Latest news with #FirstTee
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
This NFL owner has donated $10 million to First Tee for youth programs
Blank Family Foundation has now donated more than $25 million to First Tee Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur M. Blank has made a $10 million grant through his family foundation to First Tee, bringing the total of grants from Blank to more than $25 million to the national program that combines golf instruction with a life skills curriculum for youth 7-18 at golf courses, schools and community centers worldwide. The First Tee impacts more than 3 million children and youth, according to the Ponte Vedra Beach-based organization, which was founded in 1997 by the World Golf Foundation. Blank, who also owns the PGA Tour Superstore, the TGL champions Atlanta Drive and is the founder of Home Depot, became involved with First Tee through a grant to First Tee-Metro Atlanta and has served as a National Trustee since 2011. The new grant will help First Tee reach more youth across the U.S. and strengthen the curriculum for teen members. 'Junior golf is the fastest-growing segment of the sport, and that's no coincidence," Blank said in a statement. "It's a testament to the power of First Tee, which has made the game more accessible and enjoyable for young people, helping them experience golf in new and fun ways. The innovative and engaging experiences that First Tee provides help kids build self-confidence and inner strength, qualities that will serve them throughout their lives." PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement that the grant from the Blank Family Foundation was "transformative." "We are grateful to Mr. Blank and his family of businesses for their continued support of First Tee,' said Monahan, who is also the chairman of the First Tee Board of Governors. 'Arthur's vision and commitment reflect a deep understanding that investing in First Tee is truly an investment in the future." The Blank Family Foundation made a $9.5 million grant to First Tee in 2020. Grant will help teens develop life skills The new grant extends programming established by a $9.5 million grant in 2020 and will support First Tee's efforts to keep teens engaged with the organization, where they have access to safe spaces, educational opportunities and positive role models. First Tee chapters in PGA Tour Superstore markets, such as First Tee-North Florida (based at the Brentwood Golf Club within the urban core) will receive grants to support youth in developing life and golf skills. To date, grants have impacted 50 First Tee chapters across the country, a number that will grow as PGA TOUR Superstore's footprint continues to expand. The grant also will go to a five-week in-store leadership series with PGA Tour Superstore general managers to help teens uncover their strengths and personal values and explore potential career opportunities. The program was offered at 44 PGA TOUR Superstore locations in 2024 and plans to expand to 70 by 2029. Blank presented grant in Atlanta The grant also ensures that the First Tee's Leadership Summit, held each summer since 2021 at Blank's ranch in Emigrant, Montana, will continue. Each summer 40 First Tee teens participate in challenges such as whitewater rafting, ropes courses and horseback riding. The grant was formally presented to First Tee this week in Atlanta, where 48 First Tee teens learned best practices in how to lead a successful organization with visits to the PGA Tour Superstore headquarters, the Atlanta United training ground, the Atlanta Falcons practice facility and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
Forbes
18 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Arthur Blank Gives Another $10 Million Youth Golf Grant to First Tee
First Tee has received a $10 million grant from PGA Tour Superstore owner Arthur Blank through his ... More family foundation, pushing his total donation to more than $25 million to the youth golf development organization. With junior golfer participation levels at their highest levels in 20 years, the owner of PGA Tour Superstore – the nation's largest golf retailer – has deepened his longtime relationship with First Tee by gifting $10 million to the youth development organization. Arthur Blank, who also co-founded Home Depot and owns the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, has now contributed more than $25 million to First Tee through his family foundation dating back to 1999. 'Junior golf is the fastest-growing segment of the sport, and that's no coincidence," said Blank, the owner and chairman of the Blank Family of Businesses. 'It's a testament to the power of First Tee, which has made the game more accessible and enjoyable for young people, helping them experience golf in new and fun ways.' Blank joined First Tee as a National Trustee in 2011. Since then, support from PGA Tour Superstore and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation have helped fuel the growth of First Tee's character-building programs across the U.S. that reach more than 3 million kids a year – at golf courses, schools and community centers. 'The innovative and engaging experiences that First Tee provides help kids build self-confidence and inner strength, qualities that will serve them throughout their lives,' added Blank, who has deep ties to the game (including ownership of the Atlanta Drive team that won the inaugural TGL championship) and is one of the nation's most influential advocates for youth golf development. "We're proud of our deep partnership with the First Tee and are committed to the purposeful impact sports can have in developing and supporting youth.' Arthur Blank, left, sits with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan during a TGL presented by SoFi match ... More between Atlanta Drive GC and Boston Common Golf earlier this year. (Photo by Megan Briggs/TGL/TGL via Getty Images) $10 Million Grant The $10 million gift extends programming established by a $9.5 million grant in 2020 and will support First Tee's efforts to keep teens engaged with the organization, where they have access to safe spaces, educational opportunities and positive role models while gaining greater access to golf and its inherent values. Almost 3.7 million juniors between the ages of 6 and 17 played golf on a course last year, according to the National Golf Foundation, the most since 2005 and a 48% increase since 2019 (prior to the pandemic). Blank has helped create a pipeline between PGA Tour Superstore and youth development, with 50 First Tee chapters in