Dear Friends of First Tee – Sandhills:
We’ve been blessed to receive community support through each of your gifts – those of time, talent and treasure, working diligently to ensure each is used to make an impact on the communities we serve. And, when there is a surplus, we give to others in the community, helping to make an impact on their mission, too!
Most recently, Hurricane Helene shocked our neighbors in Western North Carolina. After seeing reports of items needed, we went through our generous donations of goods and were able to provide car loads of hydration, cleaning supplies, nonperishable food and over the counter medication. A donation we could not have otherwise made if the community hadn’t previously entrusted their gifts to First Tee – Sandhills.
While national television coverage has shifted away from Hurricane damage, the effects in these communities will be long lasting. Asheville Municipal and Mountain Glen, both Western NC First Tee chapter program sites, suffered major damage and are closed for the foreseeable future.
At First Tee, we love golf because it shows us what we’re made of and helps us develop character. We can dig deep when the game gets tough and embrace that obstacles are a part of every round we play, no matter the course.
It’s in this spirit we will use a portion of our Annual Fund Campaign to support our neighbors. For each of you who opt in, we will donate up to 5% of your gift in support of improving not only the current situation for the Western NC First Tee participants, but their future as well. Funds will be used to help those who’ve been displaced or affected get back on their feet through home repairs and day to day needs while also working with their two program partners to help with needed facility clean up and repair.
It can be difficult to feel blessed when those near us are suffering, but, I would be remiss if I didn’t spend time sharing with you some news from our home front, too.
Thanks to your generous and steadfast commitment, today our Coaches and Mentors are engaging with youngsters after the bell at local Elementary Schools through our Swing Fore Success program.
It’s a key component of our three-prong strategic plan – bringing programs directly to kids in their communities. Thanks to Swing Fore Success partnerships, students who normally stay after school for childcare or ride the bus home now have access to programming… safely on campus at their school!
It is critical we continue to invest in and grow this program.
Why you ask? We believe every kid deserves the chance to build inner strength before the world demands it, to find
the joy that comes from feeling confident in their own skin before the world makes it feel impossible, and to access experiences and spaces where personal growth happens.
After programs this spring the mom of a 12-year-old sent a note stating, “Thank you for supporting our daughter. She left programs with a new found Confidence! She’s much more confident in her golf game and herself; whether at school, home or when meeting new people.”
With your help, we’re making strides in reaching local youth. This year (to date!) our promise has reached,
- 268 Kids in Low Income Community Programs
- 687 Kids + Teens in Green Grass Programs
- 1,899 Kids & Teens in Title I School Programs
Whether coaches encourage kids and teens to apply concepts while playing interactive golf games, writing their dreams and goals or even role playing… we provide tools that help develop more meaningful outcomes.
A Key Commitment relevant to our current season is Growing through Challenge. One evening this fall after class a mom of siblings pulled the coach aside and said, “I overhead them talking about how they should cheer on their
friends and be supportive when they are struggling or down on themselves. I know if it wasn’t for these programs,
they could not have connected those dots. Thank you, Coach!”
As we move into 2025, we will continue to provide high quality programs with consistency across our regional footprint while striving to be a place where kids feel safe, included, enriched and entertained. In order for our chapter to do so, we must continue to develop our curriculum opportunities, coach leadership and participant access.
I hope you’ll join us in delivering our mission by contributing to the 2024 Annual Fund Campaign, today!
Together, we are Building Game Changers through golf!
Request a printed Annual Fund Campaign by contacting: Courtney Stiles, Executive Director [email protected] or 910.255.3035