SCGA Foundation Executive Director Kevin Gigax addresses the ways the two organizations can continue to work together

On Tuesday, SCGA Foundation Executive Director Kevin Gigax (pictured below) spoke to representatives from First Tee chapters from Southern California and Arizona. The meeting was scheduled to revisit The First Tee’s Phase IV Business Plan (2011-2015), established to further The First Tee’s relevance as an established organization that impacts today’s youth.

The SCGA Foundation supports all the First Tee chapters in Southern California by providing funding for golf instruction and youth programming, Youth on Course access and college scholarships to youth participants.

“It’s our privilege to work with The First Tee to bring golf and all of the opportunities and life skills it teaches to Southern California youth,” said Gigax. “The meeting this week gave us an opportunity to discuss best practices and to further define ways to collaborate so that our organizations can reach more kids and have an even broader impact.”

The First Tee is commited to continuing its efforts to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. Specifically, by 2015, The First Tee hopes to increase its total reach to more than ten million young people and the number of chapter program locations from 750 to 1,500. The organization will also focus on increasing the progression of teenagers through its programs and growing the number of female and ethnic diverse participants. To date, The First Tee has reached more than 4.7 million young people.

“The purpose [of Tuesday’s meeting] was to share best practices and assist chapters in Southern California and Arizona in extending their participant reach, retain participants, grow female participation, increase diversity at all levels, operate efficiently and effectively and grow their adult programs, including but not limited to volunteer, donor, and leadership opportunities,” said Henry Sandles of The First Tee. “Through participation in the lifelong sport of golf and exposure to its inherently positive values, young people will stay in school, lead a healthy lifestyle and be prepared for success in life.”