LOCAL TEEN SELECTED TO ATTEND TOP JUNIOR GOLF ACADEMY

Program hones both golf and life skills

ATLANTA (June 4, 2010) – A teenage student from The First Tee® of East Lake, as well as two of his coaches, have been selected to participate in one of the nation’s top junior golf academies.

 

Ahmad Williams, age 13, has been selected to attend The First Tee Life Skills and Leadership Academy, which will be held July 13-20 at Kansas State University. Ahmad was among just 100 students from across the country, ages 13-17, selected to participate in the prestigious program.

 

“Ahmad works very hard, on and of the golf course. He is emerging as one of our chapter leaders, and he definitely deserves this recognition,” said Nyre Williams, Director of The First Tee of East Lake.

 

Two First Tee of East Lake coaches – Jeff Dunovant and Rachel Melendez – will also travel to Kansas as part of an elite group of 24 coaches leading the program.

 

The Academy provides participants with character education and leadership instruction through The First Tee Life Skills Experience curriculum. The Academy recognizes and rewards exceptional youth for their accomplishments and teaches them mentoring skills they can put into practice once they return home.

About The First Tee of East Lake

The First Tee of East Lake is a year-round golf instruction and life skills program of the East Lake Foundation that uses the principles of golf – discipline, hard work and integrity – to enhance the academic achievement of children from Atlanta’s East Lake neighborhood. The program helps open doors to colleges, scholarships and job opportunities. The First Tee of East Lake serves hundreds of children and teens, ages 5-18, who attend East Lake’s Drew Charter School or live in the East Lake neighborhood. More than 1,500 East Lake children have participated in the program since 1998.

About the East Lake Foundation

Founded in 1995, the East Lake Foundation’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty in Atlanta’s East Lake community by providing tools that enable residents to build a better future through cradle-to-college education, affordable housing and connections with the broader community. The East Lake approach has been proven to boost employment, reduce crime and improve educational outcomes. East Lake has become a model for holistic community revitalization programs across the country.

About The First Tee

The First Tee is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Augustine, FL at World Golf Village, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its values to more than 3.5 million participants in 50 states, over 3,400 elementary schools and five international locations – Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore.  Former President George H. W. Bush serves as honorary chairman. The First Tee Founding Partners are The Masters Tournament, LPGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA.