ANNUAL REP RT
2024 | leveling up
Dear First Tee Family
2024 was a remarkable year at First Tee-Greater Baltimore! Our classes reached full capacity across our 12 programming locations and we are on our way to serving 600 students by 2026. Our Girls Golf Program is thriving! Participation has grown from 25 girls in 2021 to 67 girls in 2024. We are proud of our ability to create a safe space for young girls to build confidence and strong leadership skills all while learning the game of golf.
In addition, ten new Baltimore City Public Schools integrated our First Tee curriculum during their physical education classes, ensuring even more children have access to our core values during the school day. We have also created programming for our partner organizations: Boys & Girls Club, Young Successful Leaders, At the House, Mother Seton Academy and St. Ignatius Loyola Academy. Our first-ever community partner class was last winter at Topgolf Baltimore. Students participated in a 6-week class and received a hot meal after each class at no cost to them.
As we move into 2025, we remain focused on expanding program access to underserved communities. This will require us to recruit and retain our quality coaches and volunteers and strengthen our partnerships with local schools and businesses in the Baltimore metropolitan area.
I am incredibly proud of the impact we are making and am glad to see our program reach young people throughout Baltimore. Thank you for your unwavering support in shaping the next generation of leaders.
WE ARE #1 in our cohort!
Last summer, our Chapter was recognized as the Number 1 Chapter in our Cohort. First Tee National has created a benchmarking tool to measure the success and sustainability of First Tee Chapters through 5 key categories: Program Participation, Program Delivery, Financial Performance, Network Involvement and Board Governance. In addition to being ranked #1 in our cohort, our benchmarking result was also 25 points higher than the First Tee Network Average as a whole.
ANNUAL RETENTION
We remain focused on expanding program access to underserved communities. “ ”
TEEN RETENTION
ENGAGEMENT
With Gratitude, Matthew Bassler Executive Director
By The Numbers: COMMUNITY and SCHOOL OUTREACH
9,702
STUDENTS
served through our school, community outreach programs and chapter led events
65
CONTRACTED
SCHOOL
PARTNERS delivered our programs during PE Class
10 BALTIMORE CITY SCHOOLS added in 2024
The numbers below reflect our outreach efforts with our Partners through school and community outreach programs.
3 LOCATIONS
expanded programs, in partnership with Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Baltimore, to include Westport, Brooklyn and O’Donnell Heights additional
60
STUDENTS
participated in a 6-week class at Topgolf Baltimore during the winter months
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
• Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Baltimore • St. Ignatius Loyola Academy • Mother Seton Academy
• At the House, Inc. • Young Successful Leaders
• The Baltimore Lab School
JAYQUANN’S JOURNEY
As someone who believes every community should care for one another, the intersection of golf and community was incredibly motivating for Jayquann Johnson. As an individual sport, golf allowed him to build on his leadership, decision-making, and perseverance skills. And the combination of golf and academics offered him a pathway entirely unique from the street life he saw many of his neighbors choose.
16 years later, his journey has spanned discovering the sport at Clifton Park, schooling at Morgan State University, coaching at First Tee West Michigan, and back home to where it all started. Today, he helps make golf more accessible to underserved and underrepresented communities and schools as our Community Outreach Coordinator. His commitment to the First Tee-Greater Baltimore community is reflected in his dedication to growing our program at public and private schools, parks and recreation centers, and other youth serving organzations.
Looking ahead, he hopes to combine sports with social work to create a community hub at First Tee!
We’re leveling up! and are committed to providing opportunities to our participants. Below are some numbers to show the impact we made in the past year.
168% GROWTH
in the Girls Golf Program over the last four years
SALLONI GILL’S JOURNEY
One of Salloni Gill’s earliest memories is attending a clinic hosted by Towson University’s women’s golf team. When her mother enrolled her in First Tee-Greater Baltimore’s Girls Golf program, that core memory motivated Salloni to keep showing up and growing. And what a ride it has been! In just a few short years, she has received the “Most Outstanding Game Changer” award, a full scholarship to Duke University, and taken on leadership roles in student government at her school.
“A plant flourishes based on environment and soil and I think First Tee really put me in that environment to flourish,” explains Salloni. She also recognizes how unusual her path has been, affording her opportunities to explore identity, authenticity, leadership, talent, and skill simultaneously.
Recently, she began volunteering for the chapter’s Girls Golf sessions at Five Iron and Mount Pleasant, which reminds her of those early days as a new golfer and its lessons around respect, confidence, and perseverance. She credits First Tee with instilling leadership skills and good judgment, encouraging her to level up while enjoying experiences to the fullest.
2016
Joined First Tee programming at Clifton Park 2020
Joined the chapter’s Girls Golf program at Eagle’s Nest
2024
Selected to play in the inaugural Girls Golf National Championship at Pine Needles
Accepted into the First Tee Game Changers Academy; won Most Outstanding Game Changer Award
2025
Selected to be a Questbridge Match Scholar and received a full scholarship to Duke University
2 24 DONORS
$50,000+
Baltimore City Public School System
Caves Valley Golf Club Foundation, Inc.
O’Neil Family Foundation
$20,000 - $49,999
Ann and Frank Cahouet Foundation
Constellation Energy Group Foundation, Inc.
Merritt Management Corp.
Roche Family Foundation
$10,000 - $19,999
1st Team Staffing Services, Inc.
Brian Gracie
David and Barbara Kent
Roche Family Foundation
Scott & Carolyn Dorsey
T. Rowe Price Foundation, Inc.
$5,000 - $9,999
Alex Bartlett
Zachary Carney
Carnolzel Foundation
Grant Connellee
Betty and Francis Contino
Maryland State Golf Association
The Michael F. Sola Charitable Gift Fund
Miles & Stockbridge
Phil Neubauer
Stifel Nicolaus
Radcliffe Jewelers
RBC Foundation
Michael Roemer
Peter Rubin
National Lumber Co.
Venable Foundation, Inc.
$2,500 - $4,999
Matthew John Everett
Aaron Fray
Brooks Healy
Todd Hondru
Robert Jacobs
Gregorgy Jones
Ajoy Karna
Jody & Michelle Love
David La Torre
Michael Maline
Robb & Sheila Merritt
Verdence Capital Advisors Morgan
National Christian Foundation
Michigan
Mark W. Norris
PGA Tour First Tee Foundation, Inc.
Mark Ritchie
John Vincent Sunder
Chris Swann
Mark G. Szczawinski
$1,000 - $2,499
Robert S Ariosa
Baltimore Club Foundation
Richard Bastinelli
Matthew Bauer
Alan Bernstein, Jr. & Edith Bernstein
Rona M. Blumenthal
Harry Bond
Brad Boyer
Pamela Boyer
Edward P. Brady
Brown Advisory, LLC.
David Cahn
Catherine & Mark Carmen
Thomas Carroll
CFG Community Bank
Mason Champion
Community Foundation for Monterey County
Norris Cook
Gary Cooke
Edward Cronin
Alex Denstman
Robert Dunbar
Ecosystem Investment Partners
Stuart A. Erdman
Red Oak Financial
Kenneth A Foster
Arnold & Joyce Fruman
Mark Fulchino
Laura & Michael Hartman
Joseph Greg Hobelmann
Cashmere Interior
Graham Johnson
Peter Kimmel
Eric Kratz
LPGA Foundation
William P. Monk
Brett Munson
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Michael Gerard Paszkiewicz
Joanne & Tim Regan
SC&H Group, Inc.
John Schiech
Brandon Schmoyer
Annette Seng
Joseph Sindelar
William Spence
Dave Standeven
Robert Swindell
The Talbott and Ann Bond
Family Foundation
Timothy F. Talbot
Ash Tarran-Jones
R. Thomas Truman, Jr.
Edward Walker
Hugo Warns & Monica Burke-Warns
Bryan Wasserman
$250-$999
Tierney Ahearn
Athletico Management, LLC.
Matt Barrett
Anne Bartlett
Paul Bekman
Ann S. Benedict
Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Baltimore
Matt Bregel
Carol Burdette
CAFoundation
Daniel P. Cahill
Alexander Cameron
Jacob Carr
Jerrilea Connellee
Lee Connor
Jason Connor
Edward Croft
Mallory Davis
Joseph Denittis
Theresa Dieveney
Edward St. John Foundation, Inc.
Elkridge Club, Inc.
Justin Erdman
David Feeley
Dana & Brendan Foley
Scott Ford
Phillip L .Fraas
Matt Fuller
Ryan Goff
Alera Group
Joseph Hardiman
Steven James Homans
Jack Keenan
Peter Keith
David Klein
March Klein
Brent Kleinheksel
Evan Krometis
Robert Lindstrom
Stephen Lombardo
The Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation
Maryland Country Club
Rebecca May
Ryan McCarthy
Patrick McCormick
Mike McGrain
Shawn Patrick McMahon
Brad Miller
Zach Miller
John Moran
James G. Morgan
Keitaro Nakamoto
Eric Nichols
Northern Trust Charitable
Giving Program
Art & Marli Pasternak
Andrew Pipitone
Nicole Ports
Lindsey Rickards
Jay Sapperstein
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, LLP.
Nick Smearman
Jason Smithberger
Thomas Spray-Fry
Cotton Swindell
Terry Swindell
Trade-In Promotions dba Next
Round Golf
Ellen Valentino
Greg Zavoyna
$100-$249
Tom Ahearn
Barbara Amos
David Anderson
Gustavo Arango
Thomas R. Ayres, Jr.
Baird Foundation, Inc.
Albert Baker
Nick Barbieri
Bridget Basehoar
Bradley Berzins
Jeff Bessling
Robert Bonagura
Michael Bondy
Cynthia Bowers
Phyllis Bryant
Regis Burke
Adam Cain
Church of Christ, Inc.
Joseph & Brian Corteal
Patrick Cosgrove
David Wayne Cosimano
Dave Creighton
William Cromwell
Dave Cuomo
Guy D’Andrea
Shel Dail
Kirk Davis
Scott Deickman
Erik Dodson
Kevin Doyle
Steve & Tammie Eckels
Derek Ehman
Troy Elser
Darlene Emanuel
John Ena
Randall Esenwine
Dan Feeley
Bill Feustle
Joe Fields
Charles & Miriam Fleury
Sharon Flynn
Brett Foelber
Devon Gallagher
Shane Garhart
Chad Gauss
Craig Gayhardt
Donald Giacomelli
Wayne Gibson
Sherlock Gillet, Jr.
Zach Greaver
Karen E. Griffin
Kevin Hall
Tim Hargest
Daniel & Marjorie Hartman
Barry Hartman
Jerry J. Hartman
Mike Healy
Heather Herman
Catherine Hilgartner
Chester Hobbs
Robert Hooten
Stacey A. Isaacson
Everett Jackson
Tom Jecklin
Michael Johnson
Dave Jones
Bruce Kane
Paul Karpovich
Mark Kaufman
Mark Kilchenstein
A G King
Baker & Reba Koppelman
Mr. Donald C. Limburg
Ed Lipski
William R. Lynch, III
Patrick Marshall
Bill Mattlin
Jon Kevin Mau
Daniel May
Catherine & George McClelland
Trey McDonald
Joseph Peter Mcdonnell
Patricia J. McGowan
Paul McMahon
Thomas Merchant
Kevin Michno
Stephen Mikulcik
Jamison Miller
Stacey Minshall
John Mullin
Jeff Munson
Terry Neimeyer
Jay Nsish
Neil O’Callaghan
Jonathan Orr
Jeff Ostenso
Stephen & Catherine Owen
Ira Papel
Frank Parreira
Herb Phillips
Joe & Erin Pressley
JD Radebaugh
Kathleen Rappold
Jesse Reeder
Charles Reichelt
Donald Reinhart
Tim Reinhart
Joe Reister
Allan A. Riorda
Brooke Roberts
Kevin Rosenberger
Stacey Ryan
Anne Morris Sapir
Veronica Schleiss
Paul Schwab
Melissa Scully
Lauren Shanks
Mike Sharpe
Ryan Shek
Terrence Sheridan
Kelsey Sindelar
David Slovak
Lindsay Bay Smith
Gerard Sokolis
Jim St John
K Scott Starks
John Startzel
William & Caroline Stewart
Michael Strouse
Sean J. J. Sullivan
Bailey Susic
Kris Tyssowski
Scott Vogel
Pamela & Frank Waesche
Weglein
Znamirowski
FINANCIALS
Kids become a better version of themselves when they have a space to be who they are, surrounded by passionate people who guide them to see what they are capable of.