markets with the company's retail stores receiving grants to support youth programs. That number will continue to grow as PGA Tour Superstore's footprint further expands. Store locations in PGA TOUR Superstore markets receive grants to support local First Tee chapters, ... More with 50 chapters already impacted nationwide. Additionally, PGA Tour Superstore general managers each year lead a five-week, in-store leadership series in partnership with First Tee that helps teens explore potential career opportunities and develop their strengths away from the golf course. The program was offered at 44 store locations in 2024 and there are plans in place to expand it to 70 by 2029. And perhaps most uniquely, Blank hosts an annual Leadership Summit at his West Creek Ranch in Montana, where 40 First Tee teens experience activities like whitewater rafting and horseback riding while developing leadership skills and learning the importance of relationship building. This week, 48 teens visited Atlanta for a leadership program that included stops at PGA Tour Superstore headquarters and Blank's other sports properties, including the Falcons and Atlanta United. The annual Leadership Summit brings 40 First Tee teens to Blank's West Creek Ranch in Montana, where ... More they experience activities like whitewater rafting and horseback riding while developing leadership skills. Blank received First Tee's Founders Award in 2022 for his support of the organization. 'Arthur's vision and commitment reflect a deep understanding that investing in First Tee is truly an investment in the future," said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, Chair of the First Tee Board of Governors. "Through this transformative gift, Arthur is helping open doors for young people nationwide – empowering them to grow as golfers and as people.'
National Post
02-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
FICO and First Tee – Ontario to Host Free Youth Financial Empowerment Event Ahead of the RBC Canadian Open
Article content Article content TORONTO — Global analytics software leader, FICO and First Tee's Ontario chapter will host a free Score A Better Future™ Fundamentals financial literacy event for teens from the Boys & Girls Club of Caledon and Brampton on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. The event will be held at Mono Hills Golf Club and is designed to help teens aged 14–17 better prepare for healthy financial futures, including understanding how credit works and the role of the FICO® Score when it comes to saving for a home, car, or an education. Article content The event takes place within the week of the 2025 RBC Canadian Open. Following the workshop, students will participate in First Tee golf programming and take a group photo with the RBC Canadian Open Trophy. Article content 'Financial literacy and a good golf game both require the same foundations: practice and discipline,' said Amber Aquin, Chapter Head of First Tee – Ontario. 'This collaboration with FICO during the RBC Canadian Open gives youth the opportunity to build both golf skills and the money smarts to excel on and off life's most important courses.' Article content FICO's Score A Better Future Fundamentals program is designed to educate teens on how financial decisions made early in life, particularly around credit, can shape their futures. The program equips students with practical knowledge to better understand personal finance and credit, while building habits that support long-term financial health. Article content 'At FICO, we're passionate about helping educate young people to take control of their financial futures,' said Jenelle Dito, vice president of Consumer Empowerment Programs and Partnerships at FICO. 'Working with First Tee – Ontario and the Boys & Girls Club of Caledon and Brampton allows us to bring these important lessons to life in a fun, engaging way, just as the RBC Canadian Open begins.' Article content To learn more about the event or get more information on FICO's Score A Better Future™ Fundamentals program, visit: Article content Used by 90% of the top U.S. lenders, FICO® Scores help millions of people gain access to the credit they need to do things like get an education and make major purchases. Fundamentals helps empower students with financial literacy and the knowledge to achieve their financial goals. Article content Educators at all accredited middle and high schools can receive the Fundamentals curriculum and supporting materials through the Fundamentals website, which will also provide the background knowledge and understanding for teachers to successfully educate students while strengthening their own understanding of credit. To learn more about Fundamentals visit Article content FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 200 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, insurance, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 80 countries do everything from protecting 4 billion payment cards from fraud, to improving financial inclusion, to increasing supply chain resiliency. The FICO® Score, used by 90% of top US lenders, is the standard measure of consumer credit risk in the US and has been made available in over 40 other countries, improving risk management, credit access and transparency. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Business Wire
02-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
FICO and First Tee – Ontario to Host Free Youth Financial Empowerment Event Ahead of the RBC Canadian Open
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global analytics software leader, FICO and First Tee's Ontario chapter will host a free Score A Better Future™ Fundamentals financial literacy event for teens from the Boys & Girls Club of Caledon and Brampton on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. The event will be held at Mono Hills Golf Club and is designed to help teens aged 14–17 better prepare for healthy financial futures, including understanding how credit works and the role of the FICO® Score when it comes to saving for a home, car, or an education. FICO and First Tee's Ontario chapter will host a free Score A Better Future™ Fundamentals financial literacy event for teens from the Boys & Girls Club of Caledon and Brampton on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Share The event takes place within the week of the 2025 RBC Canadian Open. Following the workshop, students will participate in First Tee golf programming and take a group photo with the RBC Canadian Open Trophy. 