ANNUAL REP RT
202 5 | B U I L D I N G G A M E C H A N G E R S
DEAR FRIENDS OF FIRST TEE — GREATER BALTIMORE On behalf of everyone at First Tee - Greater Baltimore, thank you for your continued support of our Chapter. 2025 saw our Chapter continue to grow and build on the successes of previous years. We expanded our program to serve over 600 young people across greater Baltimore who are experiencing our weekly Green Grass programming. First Tee members are introduced to life changing opportunities such as caddying at local clubs, Girls Golf classes, and First Tee ACE programs — all while gaining life skills that will stay with them long after they leave the course. We also deepened our presence in Baltimore City, and that community continues to serve as a powerful home for our mission. Our collaboration with citywide partners opened doors to youth who might never have imagined themselves picking up a club — and watching them thrive reminded all of us why this work matters. Over the past year, we deepened our partnerships with Baltimore City Public Schools and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore, expanding our reach into communities where access to quality youth programming matters most. These collaborations allowed us to bring First Tee
programming to more students during and after the school day, removing barriers of transportation and cost that too often keep young people on the sidelines. Together with these partners, we are building a robust network of opportunity across Baltimore City — one that is opening doors and building game changers along the way. Our alumni are entering college and careers with something most of their peers can’t fully explain yet — a foundation. They know how to compete. They know how to lose with grace and win with humility. They know who they are. That is First Tee at its best, and we are proud of every single one of them. As we look to 2026, we are energized by what lies ahead — including a First Tee Learning Center in Baltimore City. None of it is possible without you. Thank you for being part of this work. With gratitude,
Matthew Bassler
First Tee members are introduced to life changing opportunities.
SETTING THE
STANDARD
ANNUAL RETENTION
ANNUAL TEEN RETENTION
46.9% First Tee-Greater Baltimore
65.3% First Tee-Greater Baltimore
21.8% Peer Average
9% Peer Average
UNDERSERVED YOUTH
PARTICIPANT TENURE
First Tee-Greater Baltimore
39.1%
Peer Average Measured using the Distressed Communities Index (DCI) Scores 4 and 5.
23.7%
PARTICIPANT DIVERSITY 69.2%
First Tee-Greater Baltimore 52.9% Peer Average
First Tee-Greater Baltimore
ENGAGEMENT 17.5%
Peer Average Defined as: Total number of participants actively involved for 3 or more consecutive years, including the current calendar year / Total # of participants for the current calendar year.
42.2%
First Tee-Greater Baltimore
17.3% Peer Average 9.2%
Defined as: Total number of participants, ages 12 and older, with two or more session registration records during the calendar year.
2025 ANNUAL REPORT
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GIRLS GOLF
THE “GO-TO GIRLS” AND THE RENAISSANCE OF LPGA*USGA GIRLS GOLF AT FIRST TEEGREATER BALTIMORE. Reflections from our Program Director, March Klein In the world of sports, there is a serendipitous moment that happens when a young athlete realizes they belong. I’ve seen it on the field during my time as Athletic Director at the Baltimore Lab School, and I’ve seen it on the range coaching the Bryn Mawr School Varsity Golf team since 2016. Throughout my career, sports have been my greatest teacher, instilling in me the resilience, confidence and purpose that I strive to pass on to my teams and my First TeeGreater Baltimore students every single day. But I also know that for many girls, especially those from underserved and underrepresented communities, golf can feel like a world where they are unwelcome. That is exactly why I felt a calling to restart the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf program. My own daughters loved this program when they were younger, but I didn’t just want to teach strokes, I wanted to build a community that serves as a safe space for girls to feel empowered. Our journey began in the summer of 2020. As the world started to cautiously open up, the golf course was the perfect place for girls to reconnect. We started with a small, dedicated group of just five girls. They quickly claimed their own identity, calling themselves the “GoTo Girls.” They weren’t just students; they were a found family who proved that even in a global health crisis and racial reckoning, the need for equity, connection, and mentorship never wavers.
