end of the year event recognizes The First tee of wny staff
by: Dallas Isiah Taylor
The First Tee of Western New York held a night of appreciation at the Paddock Chevrolet Golf Dome for coaches and volunteers after a successful season.
Over 30 lead and junior coaches, volunteers, TFTWNY Board Members and family were in attendance to be recognized for the work done through the year.
Executive Director Andrew Bennett, made it a point to recognize how important everyone was to the organization.
“To our Board members, coach, volunteer,” said Bennett, “what you do is extremely meaningful to all of the kids served. You need to know that. The fact that you care and that you’re someone who they look up to and admire. It means to world to them and to me. I can’t thank you enough.”
Coaches and volunteers accumulated over 600 programming hours throughout the year at several locations across Western New York including Grover Cleveland Golf Course, Brighton Park Golf Course, Delaware Park Golf Course, Harvest Hill Golf Center, Elma Meadows Golf Course and Spruce Ridge Golf Course.
Current The First Tee of WNY PLAYers were able to represent the program on a national scale. Marissa Del Monaco was one of 81 The First Tee PLAYers across the country selected to play in the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach. Also, Giavanna Bolognese was one of 96 PLAYers selected to attend The First Tee Life Skills & Leadership Academy in Blaine, MN.
The night was concluded with a mini-round of putt-putt golf on the putting course in the Dome.
Winter sessions for TFTWNY will begin soon. If you are interested in volunteering, call 250-3355, ext. 4. For more information, visit
The First Tee WNY website.