'Financial literacy and a good golf game both require the same foundations: practice and discipline,' said Amber Aquin, Chapter Head of First Tee – Ontario. 'This collaboration with FICO during the RBC Canadian Open gives youth the opportunity to build both golf skills and the money smarts to excel on and off life's most important courses.' FICO's Score A Better Future Fundamentals program is designed to educate teens on how financial decisions made early in life, particularly around credit, can shape their futures. The program equips students with practical knowledge to better understand personal finance and credit, while building habits that support long-term financial health. 'At FICO, we're passionate about helping educate young people to take control of their financial futures,' said Jenelle Dito, vice president of Consumer Empowerment Programs and Partnerships at FICO. 'Working with First Tee – Ontario and the Boys & Girls Club of Caledon and Brampton allows us to bring these important lessons to life in a fun, engaging way, just as the RBC Canadian Open begins.' To learn more about the event or get more information on FICO's Score A Better Future™ Fundamentals program, visit: To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Caledon and Brampton, visit: To learn more about First Tee – Ontario's introductory golf programming across the province, visit: Score A Better Future ™ Fundamentals Helps to Bridge the Financial Literacy Gap Used by 90% of the top U.S. lenders, FICO® Scores help millions of people gain access to the credit they need to do things like get an education and make major purchases. Fundamentals helps empower students with financial literacy and the knowledge to achieve their financial goals. Educators at all accredited middle and high schools can receive the Fundamentals curriculum and supporting materials through the Fundamentals website, which will also provide the background knowledge and understanding for teachers to successfully educate students while strengthening their own understanding of credit. To learn more about Fundamentals visit About FICO FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 200 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, insurance, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 80 countries do everything from protecting 4 billion payment cards from fraud, to improving financial inclusion, to increasing supply chain resiliency. The FICO® Score, used by 90% of top US lenders, is the standard measure of consumer credit risk in the US and has been made available in over 40 other countries, improving risk management, credit access and transparency. Learn more at Join the conversation at & .
National Post
02-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
FICO Drives Financial Empowerment at Professional Golf Tournaments Across North America
Article content FICO pairs Score A Better Future™ Fundamentals workshops with golf tournaments to inspire and motivate teen golf fans to learn how to take control of their financial futures. FICO partners with First Tee—Ontario, First Tee — Central Carolina, and Drew Charter School to give teens valuable financial education. The FICO Score A Better Future™ Fundamentals program is designed to help students make more informed credit decisions for a brighter financial future. Article content BOZEMAN, Mont. — Global analytics software company FICO will be showcasing Score A Better Future™ Fundamentals (Fundamentals), a free credit education program for high-school-aged students, through a series of golf events this summer. As a part of its successful, nation-wide Score A Better Future (SABF) financial education program, FICO designed Fundamentals to empower teens to be better prepared for their financial futures with the knowledge and tools to help them make more responsible credit decisions. Article content 'Financial literacy is one of the most powerful tools we can give teens today. The upcoming Fundamentals events held in conjunction with various golf tournaments this summer will be a great opportunity to showcase the importance of financial literacy. When young people understand how personal finance and credit can impact their futures, they are better equipped to make smart decisions,' said Jenelle Dito, vice president of Consumer Empowerment Programs and Partnerships at FICO. Article content A recent FICO-sponsored Harris poll on financial literacy found that more than one in four members of Gen Z do not consider themselves financially literate even though 99% of Gen Z adults believe financial literacy is important for achieving financial stability. The goal of the Fundamentals program is to help bridge that gap by expanding access to financial literacy education through workshops focused on credit and personal finance. FICO has paired Fundamentals workshops with thrilling sports events to inspire and motivate students to learn how to take control of their financial futures. Article content FICO will be sponsoring a number of golf tournaments in North America in the coming months, including: Article content The 2025 RBC Canadian Open, June 4-8 in Toronto, Canada The Wyndham Championship, July 30-August 3 in Greensboro, North Carolina The TOUR Championship, August 20-24 in Atlanta, Georgia. Article content As part of FICO's goal to broaden financial literacy and empower teens to be better prepared for their financial futures, FICO will work with the First Tee chapters in Ontario and Central Carolina, as well as with the Drew Charter School in Atlanta to host Fundamentals events for teen golf fans in conjunction with these tournaments. Through these partnerships, FICO will provide a fun way for teens to learn about personal finance and credit through the sport they love. Article content The First Tee is a nonprofit, youth-development organization that focuses on integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, creating active learning experiences that build inner strength, self- confidence, and resilience in kids and teens worldwide. Article content FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 200 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, insurance, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 80 countries do everything from protecting 4 billion payment cards from fraud, to improving financial inclusion, to increasing supply chain resiliency. The FICO® Score, used by 90% of top US lenders, is the standard measure of consumer credit risk in the US and has been made available in over 40 other countries, improving risk management, credit access and transparency. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
