THE FIRST TEE OF HOWARD COUNTY RECEIVES COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANT FROM NEW YORK LIFE
COLUMBIA, MD, July 17, 2019 – The First Tee of Howard County, which provides youth development programming that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf, announced today that it was awarded a $10,000 Community Impact Grant from New York Life. The grant will support The First Tee’s National School Program and D.R.I.V.E. program, which bring golf and its inherently positive benefits to elementary-aged students in schools and after-school programs through partnerships with Howard County Public Schools and Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks. Rob Ugiansky, a board member with The First Tee of Howard County who was instrumental in connecting the nonprofit with New York Life, commented “I am proud to have New York Life join us in our initiative to provide The First Tee’s Life Skills and Healthy Habits curriculum to the youth of Howard County.” In the past year, The First Tee’s National School Program and D.R.I.V.E afterschool program introduced more than 19,500 elementary school students in Howard County schools to the game of golf. This year, the nonprofit plans to reach even more young students throughout the county; the grant from New York Life will enable an additional seven school programs to open, engaging more than 2,500 students. “We are grateful for New York Life’s investment in our National School Program and D.R.I.V.E., which introduce youth to the positive personal and social values associated with golf, a lifelong game and physical fitness activity,” said Don Van Deusen, Executive Director of The First Tee of Howard County. “Without the support from New York Life, we wouldn’t be able to expand these important programs to reach more youth throughout Howard County.” The Community Impact Grant program awards grants of up to $25,000 to local nonprofit organizations which are championed by New York Life agents and employees to serve the needs of their local communities. Since the program’s inception in 2008, more than 500 grants totaling nearly $7 million have been awarded to nonprofits across the country.# # #
About The First Tee of Howard County The First Tee of Howard County is one of the county’s premier youth organizations, providing life-skills instruction through the game of golf. Founded in 2000 and headquartered at the Fairway Hills Golf Course in Columbia, Maryland, the program is centered on nine core personal values that children aged 5 to 18, put into practice on the golf course, at home, at school and in every aspect of their lives. The First Tee’s Life Skills Experience allows participants to learn valuable lessons such as the importance of maintaining a positive attitude; how to make decisions by thinking about the possible consequences; how to define and set goals; and how to transfer values such as responsibility, honesty, integrity, respect, confidence and sportsmanship from the golf course to everyday life. Sessions are currently offered throughout the year at more than five local courses. For more information, visit www.firstteehowardcounty.org, email [email protected] or call 410.730.1114.