Annual Report “Good Golfers. Better People.” 2019 Considering a Legacy Gift? Let’s hear the story of how one “In 1997, I read about the First Tee in of our founding Golf World, a golf news magazine that most pros devour each week. I had al- directors – GARY ready devoted my life to golf for over 20 REYNOLDS and years and knew very well the benefits my members (both adult and child) received his wife MIM chose by playing and being around the game. I First Tee of knew what golf brought to me and felt that I had personally practiced and taught the Connecticut for a life values that my parents instilled in me legacy gift…in his as a child. I loved coaching children the chance for success. The result of that alli- magic of the game. I always emphasized ance was the expansion to the First Tee of own words. the codes of behavior within the game of CT and eventually Ted’s brilliant concept golf to all the juniors that crossed my path. of a partnership at TPC River Highlands I looked for anywhere I could get in- made the dream of an actual site a real volved. When I heard of CSGA junior clin- possibility. Several years of fundraising and ics being conducted at Goodwin Park Golf hundreds of meetings resulted in our great Course, I volunteered like other CT PGA Learning Center. Planned giving is for people pros. Through that experience, I learned Upon my retirement in 2008, I had from all walks of life and all of Ted May and Kent Scully and Mayor more time to devote to my passion to use income levels, who want to Mike’s golf program in Hartford. The fol- golf as a vehicle to improve peoples’ lives. make a difference in the world; lowing winter I made a trip to Ponte Vedra With Mim’s steadfast help, we were able who want to leave a legacy; who Beach to meet with the new director of the to hit the ground with the many organiza- want to make the world a better nascent organization called the First Tee. tions that we previously helped from afar place. For donors, planned giv- That meeting cemented my interest and with fundraising. The First Tee was cer- ing may be a way to give their passion to support all efforts to bring the tainly one of the most important places we life new meaning, to keep doing First Tee concept to greater Hartford. Ted, put our efforts. good even after death. Planned Kent and I worked on creating the First The concept of legacy giving is a very giving can play a critical role in Tee of Hartford and hired Dan Malarney, powerful tool to ensure the First Tee’s ensuring a nonprofit’s long-term PGA, as our program director. Dan did a funding needs well beyond annual appeals. financial health. A legacy gift great job finding sites, creating customers, Success in this area will affect an entire gen- can be structured over a period all working out of the back of his pick-up eration of people. It ensures our passion of time or can be deferred, and truck. We spent a couple of years trying to for kids will be felt far into the future. It it can involve a variety of assets, develop a First Tee site at Goodwin Park is a very easy process, no matter how large including cash, stock, business and when that dream failed a Hartford or small the bequest, and can have decided interests, real estate, artwork, council vote, we began a multi-year search tax advantages under present law.” tangible personal property, for partners and sites to create a home. –Gary & Mim Reynolds life insurance, retirement plan When Ted, Paul Mersereau and others assets and more. For more created the relationship with the CSGA’s information on leaving a legacy CT Golf Foundation, I felt we had a real gift, please contact Development Director, Christy Miller at [email protected]. ON THE COVER: Joshua Clark enjoying Summer Camp at First Tee of Connecticut, Cromwell, CT. 2 • First Tee of Connecticut • Annual Report 2019 Chairman of the Board’s Message: Dear Friends of First Tee of Connecticut, 2019 offered us an opportunity to reflect upon our history, and to think about our future as we celebrated our 20th anniversary. Several times, we thought about our humble beginnings 20 years ago with 18 kids at Goodwin Park in Hartford, and now we reach over 71,000 children across the state of Connecticut. We celebrated our anniversary throughout the year, including with a signature event at Round Hill in honor of one of our founding Board members, Everett Fisher. We assumed responsibility for Fairfield County two years ago, making us truly the First Tee of Connecticut. We’ve made significant progress increasing the number of children in our programming and increasing the awareness of the impact we have on young children. in and of itself, and also provides us a blueprint to carry over to the