith, the former CEO of the Contributionship Insurance Company, was the driving force for the formation of what was to become The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia.  He, along with Jack Gross and myself, were avid golfers.  The city, through its many resources including the Fairmont Park Commission and its golf courses, has fostered positive programs for the collective good that are not widely recognized and known.  Today, as an extension of that theme, The First Tee has operations at FDR Golf Club in South Philadelphia and at Walnut Lane Golf Club in Roxborough.   Interestingly too, both organizations have a long and integrated connection to the insurance industry here in Philadelphia.  A most obvious shared connection is with The Contributionship Insurance Company founded by Franklin but also with the INA (now Chubb), The Green Tree Mutual, Reliance and Lumberman’s to name just a few. Please allow me to look back and share some early memories with you about Fireman’s Hall. The first involves the Willet Studios’ half-moon, stained glass window which is on the second floor of the museum. Joe Rizzo was passionate about honoring the valor of fallen firefighters in the museum proper. We engaged the Willet Studios here in Philadelphia, a nationally recognized art studio, to create something. Floored at the cost at first, we decided to go forward because it was that important to our mission. I think it cost $10,000 to do and that was a reduced cost from Willet. Aren’t we glad we did? Next in 1976 Deputy Commissioner Joe McKenna had this publicity idea for a “Muster” on Delaware Avenue just before the museum opening to promote it. Paid and volunteer units came from Reading to Wilmington to Cherry Hill to show their equipment and join in the festivities. All the papers and TV were on hand. The board was overwhelmed with the participation and success. We think there were 10,000 people there, we were flabbergasted. Finally, the fire department had three Percheron horses and Joe Rizzo had an idea to name them after three of the “civilians” who served on the board. Two were males and one was a female but all were beautiful draft horses. So, as a photo publicity stunt in 1976 Joe Rizzo named and presented us with these horses. “Jack” was the first, named for Jack Gross head of the board, “Walt” for Walt Smith and lastly “Jean” for the female who is my wife. Ironically, both the horse and my wife were pregnant at the time giving birth a few months later. That was my first child, Scott. Those were just a few of the great times we had in those early days. Graciously, Carol Smith who knows and understands this shared history has offered me this opportunity to present a brief snippet of this unknown early connection to you.  We, at The First Tee, hope to work together with Fireman’s Hall in the future to build a stronger tie and connection between our two organizations where our intentions and purpose will be mutually beneficial.  Thank you for your time and interest.

The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia is instilling core values in young people through the game of golf

By Samantha Bambino of Feasterville Trevose Times

The Times

Growing up, most kids try their hand at a few hobbies. More often than not, these include a dance class at a local studio or joining the Little League baseball team. While these certainly teach important life skills, the nonprofit The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia is working to impact young people with something a bit more unique — the game of golf.

The mission behind The First Tee, which has programming at Spring Mill Country Club and Bensalem Township Country Club, is to provide educational programs that instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices, all through golf. With the core values of courtesy, respect, judgment, responsibility, sportsmanship, confidence, honesty, integrity and perseverance, the experience is designed to teach skills such as interpersonal communication, self-management, goal setting, mentoring and effective conflict resolution.

According to The First Tee’s director of programs, Rebecca Caimano, all skill levels are welcome to participate.

“We’re more concerned about them being good people, not good golfers,” she said.

The organization accepts young people ages 6–18 years old, though some programs are available for 4–5 year olds as well. The kids are placed where they will excel the most based on skill level and maturity. Currently, the Greater Philadelphia chapter reaches more than 16,000 kids in the city and its surrounding counties and has experienced a tremendous amount of growth over the last few years. By 2018, the chapter plans to reach at least 20,000 youths.

Out of the 155 First Tee chapters in the country, Greater Philadelphia has the highest number of female participants, a recent increase from 41 to 48 percent. The number of female coaches has also grown to 30 percent, which includes several alumni.

In addition, 15 percent of the Greater Philadelphia chapter’s population is special needs youth. As a proud partner of ELS for Autism, The Overbrook School for the Blind and the Widener Memorial School, The First Tee has established an initiative to enhance its programming to better suit kids with special needs. According to Caimano, several students are visually impaired, so instructors will start them with tennis balls to teach basic skills before moving onto traditional golf balls.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from,” Caimano said. “Anyone can play.”

The First Tee has several programs for local kids who wish to learn golf. Through the Certification Program, which serves 1,500 students, weekly classes are offered at local golf clubs, mini golf courses and driving ranges. With its National Schools Program and DRIVE curriculum, The First Tee instructors visit local schools to train the gym teachers, who then incorporate what they’ve learned into their own lessons. The organization is in 65 Philadelphia-area schools.

In addition to its programming, The First Tee hosts various fundraising events throughout the year. One of the biggest is the Annual First Tee Invitational, which took place last month at the ACE Club in Lafayette Hill, one of the best clubs in the state, according to Golf Digest. Participants were able to experience a world-class golf club, bid on auction items and, of course, play some golf.

Each year, the goal of the invitational is to raise funds for the chapter’s educational programming. The goal was to raise $100,000, a significantly higher amount than funds raised at 2016’s event, but according to Caimano, the organization happily reached its goal.

