The First Tee of Monterey County

First Tee - Monterey County (ftmc): ftmc is a chapter of First Tee and situs under the pga tour Foundation. First Tee is a youth development organization that enables kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, we create active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that kids can carry to everything they do. We're building game-changers through our junior golf programs. Ftmc provides its programs at its twin creeks golf campus located in salinas, California and king city golf course located in king city, California. As of october 2023, ftmc delivers the First tees golf and life skills experience curriculum from january through december during school time, after school, on weekends and on school vacations. Since 2004, over 110,000 active participants between the ages of 7 and 18 years of age have been impacted throughout Monterey County. Ftmc also includes programs that promote healthy habits and nutrition, as well as offering homework help and tutoring assistance. During school vacations (spring, summer, and winter), ftmc delivers extended programming through a variety of activity camps. With a focus on providing youth opportunities for a better Future, participants enjoy the programming partnerships with several other local non-profit organizations and for-profit businesses that ftmc has developed. the annual registration fee for a participant is $160. the partnerships with local school districts have resulted in over 6,000 full scholarships. Ninety-six percent of the ftmc participants are non-caucasian, and forty-eight percent are female. the fcf board believes that the investment of over $2,200,000 in non-collected membership fees is more than justified through the positive impact that the program has on the young people's lives and consequently, the surrounding communities.

the taylor farms center for learning (tfcfl): in february 2014, our board of directors approved funds to construct a 5,000 square foot learning center on the campus in salinas. Construction of the tfcfl began in march 2016 and fcf took occupancy in september 2016, with program operations commencing in march 2017. the cfl was constructed at a cost of $1.2m and was completed on time and under budget. the cfl provides a powerful curriculum of academic and educational support as well as a continuation of life skills and character development. the continuum touches each part of their life from elementary school through college. To support the vision of offering young people of Monterey County opportunities for a brighter Future, the cfl offers programs in three primary focus areas: academia, science, technology, engineering, and math (steam); plus life exploration and preparation (leap). the cfl serves ages 7-22 from specific groups including First Tee - Monterey County participants, the pay it forward scholarship and mentoring program scholars and their mentees, and alumni of First Tee - Monterey County that may not be college-ready or still exploring life options. the cfl provides academic enrichment, steam activities, coding and game design classes, and career exploration activites, as well as a safe after-school environment, and out-of-school camps for youth in Monterey County.

Pay it forward scholarship and mentoring program: on february 2, 2013, the California state university Monterey bay, through its university corporation (ucorp), transferred to fcf all rights, title or interest in the pay it forward scholarship and mentoring program (pif). This included all rights in names or styles relating to the program, it being the intent of the parties that fcf shall own outright the interest, rights and assets belonging to the program. Additionally, for a period of four years after the transfer date, and thereafter, subject to termination upon the giving of one years prior written notice, ucorp agrees to continue to provide funding for administrative services for the program, consistent with the current level of funding, but not to exceed $110,000 per year. This permits all funds raised by fcf for the program to be granted 100 percent to student scholarships. Each student receives a $20,000 pif scholarship at $5,000 per year for four years and is required to stay on a four-year graduation track, maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average, meet personally with his/her community mentor at least once a month, participate in each of 10 monthly program meetings, spend at least five hours each month tutoring and mentoring younger students, primarily through tftmc, and be in the First generation of their family to attend college. As of october 2024, there are 61 students receiving scholarships in the 2023-2024 school year, 142 students have graduated under the pif program in four years or less, and of those graduated, 51 percent did so with honors.