One major challenge we face in the coming years is identifying out- other major cities in the state. door programming sites in lower Fairfield County, so we can offer the From our humble beginnings with 18 children to 71,000 across young children who want to progress with us the same opportunity to the state in 2019, our goal has remained the same, to teach children participate. I’m confident that with all of our continued support and life skills through the game of golf. I would never in my wildest focus, we will be able to provide that opportunity in the coming years. dreams have imagined what we have achieved over the last 20 years. One of our original objectives 20 years ago was to offer the pro- With your support, I trust that the Chairman writing this letter 20 gramming and the game of golf to children who might not otherwise years from now will feel the same way. have an opportunity. In an effort to continue this focus, we created an outreach program in New Haven to enhance partnerships in the Sincerely, area. Thanks to the great efforts of Tim Swensen and Ilona Emmerth with local advocates, we made meaningful improvements in our re- cruiting and retention in inner-city New Haven in both our ongoing programming as well as new activities. This achievement is important David Dixon The First Tee Life Skills Experience helps young people develop character by focusing on The First Tee Nine Core Values: Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance, Courtesy, Judgment 2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Barbara Karis Downey (SNEWGA) Patricia H. Meiser STAFF Beverly Buckner Baker Brad Faxon (Hon. Dir.) Henry T.A. Moniz Mark Moriarty, Executive Director Kenneth Baldwin, Secretary Christopher Goodwin (CCMA) Michael Moraghan (CSGA) Christy Miller, Director of Development Emeritus Director Hon. Dir. Emeritus Director Donald J. Barr, J.J. Henry ( ) David E. Polk, Ilona Emmerth, Director of Strategic Partnerships Theodore (Teddy) Bobroske Karen Hopp Glen M. Rapoport, D.M.D. Mark Murnane, Program Director Paul Bocciarelli, D.M.D. Joe LaCava (Hon. Dir.) Gary M. Reynolds, Emeritus Director Tim Bunt David M. Ladd, Emeritus Director Marshall S. Ruben Coleman Davis, Director of Instruction Coach Jim Calhoun (Hon. Dir.) Mercedese (Ellie) Large Mim Schreck (CWGA) Tim Swensen, Partnerships Coordinator Jeff Calhoun David P. Marks C.F.A. Scott Seymour Taylor Januario, Assistant Program Director Elizabeth (Liz) Caron (Hon. Dir.) Donny Marshall (Hon. Dir.) Lauren Stephens Marie Bernatchez, Administrative Associate Jeffrey L. Cohen, M.D. Ian Marshall (CTPGA) Thomas (Tom) E. Vacheron Javier Colon (Hon. Dir.) Daniel Martinez (Hon. Dir.)/Alumni Craig Watchmaker Alicia (Lisa) B. Davenport Edwin H. May III, Chairman Emeritus Marc Weston (CGCS) David Dixon, Chairman Manu Mazumdar Lorenzo (Skip) B. Wyatt, Treasurer First Tee of Connecticut • Annual Report 2019 • 3 2019 Our Front 9 EMERGING BRIAN FERNEY COACH PROFILE: First JESSE DUFF PARTNER: Vice-President of Tee Coach at the Alling Memorial Sales and Marketing at Comcast Golf Course in New Haven, Jesse Cable – Western New England Duff started his First Tee coaching Region, Brian Ferney volunteered career down in Charleston, SC with for the First Tee of Connecticut in former First Tee of Connecticut As- its early stages back when he was an sistant Program Director, Meghan Assistant Golf Pro at Wethersfield Taylor at First Tee of Charleston. It “I love seeing Country Club. Ferney said, “Once “Stay connected to was our good fortune that Duff, an them grow as I got out of the golf business, I still the game!” active-duty member of the Mili- golfers and people.” wanted to stay connected to the tary, moved to Connecticut with game, and more specifically on teaching the principles of golf to kids, the Coast Guard and wanted to continue his coaching with us! Duff and nobody does that better than the First Tee!” According to Ferney, explained, “I love interacting with the kids and seeing them grow XFINITY believes in supporting the communities it serves, with an as golfers and people. I like that the focus is more on making better emphasis on Digital Adoption, Digital Literacy and Kids, and the people with a secondary goal to make them better technical golfers. In First Tee lands right in that sweet spot. XFINITY’s support of First the time that I have been involved it has been amazing to see some of Tee of Connecticut is not by accident in that they prioritize support- the transformations: shy kids becoming very outgoing, some young- ing a charity where most of the funds and attention go right to the sters new to golf advancing to becoming talented members/mentors kids that are gaining advantages.