For her, the highlight of The First Tee is the ability to be unique. So many kids play the traditional sports of baseball and soccer, but golf is something different. There’s no physical contact and for the most part, no competitiveness. According to her, the kids are solely against themselves and the golf course. It’s about personal accomplishments and cheering peers on when they achieve them.

“Golf is different than other games and sports. It teaches them how to respect other people,” she said. “We’re not just teaching golf. We’re making good people into better people.”

Thank you, Vince, for your wonderful support of The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia

The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia (TFTGP) is indebted to Vince Donahue of Lamb McErlane Attorneys at Law.  Vince has served TFTGP as Outside Counsel on a pro bono basis.   Over the past two years, Vince helped the Chapter with a Pennsylvania Sales Tax Exemption Denial from the state of Pennsylvania.  Through a process of multiple appeals and hearings, Vince’s knowledge and expertise successfully helped the Chapter gain final approval.   With the sales tax exemption status, TFTGP will have additional funds to further our mission of helping thousands of kids learn the game of golf, but more importantly, learn the Core Values that lead to success.   The kids and organization of The First Tee are grateful for Vince’s dedication and willingness to make a difference which helps make this world a better place.   We like to say, The First Tee creates Good Golfers but even Better People. Thanks, Vince!

We were very proud to partner with the Kids On the Hill Program this year and watch all the kids grow both their golf games and interpersonal skills. We ended this years program with a fun tournament with different prizes and the kids had a blast! It was a really fun summer and we are so proud of all the progress the kids have made. We can’t wait till next year!  

Just received AWESOME news from one of our families who moved to Florida a couple of years ago. “Dear TFTGP, This is Gloria. I just can’t wait to share a good news with you. Angela just won the US Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst, NC. She played 9 years old girls division in Country Club of Whispering Pines between August 3rd and 5th, scored 35 – 38 – 34. I didn’t do well, I shot 74-80-78, World ranked T21. We want to thank you again for your support. Gloria” We are so proud of Gloria and her sister, Angela and wish them all the best going forward!

On Monday, July 24th, 20 First Tee students teed it up at the historic 9 holes of the St. Martin’s Course at Philadelphia Cricket Club. The participants were divided into 10 teams of 2, as the teams competed against each other in a 2 man scramble format. Prior to the start of the round, the students were treated to a history of lesson about the course. Executive Director Bill Hyndman described the 120-year history of St. Martin’s, including the two US Opens that it hosted in the early 20th century. The tight fairways and speedy, sloping greens presented a challenge to the players. However, the students’ ability to work together with their teammate and strategize their way around the course led to some impressive scoring. The team of Lenny Gipson, 15, and Jack Kwait,10, led the field with a score of 37. Christopher Bannon,17, and Tereze Santamala, 15, claimed second with a 4 over par 39. Davis McCourt, 16, and Mira Clarke, 13, rounded out the top three with a 41.

Kids on the Hill

From Camper to Manager

By Coach Vinny De Torro

In the Summer of 2017, I was offered a position with The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia as a program intern. Although I was a bit unsure of what I would be doing with my position,  I was excited to begin working and learning about the First Tee. During my first week of work, I learned that The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia had recently partnered with Kids on the Hill, the program that taught me how to play golf. With 80 campers, Kids on the Hill is a Police Athletic League program providing young people with golf instruction and access to golf.  I was eleven years old when I started with Kids on the Hill and now ten years later, as part of my internship, The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia has asked me to manage the program I love. For the past four summers, I have been an instructor and counselor for Kids on the HIll.  It was a very rewarding experience being able to give back and help the organization that had given me so much.  As a Kids on the HIll staff member, I was able to help our young golfers because I understood where they are in their golf careers. Whether I was helping a student get prepared to tryout for their high school golf team or simply showing a young camper how to hold a club, I have been able to relate to them. The opportunity I was given this summer to manage Kids on the Hill, has made me appreciate the work and dedication of my campers even more. I have learned that a significant amount of planning must be done in order to run a camp of this size while managing to keep our staff and kids engaged each afternoon. When I began working for The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia, I was excited to gain valuable work experience, but never thought I would be involved in a program I cherished as a kid. For ten years, I have progressed with Kids on the Hill as a camper, student instructor and now a program manager with the First Tee of Greater Philadelphia.  I could not be more thankful that I spend my summers exactly where I want to be.

7/18/17 GolfTalk Live host Tony Leodora interviews Philadelphia Highway Patrol Officers Jim Martin and Mike Chichearo in front of the First Tee/PAL class at Spring Mill CC in Ivyland, Pa. Both officers are graduates of the PAL program and Officer Chichearo also was introduced to golf via the First Tee program. Now they are spending time giving back to the kids of the golf community. Don’t miss their interview on the Saturday, July 22 GolfTalk Live radio show. https://www.facebook.com/TheFirstTeeGreaterPhiladelphia/videos/1480591262005655/  

  Our Celebrity Invitational Presented By Accenture was a great success. It was very cool to see so many celebrities support The First Tee’s mission. We are grateful for all the media coverage we received. These stories help spread our message to the world. This event helped raise ove $100,000 for our programs! Thank you to all the sponsors who helped make the event possible.  

Fox 29 stopped by Walnut Lane Golf Club to observe a First Tee session with the Sports for Juvenile Justice Program. Our programming helps reinforce the core values that are essential to growth.