Collaboration builds and expands upon decades of work in the community
DETROIT – July 30, 2020 –The Children’s Foundation and First Tee announce today a formalized partnership. The Foundation will operate First Tee – Greater Detroit to continue providing valuable programmatic services and develop new tools and methods to fulfill its mission and reach more youth.
Consistent with The Children’s Foundation’s mission to improve the health and wellness of children and families in Michigan and beyond, First Tee enables youth in Detroit to build their strength of character through the game of golf. First Tee – Greater Detroit is one of the organization’s first established chapters.
For 23 years, First Tee has worked with schools, parents, and the community, to provide active learning experiences that help youth build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that they can carry to everything they do. The program seamlessly integrates the game of golf with a life skills curriculum that progresses through seven levels for kids ages five to 18. By partnering with The Children’s Foundation, First Tee will broaden their reach and increase programming to have a lasting impact on children and youth.
“The Children’s Foundation is committed to providing programs that offer lifelong skills that will prepare children and young adults for fulfilling, safe and rewarding lives,” said, Lawrence J. Burns, President & CEO. “First Tee has an outstanding history of providing meaningful programs that help empower kids through a lifetime of new challenges and personal growth. It is a great fit.”
“Youth today are facing more challenges than ever before, and this powerful collaboration with The Children’s Foundation in the City of Detroit will position us to help reach more kids with our youth development and character-building programs,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “We are excited that this partnership will enable more young people to pursue their dreams and be prepared for the future.”
An ongoing strategic initiative of The Children’s Foundation is creating a network of affiliates that are mission consistent with The Foundation. Current affiliations include the Jamie Daniels Foundation, the Paul W. Smith Charities, along with founding partner the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation. The Foundation will now add First Tee to this growing list.
“We are adding First Tee to our initiatives to help more kids take more steps toward a positive future,” said Matt Friedman, Board Chairman at The Children’s Foundation. “We see how this matches our mission and allows to be directly involved with a proven program that Detroit children will enjoy and always remember.”
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About Children’s Foundation:
The Children’s Foundation, an independent community foundation for children, is the largest funder dedicated solely to advancing the health and wellness of children in the state of Michigan and beyond. Through fundraising, grant-making and advocacy The Children’s Foundation enables researchers and community organizations to identify and implement innovations capable of advancing children’s health and wellness. Since 2011, the Foundation has distributed more than 58 million dollars in grant funding to more than 75 partners throughout the state. Current initiatives of The Children’s Foundation include Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation, The Jamie Daniels Foundation and the Paul W. Smith Golf Classic. Current areas of focus for the Foundation include mental health, nutritional wellness, abuse and neglect, oncology and cardiology research and injury prevention. Learn more at www.YourChildrensFoundation.org.
About PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation (“First Tee”)
First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit youth development organization under the umbrella of PGA TOUR, Inc. Our mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since its inception in 1997, First Tee has expanded to reach more than 3.5 million young people annually on golf courses, in schools and at youth centers. Its headquarters are in St. Augustine, Florida, USA, with programs in all 50 United States and select international locations. President George W. Bush serves as Honorary Chair.
