Terravita Golf and Country Club residents teamed up to raise $11,340 to support The First Tee of Phoenix, a national non-profit youth development organization.

The community-wide fundraising effort will provide sponsorship for 189 Maricopa County children to participate in The First Tee year-round program. The program is hosted by the Phoenix chapter of The First Tee and includes access to year-round programming that teaches youth between the ages of seven to 17 nine core life skills by using the game of golf as their teaching tool. In addition, a membership provides access to monthly tournaments and member fun events that take place on a regular basis.

The First Tee’s 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.

Terravita Golf and Country Club members supported the effort on April 16 by playing in a 9-hole golf tournament, serving as caddies, sponsoring golf holes and directly contributing to The First Tee.

“By raising over $11,000, we’re helping make a difference in the lives of local children and hopefully developing a new generation of golf enthusiasts,” said Evan Haft, Terravita’s 2016 The First Tee committee co-chair. “We are proud that our entire community worked together to be able to give back to a game that so many enjoy by supporting this program.”

The First Tee Terravita co-chairs included Haft, Art Cikins and Paul Brown. Terravita member and resident Bob Mandell and Terravita Golf Club staff members, including Joey Pickavance, director of golf, Hannah Wallesen, membership manager and Lee Gault, tournament coordinator, were also instrumental to the success of the event.

“We are so grateful for Terravita Golf and Country Club, their residents’ support and for the generous contribution they made to our chapter,” said Kevin Terry, executive director of The First Tee’s Phoenix chapter. “Our members had the opportunity to play a beautiful golf course, interact with Terravita members and enjoy a beautiful day.”

This is the first year Terravita has raised money for The First Tee. The community annually host fundraisers for Play for P.I.N.K. to support breast cancer research, raising $18,029 last January. Terravita also annually supports Arnie’s Army, raising $5,000 last November to support a variety of children-based initiatives.

For more information, visit www.Terravita.com or www.thefirstteephoenix.org or call 602.305.7655.