PING to Support First Tee Efforts to Make Golf and Character Education More Accessible for Future Generations

Youth development organization First Tee is pleased to announce that PING, a premier golf equipment manufacturer, has signed on to support the nonprofit’s ongoing efforts to prepare the next generation for life on and off the golf course.

“We are very pleased to support the First Tee at the Trustee level,” said Stacey Solheim Pauwels, PING Executive Vice President. “Junior golf has always been important to PING and the Solheim family. Golf is a game that can be enjoyed throughout a lifetime and it teaches so many positive character-building lessons. Having the opportunity to play golf in your youth is a great advantage for an individual’s future, both in the game and in business. From a young age, my father and uncle, Allan and John Solheim, encouraged my brothers, cousins and I to play golf and we are forever grateful for the experience and friendships we still maintain from those early years. Over the course of the past decades, we have seen tremendous growth of the First Tee nationally as well as at our Phoenix chapter. We’ve had the opportunity to view first-hand its effective programing, outreach and the outstanding youth it has developed both in the game of golf and beyond. We look forward to playing a part in furthering the mission of the First Tee.”

A portion of PING’s donation will support ongoing education for staff and volunteers from First Tee’s 150 chapters across the globe. First Tee also offers programming at more than 11,000 schools and 2,000 youth centers, as well as national participant events, a college scholarship program and a vast network of alumni.

“We are excited to partner with PING, an organization that is committed to innovation, service and quality,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “The needs of kids and families have evolved over the last 27 years and so has First Tee. We are grateful to PING for supporting our commitment to providing valuable learning experiences to children and teens from all backgrounds.”

With the support of Trustees like PING, First Tee uses golf as a vehicle to instill life skills and values in the kids and teens it serves. Through its character-building curriculum delivered by trained coaches, First Tee aims to prepare children for life, whatever they go on to do.