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 The First Tee of Benton Harbor was started in January 2005 and makes a difference in the lives of the youth of our community through six unique programs.
- The high school golf program at Benton Harbor High School. The First Tee has assumed responsibility for the boys’ and girls’ teams and Ebon Sanders serves as the head coach. For the first time since the 1950’s Benton Harbor High School had a golfer qualify for the state final tournament. Trianna Sutton was All-Division again in 2011 and she finished T-23rd in the state! This year the boy’s golf team will again have enough participants to field a junior varsity team and we return our #1 and #3 golfers. (Approximately 83 participants since 2006.)
- The in-school program in conjunction with Benton Harbor Area Schools. We work with every 4th and 5th grade student in the Benton Harbor school system during gym classes. Volunteers from the community along with our staff build relationships with the students by teaching The First Tee life skills along with playing education-based games. This fall we will begin sponsoring middle-school golf teams throughout the district. (More than 3,500 participants since 2006.)
- The after-school program is run in conjunction with the Boys & Girls Club after-school program. The First Tee is offered as one of the rotation areas in which youth can participate. This year we have introduced the opportunity for Club members to become “The First Tee Core members.” We monitor their grades and behavior and offer extra activities that are held exclusively for them. It has become very popular with the Club members and has enhanced our impact in The First Tee on a nightly basis. (Since 2005 the Boys & Girls Club has served over 6,400 children, approximately 20% of whom have participated in The First Tee of Benton Harbor activities).
- The mentor program, a partnership with Whirlpool Corporation, where Whirlpool employees and other community residents are paired with our older participants to help them prepare for life after high school. Tutoring, college campus tours and golf are a few of the activities that the mentors and mentees participate in. (More than 70 youth participants since 2006.)
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The summer program is open to youth from all of our communities. Two four-week sessions are used to teach life skills and golf skills to participants from ages 6 to 17 years old. The program runs in partnership with Harbor Shores, Point O' Woods, Milan Creek and Blossom Trails Golf Club. (More than 1,200 new and returning participants since 2005. In 2011 we served more than 270 young people from throughout Southwest Michigan.)
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The Harbor Shores program, where The First Tee members (working as golf shop staff, club house attendants, cart attendants, bag attendants, etc.) learn invaluable life skills through employment. (In 2011, 14 current or former members of The First Tee and Boys & Girls Club were employed by Harbor Shores.)
The First Tee has a staff of six– Ebon Sanders-Executive Director; Tori Moore-Program Director; Jim Campbell-Coach; Ryan Burns-Coach; Jonathan Robinson–Coach; Leroy Robertson-Coach.
Questions? Call Mari Hoffmann at (269) 923-6690 or (269) 208-3700 |
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