2024 Annual Review FINAL

2024 Annual Review

OUR MISSION

To impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf

2024 By The Numbers

First Tee Golf Program

First Tee School Program

Young people come to weekly classes at 22 golf facilities throughout Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, Montgomery County, MD and Prince George's County, MD. While in class they learn character development and basic golf skills.

PE teachers are trained to deliver First Tee character development curriculum during physical education classes. The School Program is delivered in elementary and middle schools throughout our entire territory.

NATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Congratulations to these participants for earning First Tee National Opportunities

PGA TOUR Superstore Leadership Academy

Rida Karim

Ethan Miller

Samantha Nguyen

Xander Sehgal

Innovators Forum

Josephine Sanchez

Micah Bratton

First Tee Participants Advisory Council

Christina Fuentes

First Tee National Championship

Josephine Nguyen

PGA TOUR Superstore Leadership Summit

Christina Fuentes

Josephine Sanchez

Game Changers Academy

Maeve McGuire

PURE Insurance Championship

Samantha Nguyen

PARENT PERSPECTIVE

William and Marinna Shields, First Tee-GWDC Parents, with their daughter, Whitley

"Eight years ago, we signed our daughter up for First Tee Greater Washington, DC, simply hoping she’d learn a new skill and have fun. We had no idea it would become one of the most impactful parts of her life, and ours. From picking up a club at age nine to now serving as a junior coach and national leader, she has grown in resilience, confidence, and leadership, applying First Tee’s core values both on and off the course.

Opportunities like speaking at the Core Values Cup, serving on the National Participant Advisory Council, and representing First Tee at the Innovators Forum have shaped her into the focused, driven young woman she is today.

As parents who had never played golf, we have been just as blessed by this journey. We are deeply grateful to First Tee-GWDC for believing in her, opening doors we never knew existed, and being an instrumental part of her story. This program just doesn’t teach golf, it transforms lives.”

PARTICIPANT PERSPECTIVE

“I was introduced to golf and the First Tee program when I was six years old and being involved has helped me grow as a person, player, and community member. I was a really shy and introverted kid, however as a result of my involvement in the program over the years, I began to break out of my shell. The numerous experiences and opportunities that I have been able to participate in has helped me be the confident person that I am today. These experiences include: being a Columbia Country Club Honorary Guest Scholar, playing in the 2022 and 2023 Wells Fargo Pro AM at TPC Potomac, being a 2024 Solheim Cup standard bearer and a 2021 U.S. Women Amateur standard bearer to name a few. I now network with CEOs from fortune 500 companies and speak at events, which is something that I never imagined that I’d be capable of doing. For me, First Tee is not just a golf program, it’s my family, it’s my community.”

Joelle Barksdale, First Tee-GWDC Participant

First Tee-Greater Washington DC leaders, supporters, participants and alumni came together on October 15, 2024 at East Potomac Golf Links to celebrate the Chapter’s decades of impact on local young people and their families.

25th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

STARS AWARD WINNERS

Vasilios,

2024 Nyles Smith Coach of the Year

Martin Zadravec

Northwest Golf Course

2024 Raul Colon Volunteer of the Year

Vasilios Rajendra

Oakmont Golf Center

2024 Most Outstanding Participants

Christina Fuentes

Northern Virginia

Whitley Shields

Prince George’s County

Whitley, Christina, Martin (l to r)

2024 OUTSTANDING DONORS

Recognizing Donations of $10,000 or More

A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation

Alan Bubes

Altria Group

American Electric Power

Andrew Sachs

Anthony P. Kavanagh

AT&T

BDO

Brian Kearney

Capital For Children

Carl M. Freeman Foundation

Christopher Lippman

Coca-Cola Company

Columbia Country Club

Columbia Foundation

Comcast NBCUniversal

Congressional Sports for Charity

Cushman & Wakefield

David King

DC Parks and Recreation

Deloitte

Doug Birnie

First American Title Insurance

Florida Power and Light

Forbright Bank

Harvey Cleary Builders

Henry Willner

Invited Clubs

James Graham

Jim Bruyette Kroger

Mauloa Inc.

Mayer Brown LLP