Blog

More than 900 leaders from over 175 chapters from around the world gathered in Orlando, Florida for the largest showing of Board Members, Executive Directors and Program Directors for a Network Meeting. Educational opportunities ranging from board governance, programming, branding and strategic plan...

The First Tee goes to high school! Four of our participants made their school teams as freshman and all represented their schools during Regionals at Lansbrook Golf Club this October. Devyn and Sonya play for Palm Harbor University High School and Hadleigh and Tia play for Countryside High School, w...

Raymond James and the Tampa Bay Rays established the Raymond James Community Impact Award back in 2013 to recognize non-profit organizations that have made a positive impact on the Tampa Bay community. As part of the award, Chi Chi’s Foundation received a $5,000 donation, tickets for the Press Box...

  Sonya is a freshman at Palm Harbor University High School and has been participating with The First Tee of Clearwater for over five years. She is one of only four participants who has reached BIRDIE certified level and will begin Eagle level this school year. Throughout her years as a participant...

The First Tee welcomed 267 campers for the Life Skills Experience this summer! Instruction is based on an introduction to the game of golf plus core values and life skills seamlessly incorporated throughout each lesson. Students enjoyed course time at least one day each week, along with driving rang...

Fifteen golfers represented The First Tee of Clearwater throughout the summer in PGA Jr. League Matches. The League is a fun, social and inclusive opportunity for children 13 and under to play on a team. Students have competed against Ace Golf, Belleair and Westchase both at the Chi Chi Rodriguez Go...

The Pinellas County Urban League invited The First Tee Program Director Karen Wise and her volunteers to provide a Core Values Workshop for some students in their STYLE program (Summer Training in Youth Leadership & Employment).  This workshop was in conjunction with the Urban League’s Golf T...

 In May, we said goodbye to an amazing 8th grade class as they continue on their Journey to Success with high school.  During graduation, each student spoke about their time at Chi Chi’s and thanked those who supported them.  Academy Executive Committee Member Scott Brown awarded two Higher Lea...

The Foundation is hard at work making capital improvements, with the mission to provide a unique learning environment that’s safe for our students. This May, over 30 volunteers from Nielsen in Oldsmar came to work at Chi Chi’s for Nielsen Global Impact Day!  Projects included painting all Groun...

Following with the Valspar Championship tradition during The First Tee day, nine students got an up close and personal experience with some of the best golfers in the world as Standard Bearers, including Matt Kucher, Bill Haas and Ian Poulter. Throughout the round, the Pros in their groups spent tim...