St. Augustine, Fla. (May 10, 2016) – Thanks to PwC, The First Tee’s mission to affect the lives of young people through the game of golf will be highlighted this week during
THE PLAYERS Championship at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
PwC has been associated with The First Tee since 2000 and continues to expand its support. Currently more than 25 PwC partners, retired partners and staff serve as volunteer board members for chapters of The First Tee.
Several activities will take place at the tournament this year, including:
- For the 12th year, PwC will host select Scholars of The First Tee during THE PLAYERS at its Executive Business Forum. Four Scholars will engage in a learning experience uniquely designed to teach them about the business of a top professional services firm and the corporate world at large. The participants will interact with corporate leaders and hear from knowledgeable speakers on topics facing American business today.
- PwC’s The First Tee Challenge will allow fans to take their shot at a scaled version of the par-3 17th at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Located in the Stadium Village and open to the general public all week, fans will have two free shots to try and hit the green and win prizes. Fans will have the option to purchase either a third shot for $5 or a Fast Pass for $20, with proceeds benefiting The First Tee of North Florida. Representatives from The First Tee home office and the North Florida chapter will serve as volunteers throughout the week.
- PwC will host 200 participants from The First Tee North Florida’s youth programs. Students will hit off the 17th hole replica and take part in experiential golf-themed learning activities–created by the MIND Research Institute–that teach math concepts such as scale, distance and velocity in the context of golf.
- The First Tee will receive significant exposure during the telecast (on Golf Channel and SirusXM PGA TOUR Radio, thanks to a donation of commercial inventory by PwC, a Trustee of The First Tee, and the PGA TOUR, one of The First Tee’s Founding Partners.
“The First Tee has played a unique role in broadening the efforts of PwC’s Earn Your Future commitment, which has reached more than 2.5 million students and educators through outreach focused on building financial capability,” said Shannon Schuyler, principal, chief purpose office and corporate responsibility leader at PwC, and president of the PwC Charitable Foundation. “We are proud to support The First Tee, nationally and through our local markets, to leverage their expertise in developing core values and healthy habits, and connecting that work to financial decisions.”
“For 16 years PwC has been an important supporter of The First Tee and we are grateful for their longstanding support nationally and in chapter markets,” said Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., chief executive officer of The First Tee. “Their commitment to our efforts helps to build awareness and extend our mission to more young people and their communities.”
THE PLAYERS will air on May 11-15 on Golf Channel and NBC. Visit
www.PGATOUR.COM/THEPLAYERS for specific airtimes.
For more information about The First Tee or to follow the activities taking place during THE PLAYERS, visit
www.firsttee.org or follow on
Facebook.
About The First Tee
The First Tee (
www.firsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. With its home office at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., The First Tee reaches young people on golf courses, in elementary schools and at other youth-serving locations.
Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has grown its network to deliver programs in all 50 United States and select international locations. In 2015, The First Tee brought character education through the game of golf to more than 4.7 million young people. The First Tee’s Founding Partners are LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA. Shell Oil Company is The First Tee’s Founding Corporate Partner and Johnson & Johnson is its Legacy Partner. Former President George W. Bush serves as honorary chair.
About THE PLAYERS Championship
THE PLAYERS Championship annually combines the best field in golf with the world-class venue that is THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Optum, Morgan Stanley and PwC are the exclusive Proud Partners of THE PLAYERS. Proceeds from THE PLAYERS benefit Northeast Florida charities and have totaled more than $75 million since the event moved to Ponte Vedra Beach in 1977, including a record $8.1 million generated in 2015. In April 2011, THE PLAYERS announced a new charitable focus, committing to generate $50 million for youth-related charities over the next 10 years. For more on THE PLAYERS and the surrounding area, visit
theplayerschampionship.com or
floridashistoriccoast.com.
Media Contact:
Sara Henika
The First Tee
904-940-4341
[email protected]
