Teeing Up Success: Introducing Our August Tenant Spotlight, First Tee – Greater Topeka
Welcome to August at the Community Resources Council! Building on the excitement of our July spotlight, we love shining a light on the incredible nonprofit organizations that call our CARE Centers home. For August, we are thrilled to feature First Tee – Greater Topeka as our Tenant Spotlight!
When you hear "First Tee," you might picture a standard golf clinic—or, if sports aren't really your thing, you might wonder what a golf organization has to do with community support at all. But as we kick off our month-long series, the very first thing you need to know is that First Tee is so much more than a golf program.
More Than Just a Game
First Tee is a youth character development organization that uses golf as the vehicle to help young people build the strength of character they need to succeed in life. Through fun, engaging experiences with caring coaches and mentors, they help kids ages 7-18 develop confidence, resilience, honesty, perseverance, and other vital life skills.
(Let's be honest: for those of us whose golf swing looks more like an accidental lawn-mowing session, it’s a huge relief to know you don't need a PGA tour card to change a kid's life!)
Finding Their Home at the Lundgren Center
First Tee – Greater Topeka has been a proud part of the CRC family at our CRC CARE Center @ Lundgren for a little over a year now.
Having a welcoming office space is valuable, but what has meant even more is becoming part of a community of organizations that share a passion for serving others. As their Executive Director shared:
"Our partnership with CRC has become an important part of how we accomplish our mission... Being part of the CRC family has made our organization stronger."
This partnership is a massive win for CRC, a massive win for our CARE Centers, and a massive win for the entire Topeka community! As their Executive Director also noted, CRC staff have been wonderful to work with by connecting them to key partners, offering continuous support, and relying on Sharon as an amazing advocate who always helps make introductions and keeps things moving forward.
Looking Ahead All Month Long
Founded locally in 2020, First Tee – Greater Topeka has introduced thousands of young people to new opportunities, focusing intentionally on youth who might not otherwise have access to the game or its mentors.
Over the next four weeks, we will dive deeper into their origin story, take you behind the scenes of their programs (both on the course and inside local schools), and share how you can get involved—including their upcoming annual fundraising golf tournament at Shawnee Country Club on September 18th!
To learn more right now, visit the official First Tee – Greater Topeka website or check them out on their Facebook and Instagram. Follow along on our month long journey into their story, mission and community support on our Facebook to read more about it!