Masters Donates $1 Million to First Tee


The First Tee has received a $1 million donation from the Masters Tournament, one of its founding partners. The contribution comes as part of the charitable donations made following the 2010 tournament.

"We are grateful to the Masters Tournament for its consistent support of our organization," said Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., CEO of The First Tee. "Since 1997, The First Tee has grown from a budding organization focused on sharing the great values associated with the game of golf to a nationally-recognized youth development organization with proven ability to impart positive life skills and core values to the young people in our programs.

"It is because of the support of organizations like the Masters that we have been able to impact the lives of more than 3.5 million young people in such a short period of time."

The First Tee has received more than $13 million in donations from the Masters since 1997. In addition, the Masters annually supports The First Tee of Augusta.

The donation will be used to further enhance the Life Skills Experience delivered at more than 200 Chapters of The First Tee; advance The First Tee National School Program, which is currently bringing golf and core value lessons to students in a physical education setting at more than 3,500 elementary schools throughout the United States; and advance the training and education of the coaches, program directors and Chapter executives, all of whom are integral to the success of The First Tee program activities.

About The First Tee

The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org) is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Augustine, Fla. at World Golf Village, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its values to more than 3.5 million participants in 50 states, 3,500 elementary schools and four international locations - Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore. Former President George H. W. Bush serves as honorary chairman. The First Tee Founding Partners are LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA Tour and the USGA.