The (Life) Skills of the Sport

The game of golf can teach a child many essential life skills, and The First Tee of Connecticut wants more New Haven students to have the opportunity to learn them.

With the help of a grant from The Community Foundation, The First Tee of Connecticut provided several students from King/Robinson Interdistrict Magnet School in 2013 with free bus transportation and enrollment in Spring and Fall weekly Group Lessons at Alling Memorial Golf Course in New Haven, as well as free bus transportation and enrollment in a four-day summer camp in Cromwell.

The First Tee's Mission is to positively 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. Through instruction of the sport, students were also taught about The First Tee's Nine Core Values™ and Nine Healthy Habits™. The success of this pilot program has inspired the organization to continue its outreach efforts to more New Haven students.

"It was made clear to us from feedback from the children and from their parents that having free transportation made a world of difference for them," said Tracy Rice, Development Associate at The First Tee of Connecticut. "One parent told us that she would 'love to see this program extended to more students across the school district for longer periods'."

Students who participated had the added bonus of meeting former NBA/UCONN basketball player and The First Tee of Connecticut Board member Donny Marshall during the program.

Support was made possible through unrestricted funds at The Community Foundation, used for broad charitable purposes at the discretion of the Board of Directors.