Benefitting First Tee – Orange County
A golf tournament all FORE the kids!
Why It Matters
At First Tee – Orange County, we know that golf has the power to change lives — but only if young people have access to it. Our programs introduce youth to the game while teaching the core values of integrity, respect, and perseverance. But our most critical mission right now is teen retention.
The stats are real: teens are the most at-risk group to leave youth programs — and we’re fighting to keep them engaged, supported, and on a path to success. Every dollar raised at the Charity Golf Classic goes directly toward:
- Keeping teens in our program through their most formative years
- Providing scholarships that open doors to college and beyond
- Expanding access to golf and life skills for underserved youth across Orange County
The Impact
Our participants don’t just learn golf — they graduate high school, earn scholarships, and go on to lead in their communities. With your support, we can reach more teens when they need us most and ensure no young person has to navigate their future alone.
Your Contribution at Work
By sponsoring the 2026 Charity Golf Classic, your involvement will:
✔ Go towards funding Teen Scholarships in First Tee – Orange County
✔ Funding Alumni Events to keep participants engaged and provide future support
✔ Make a direct, measurable difference in the lives of Orange County Teens through engaging programming and events
Meet Sunnie
From the Fairway to the Future
When Sunnie first walked onto the course seven years ago, she wasn’t sure golf was for her. She was quiet, a little unsure of herself, and didn’t know a single person in the program. Today, she’s one of the most inspiring examples of what First Tee – Orange County makes possible.
Golf gave Sunnie something she didn’t expect: her voice.
Over the years, Sunnie didn’t just learn how to swing a club — she learned how to carry herself with confidence, how to push through challenges, and how to show up for herself and others. What started as a new sport quickly became a community, and that community changed everything.
Through First Tee – Orange County, Sunnie discovered she had something important to say. She began speaking at events, sharing her story with donors, families, and fellow participants. Standing at a podium, looking out at a room full of people, Sunnie found that the same focus and courage golf had taught her on the course translated directly to life off of it.
She also found her people. The friendships Sunnie built through First Tee are the kind that last — bonded by early mornings, shared goals, and the mutual understanding that this program was shaping all of them into something greater.
And this year, Sunnie’s hard work, dedication, and growth earned her something she’ll carry into her next chapter: a college scholarship.
“I’ll always remember what First Tee taught me: ‘Your score doesn’t define your character.’ That reminder stayed with me every time I signed a scorecard. The values I learned through First Tee shaped who I am, and they’re something I’ll carry with me long after high school golf.”” — Sunnie
Sunnie’s story is exactly why we fight so hard to keep teens in our program. The breakthroughs don’t always happen in year one — sometimes they unfold over five years of showing up, growing, and believing that you belong. That’s the power of teen retention. That’s the First Tee difference.
Your support makes more stories like Sunnie’s possible.