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From those original five, we have grown to a lively community. This growth has been fueled by our incredible partners like Five Iron Golf Baltimore and our Green Grass learning centers, but the real asset
FIRST TEE-GREATER BALTIMORE
is our LPGA*USGA curriculum. We live and breathe the 5 E’s: Empower, Enrich, Engage, Exercise, and Educate. These aren’t just concepts; they are the life lessons that help a girl find her place in golf and carry that confidence into every other area of her life. One of the most impactful aspects of our Chapter is the double-dip of opportunity. Many of our Girls Golf participants also enroll in our First Tee programming during the outdoor season. This means they aren’t just limited to Girls Golf events; they have access to the wide variety of First Tee clinics, tournaments, and leadership opportunities. We’ve also taken the girls on the road with life-changing field trips. Our girls have walked the ropes at the U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club, witnessed the intensity of the Women’s Big Ten Championships at Bulle Rock, soaked up the rivalry of the Solheim Cup in Gainesville, and traveled to the LPGA ShopRite Classic in New Jersey. Seeing the pros in action makes their own dreams feel that much more attainable. The most unexpected part of this journey has been watching our leadership pipeline evolve. We often see high school students join us simply looking to earn service hours through volunteer coaching. However, it doesn’t take long for them to realize that this is so much more than a form to fill. That volunteer spirit often blossoms into a rewarding part-time job where they realize they are making a profound, positive impact during every single class.
COACH LILA
Our Girls Golf intern and now in her second year coaching her own golf clinic at the McDonogh School, Lila shares the passion I feel so deeply. “When I was a younger player, I found it difficult to find my voice in a male-dominated sport,” she says. “I hope to change this for the girls I coach.”
COACH KENNEDI
A quiet leader who attended the Girls Golf Leadership Academy and served on the National E-Leader Board of Directors. She reminds us: “In a sport where women are less likely to be represented, we need a strong community to empower one another.”
COACH SARAH
Working with our military families at Ruggles Golf Course (APG), Sarah provides stability and leadership. She started as one of our first students when we restarted at APG in 2022 and attended the Girls Golf Leadership Academy last summer. Seeing her move from student to coach to LPGA Shop Rite scholar is exactly why I do what I do.
REPRESENTATION MATTERS. When our girls see coaches who look like them and share their experiences and successes, the impossible becomes achievable. To my coaches and my students: keep showing up, keep supporting one another, and keep using your voice. Watching you grow to love this game while building your own “Go-To Team” is the greatest reward of my coaching career.
COACH EMMA
One of the original Girls Golf members from 2007-2010, Emma coaches at our Girls Golf Five Iron classes along with running our social media pages. She says “I think our Girls Golf program has grown due to the consistent presence of our coaches and students. It truly has allowed them to build meaningful relationships with each other so that they want to return session after session. As someone who stopped golfing during my pivotal middle and high school years because there weren’t a lot of girls playing golf, I hope to see golf continue to be a sport for everyone. I believe Girls Golf is the perfect channel to bridge golf and fun together!”
Dream Big!
2025 ANNUAL REPORT
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COMMUNITY PARTNERS & WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Throughout the year, we offer an Intro to Golf program specifically for our community partners and have even created a series of classes at Topgolf Baltimore where our partners can bring their students once a week.
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Programs like First Tee-Greater Baltimore are incredibly important because they intentionally create access and belonging for young people in spaces that many African American communities have not traditionally had equitable access to. Golf has long existed as a sport connected to networking, business, leadership, and opportunity, yet many of our youth have not historically been exposed to those environments in meaningful ways. Through this partnership, our young people are not only learning the game of golf, but they are also building confidence, relationship skills, leadership capacity, and learning how to move comfortably in spaces where opportunities, partnerships, and important decisions are often made. Exposure matters, access matters, and ensuring that Baltimore youth can see themselves in these spaces is deeply impactful for their future. ASHLEY HILL, Director, The Baltimore Ravens Boys & Girls Club
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Even just a few weeks in, our students already speak highly of the opportunity to take on new responsibility and build relationships with new people as caddies. I was impressed by all the terminology (yardage, range finder, etc.) that they had mastered already! SARAH SWANSON, 7th-grade
Teacher, St. Ignatius Loyola Academy
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“
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As partners at Young Successful Leaders Inc., collaborating with First Tee Baltimore has been a powerful way to invest in our youth. Through this partnership, our students have built character and strengthened their leadership skills in meaningful ways. They’ve had the opportunity to participate in sessions at Forest Park Golf Course, engage in Topgolf experiences, and contribute to community outreach efforts. We are grateful for this collaboration as we continue our mission to build youth who build youth. BRANDON CLAYTON, Executive
Director, Young Successful Leaders
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OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS • Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore • The Bridges Program • St. Ignatius Loyola Academy • At the House, Inc. • Young Successful Leaders • Mother Seton Academy • The Baltimore Lab School
11,718
STUDENTS
SERVED THROUGH OUR SCHOOL, COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND CHAPTER-LED EVENTS CITY 25 BALTIMORE SCHOOLS ADDED IN 2025
T H E
EVOLUTION
OF CADDYING AT FIRST TEE-GREATER BALTIMORE In the past five years, our Chapter has noticed the steady interest in caddying, along with the personal growth and opportunities available to youth that stick with it through High School. As a result of this growing interest, we created programming specifically for our First Tee students and supported 10-15 students with caddying opportunities during the summer months. In 2025, our Chapter experienced a greater surge of interest and created the Caddie Squad, comprised of 28 active youth caddies. This program was designed to provide young people with a comprehensive understanding of golf while fostering leadership skills and character development through the tradition of caddying. Participants of the Caddie Squad engaged in a series of trainings hosted by Baltimore Country Club and led by Greg Jones, Pro Emeritus, and First Tee staff. This series of trainings was provided by the Western Golf Association and the schedule combined classroom instruction with practical on-course experience. The training sessions ensured that each student mastered caddying fundamentals before heading out on the course! Caddie Squad members caddied at Baltimore Country Club, Green Spring Valley Hunt Club and Country Club of Maryland and were equipped with a parttime summer job.
