The Fourth of July always seems to mark the halfway point of the summer in our house and at First Tee the same is very true! As we find ourselves at the halfway point of both summer and 2023, I am delighted to share some of the progress we’ve seen already this year.
We finished the school year strong with field trips and field days through our First Tee School Program and have seen eager and excited participants at our well-attended onsite programs and summer camps! It brings me immense joy to witness the positive impact our programming staff has had on more kids as we spread our reach throughout Central Ohio.
Two significant developments this year have been new partnerships with OSULiFE Sports to deliver our programs to kids at community recreation centers this summer, and with Columbus City Schools to extend our programs to their summer engagement classes. These two initiatives have surpassed our expectations, allowing us to impact 500 more kids than anticipated this year and take meaningful strides towards our strategic plan of reaching more kids in under-resourced communities.
In short, we have delivered meaningful impact to numerous kids in Central Ohio so far this year. We have strengthened our First Tee School Program and are now delivering consistent programming in 48 schools. Our onsite programs have engaged close to 400 kids, and an impressive 800 participants have taken part in our field days and community engagement opportunities. To top it all off, our PGA Jr League team won their league and four kids from our team will be moving on to PGA Jr League Regionals, showcasing the talent and determination of our participants.
As we continue to provide these programs, I am so grateful for the contributions from individual donors, corporations and foundations that support the work we do. Your generous support over the years has been crucial in our progress, I want to say a big thank you!
Looking ahead, we are in the process of putting together sponsorship and support opportunities for 2024, which we will share with you soon. In the immediate term, we have a significant financial need to ensure a strong finish to 2023.
If you are interested in partnering with us financially, please email me directly at [email protected], and I would love to share with you how your contribution will support our mission.
The first half of 2023 has been impressive, and we are excited to build on this momentum for the rest of the year. Thank you for helping us positively impact the next generation of Game Changers!