We Are Dedicated to Helping Organizations that Better Our Communities
At Eagle Rock Bank we’re proud to give back to our community. As a locally owned and managed bank, it is so important to us to support our local non-profit organizations through sponsorships and hundreds of volunteer hours through our employee volunteers.
This month's spotlight:
3 Ways You Can Help
FIRST TEE
Written by Megan Malugani for Rochester Magazine | Sponsored by Eagle Rock Bank
Since The First Tee program was established in Rochester in 2001, approximately 5,000 kids have been enriched by a curriculum that teaches character development through the game of golf. Offered every summer at Hadley Creek Golf Course for kids aged 5 to 17, First Tee is guided by nine core values intended to promote participants’ personal and social growth. These values—honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment—are integrated into every aspect of the program’s on-course lessons. According to Skip Hambright, Advisory Chairperson for The First Tee in Rochester: “What I find rewarding is not so much teaching golf but teaching the kids how to be responsible adults in society… I tell the parents when they bring their kids in that we’re not so much instructing someone how to hit a ball with a stick, but how to be courteous, how to use good judgment and how to respect others and yourself.”
AT A GLANCE:
• Rochester’s First Tee chapter was established in 2001; The national First Tee organization was founded in 1997 by the PGA, LPGA and Master’s
• Mission: “Impacting 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 ”
• Serves an average of 254 kids each year
• Located at Hadley Creek Golf Course, 2390 Hadley Hills Drive NE, Rochester; firstteerochestermn.org; 507-529-4119
Here’s how you can help FIRST TEE:
DONATE YOUR TIME OR EQUIPMENT. Volunteers who have golf experience and are good at helping kids can assist with group lessons for the younger age groups. You can also donate your kids’ gently-used, modern golf clubs.
DONATE MONEY. The dollars you donate will cover hardship scholarships for current participants as well as scholarships for program alumni headed to college. You could also help fund clubs for kids who enter the program without them.
PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNUAL MILLION DOLLAR SHOOTOUT. This event is held during Rochesterfest each summer, with proceeds benefiting First Tee. This summer, qualifying rounds will be held at Hadley Creek Golf Course on June 24–26, with the final shoot off at Soldiers Field on June 27.
A TEE-RRIFICALLY BIG IMPACT.
“The most impactful lessons that I have taken out of The First Tee have been from our nine core values, specifically integrity, perseverance, and sportsmanship. These three things have shaped the person and leader that I am today and I truly believe I wouldn’t be where I am without the support of my mentors in the program and the program itself.”
—Shelby Leitz, who began participating in Rochester’s First Tee Program when she was 7 and is now its Program Director at age 22
Learn About How Eagle Rock Gives Back Through The Soaring Hearts Program