Over the years, our Chapter has seen great success with the caddie program. Currently, seven students from our program have been awarded the Evans Scholarship, a four-year full tuition paid scholarship, and life-changing opportunity. Many of our students have also been awarded the Caves Valley Golf Club Foundation Scholarship which supports active youth caddies with college tuition. In the spirit of community, at the start of 2026, the Baltimore Youth Caddie Collective was created. This collaborative initiative is powered by First Tee — Greater Baltimore and six local clubs currently offering opportunities for young people to caddie. Using a model implemented at Baltimore Country Club, this partnership provides participants at each course with mentorship opportunities, additional on-course access and an invitation to a speaker series where students can glean career support from local professionals. We are so proud of the evolution of this program and are excited to collaborate with the clubs that are actively participating.
THE BALTIMORE YOUTH CADDIE COLLECTIVE PARTICIPATING CLUBS: • Baltimore Country Club • Green Spring Valley Hunt Club • Country Club of Maryland • Hayfields Country Club • The Elkridge Club • Rolling Road Golf Club
# OF TRAININGS 2024:
8
2025:
18
# OF STUDENTS 2024:
15
2025:
28
# OF LOOPS
65
2024:
2025:
175
2025 ANNUAL REPORT
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2025 DONORS
$150,000+
$5,000 - $9,999
Caves Valley Golf Club Foundation
1st Team Staffing Services, Inc. Robert Black Grant Connellee Betty Contino Deluca Financial Advisory, LLC. Scott & Carolyn Dorsey Justin Erdman Golfer’s Charitable Assoc. Inc. Jeffrey Gordon Jason Jones Henry J. Knott, III Maryland State Golf Association Graham McPhail MoldGone, LLC. John Morgan Debra Neubauer Frank Palmer RBC Foundation Peter Rubin Stifel Nicolaus The Michael F. Sola Charitable Gift Fund Truist Bank Venable Foundation, Inc.
$50,000-100,000 Laura & John Shmerler O’Neil Family Foundation PGA Tour First Tee Foundation, Inc.
$20K - $49,999 Ann and Frank Cahouet Foundation Bisciotti Foundation Constellation Energy Group Foundation, Inc. Merritt Management Corp Roche Family Foundation The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, Inc.
$10K - $19,999 Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, LLP. Baltimore City Public School System Chris Compton Ann B. and Thomas L. Friedman David & Barbara Kent Peter D. Maller National Lumber Co.
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$2,500 - $4,999 Rick Bastinelli and the Bastinelli Family Foundation, Inc. Thomas Carroll
FIRST TEE-GREATER BALTIMORE
Robert Dunbar Robert Ellrich Elkridge Club, Inc. Chris Glassman John Gregory Jones KPMG Jody & Michelle Love Pat McCormick Miles & Stockbridge National Christian Foundation Michigan Christopher Swift
$1,000 - $2,499 Curtis Baer Baltimore Community Foundation Matthew Bauer BFPE International John M. Blaze Gillet Boyce Brad Boyer Eddie Bradley Pat Brady Brown Advisory, LLC. Catherine & Mark Carmen Mason Champion
Community Foundation for the Alleghenies Raymond C. Daue Jr. Alex Denstman Matt Dent Kevin Dunbar Cory Easton Edward St. John Foundation, Inc. Stuart A. Erdman Matthew John Everett Aaron Fray Adam Genn Joshua Gentry Brian Hartman Laura & Michael Hartman Charles Hatter Brooks Healy Conor Johnston Peter Kimmel John Lynam LPGA Foundation Tyler Magowitz Claudia Manoogian Linda McCleary Michael Mulieri Brett Munson Chad Norfolk Mark W. Norris Rebecca Palladino Michael Paszkiewicz Red Oak Financial Group Joanne & Tim Regan Eamonn Reilly Justin Rine
RSM US, LLP. SC&H Group, Inc. Tim Sudol John Vincent Sunder Scott Vogel David Warnock Reilly Wilson
$250-$999 Kevin Abell Michael Adkins Anthony C. Andrews Gustavo Arango Mike Barillo, IV Matt Barrett Alan Bernstein, Jr. & Edith Bernstein John Blair Joan C. Cade Jacob Carr Ron Coleman Sam Colonell Clinton & Diana Daly Kris Davis Andrew J. DelGallo Joseph Denittis Blake Doty Armon Emdad Christopher S. English Joshua Eure David Feeley Connor Flach Michael Flanagan Scott Ford Doug Gentilcore
Christopher Glassman Ryan Goff Kress Hammen Government Affairs Joseph Hardiman Cody Hayes Heather Herman John Hinder Joseph Greg Hobelmann Brooke Hrimnak Tad Jacks Greg Johnston Yong Joo Nick Kammeyer Peter Keith Brett Keller Alex Kirby Eric Kratz Alex Kukich John Lindsay Robert Lindstrom Gary Mankulish, Jr. Daniel May Rebecca May Tyson McFarland Mike McGrain Shawn Patrick McMahon Randolph Metcalfe Elizabeth Miller Zach Miller Matthew Moore
John Moran Bernard Najar Walter Neel Kelly Newland Bruce O’Heir Tom O’Laughlin Matt O’Connor Sam Pancoast Greg Paszkiewicz Personnel Security Professional, LLC. Gavin Rayburn Susan & John Riehl Shane Russell Lawrence Rychlak Jay Sapperstein Tiffany Shelley Nick Smearman Jason Smithberger Steven Sokolov Anthony Somaini William & Caroline Stewart Jenna Sublett Kevin Tehan Todd Teixeira Michael Thomas Richard Timmons Bruce Tyler Edward Walker Todd Wickwire Sean Willoughby-Ray Greg Zavoyna
$100-$249 Diane Aichroth Wendell & Talbot Albert Mark Altemus Gary Anderson Michael J. Andrew Paul Ashton
Tom Aufiero Robert Aumiller, Sr. Ben Bacon Vince & Kate Bagli Baird Foundation, Inc. Sara Bakert Nick Barbieri Brandon Barganski Jason Barkley Robert & Johanna Barroll Matthew Bassler Michael Batchelor William Baumgartner Jonathan Beard Jeff Bessling Pete Blauvelt Robert Bonagura Graham Boyce Kirsten Bradley Steven Breitzka Tanner Briele Daniel Broh-Kahn Christopher Brown Joyce Brown Phyllis Bryant Ken Buchanan Parnell & Carl Buhlman Michael Burchell John Bykowski John Byrnes Alexander Cameron Capitol Carbonic Corp Jim Caporaso Paul Carlson Jenny Carpenter Ryan Cawley Alex Chernoff Bruce Chesser Victor Cheswick Brandon Clayton
Bobby Clements Daniel Cochrane Patrick Collins Jason Connor Joe Conoscenti John & Kimberly Cook Michael Cook Kevin John Corbett Chad Cos Patrick Cosgrove Edward Croft Stuart Crook Rich Cumbers Guy D’Andrea Chris Daily Trey DAmbrogi John Darlington Alan Davis Scott Deickman Patrick Del valle Steve Dellis Daniel Dent Lawson DeVries Mary DiMascio Brett DiPasquale Ann & Bo Dixon Angela Dobrzykowski Erik Dodson Doug Dollenberg, Jr. Dorsey Campbell Group Kevin Doyle Steve & Tammie Eckels Monica Ellis Patrick Ellis Troy Elser John Ena Brian Eschman Randall Esenwine Christine & Peter Espenshade
Tyler Feeley Paul Feild Patrick Fick Joe Fields Taylor Fields Jackson Finigan Diane Fisher Gregory Fisher Charles & Miriam Fleury Susan Flink Timothy Flink Michael Ford Mike Foss Matt Fuller W. Lee & Elizabeth Gaines Devon Gallagher Mital Gandhi Richard Gans Jo Ann Brooks & Robin Garrison Chad Gauss Teresa Gentry John A. Gephart Michael W. Gill Edwin Glaude Luke Golueke Brian Gray Gary Gray Michael Gray Robert Gray Zach Greaver Jim Grieves Jeffrey Gunther Ryan Gutowski Kevin Hall Jim Hambacher Robert Hammond Tim Hargest Chris Harlow Bradley Hartman
2025 ANNUAL REPORT
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9
Cooper Henry Fred Hill Sallie Hoch Robert Hohman Robert Hooten John T. Hoover Bill Hopkins Evan Horn Brian Hubbard Penney C. Hubbard Charles Ilardo Paul Isenberg Everett Jackson Jacqueline & Kyle Lagratta Family Charitable Fund Carey Jacobs Tom Jecklin Brian Jeep Dean Johnson Michael Johnson Roger Lee Katzenberg Tim Keffer Michael Kelly Mark Kilchenstein Mike Kimball Tony King Meghan & Ryan King-White Edward Kissinger Peter Kistinger Allison Knott Baker & Reba Koppelman Evan Krometis Bobby Lanigan Joseph LaRocque Kevin LaTulip John & Kim Leahy Gavin Lehrl Donald C. Limburg Stephen Lombardo Amanda Long
Tammira Lucas William R. Lynch, III Patrick Mahoney Nino Mangione Brian Marden Alice Margraff Jon Kevin Mau Jim McCarthy Robert McCorf Brian McCormack Thomas McCurdy Trey McDonald Joseph Peter Mcdonnell David McGlone John McKamely Xurtis McKay Melanie McMahon Larry McMillan Jeremy Meyer Stephen Mikulcik Jamison Miller Ryan Miller Hugh W. & Leanne R. Mohler Preston Montague James G. Morgan Steven Morgan James Mulkern Todd Mummert Duke Murphy Palmer Murray
FIRST TEE-GREATER BALTIMORE
Stacie Nance Jay Newcomb Andrew Niazy Eric Nichols Kelly Nowottnick Bart O’Brien Susan O’Connor Sherri & Steven O’Donnell Tom & Ashley O’Neil Mario Orlando Jonathan Orr Jeff Ostenso Chris Owens Richard Palmer Palmer Charitable Fund Ira Papel Frank Parreira Jan Peterka Owen Pharr Phebus Family Fund Claro Montesa Pio Roda, Jr. Michael Poirot David & Lisa Poist Kevin Poist Jeremy Pollock Edward Porter Rick Powell Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Preis James Prey III & Kimberly Prey Tim Prey Greg Pyne JD Radebaugh Mark Ravalico John Reasbeck Dan Reck Jesse Reeder Tim Reinhart Joe Reister Allan A. Riorda Kim Robbert
Brooke Roberts Kingsley Rooney Brad Rosencrans Brad Rosenkilde Vincent Rossi Barbara A. Rudnick William Russell Faisal Saeed Angela Saiz Charles H. & Edith G. Salisbury Diane Sanders Noelle Savage Benjamin & Margaret Schapiro Richard Scheiner Timothy Schmitt Kevin Schulte Melissa Scully Lauren Shanks Brian Sheahan Ryan Shek Terrence Sheridan Rich Shipley Robert Shriver James Simmons Thatcher Sloan Bill Smillie Ryan Smith Richard Smulovitz Paul Speargas John Startzel Douglas Stead Jim Stieff Michael Strouse Jessie Su Bailey Susic Matt Swiger Charles T. Swindell
The Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation The Talbott & Ann Bond Family Foundation Mike Thompson Jim Thren Chad Tipton Sanjay Trivedi Doug Ulman Melissa Varanko Charles E. Vieth Stephen Hanssen & Marty Voelkel-Hanssen Pamela & Frank Waesche III Christina Walters Ned Walton Jennifer Ward Thomas Waxter, Jr. Forest Webb J W. Thompson Webb Russ Weber Mac Webster Michael Welsh Westfield Insurance Foundation Carol Ann Wentzell Mariann Witkowski Brock Yetso Jason Zephir Brian Znamirowski
2025 FINANCIALS SUPPORT & REVENUES Contributions
$705,022.91
Program Services Fees
$50,472.70
Investment Return, Net
$63,647.94
Fundraising Events
$300,928.00
Total Support & Revenues
$1,120,070.92
EXPENSES
Program Services
$511,671.76
Management & General
$288,523.70
Fundraising & Development
$152,091.44
Total Expenses
$952,286.90
FUNDRAISING EVENTS
Leaders in the Clubhouse $127,370 Spring Marathons $101,038 First Tee Pro-Am $38,000
SUPPORT & REVENUES 26.9% Special Events
63%
5.6%
Contributions
Investment Return Net
4.5%
Program Services Fees
16%
EXPENSES
Fundraising & Development
30.3%
53.7%
Management & General
Program Services
First Tee Four Ball $34,520
2025 ANNUAL REPORT
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out more about programs, events, volunteer opportunities, and to follow our dedicated work.
303 International Cr, Suite T119, Hunt Valley, MD 21030 • firstteebaltimore.org