By day Debbie Fox is the Grants and Operations Director for Levin Family Foundation. She also has served on the board of Artemis, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Dayton, and the WSU Non Profit Leadership Alliance. But she spends her nights and weekend drumming up support for the The First Tee of Greater Miami Valley, a program that impacts young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. Debbie’s husband is a head coach for the program as well. We asked her to tell us a little more about her involvement with First Tee.
How did you get involved in The First Tee?
There’s one word to describe why I got involved in The First Tee of Greater Miami Valley… Passion.
Passion for our youth that would not necessarily have the opportunity to experience life skills such as our nine core values and nine healthy habits.
Passion for sport.
Passion for inspiring children.
Passion for education.
Passion for being a dependable mentor that our participants can count on.
Every person involved with The First Tee has an individual reason for being a part of it–whether they love the sport, they want to be an important role model, or they want to make a difference helping to shape young lives.
The First Tee programming provides a learning environment with positive reinforcement from our coaches while focusing on values and life skills that the participants will take with them well after they leave the program. Golf is just the means to demonstrate these values and life skills. It is the vehicle to lead by example. The emphasis is on inspiring young people and making an IMPACT, and who doesn’t want to be a positive reinforcement?
If you think back about role models in your life and who inspired you, why did they impact you? How did they shape you? Not everyone necessarily has those mentors in their lives, and The First Tee of Greater Miami Valley provides that inspirational core to inspire our participants to make a difference throughout their lives–Enriching lives.
Tell us how this organization impacts our community?
The First Tee of Greater Miami Valley is proud to partner and collaborate with many organizations in the Butler, Warren, and Montgomery county areas. Currently we are in 13 elementary schools in the Dayton Public School District thanks to the Brian Hafer Foundation with our National School Program that is impacting over 4500 students.
The First Tee Life Skills program offered 295 participants scholarships in collaboration with the City of Dayton Golf Courses and nearly 700 participants total in our Chapter for 2016.
Dennis Walters and his dog, Bucky,
On Wednesday, October 12, in partnership with TPC River’s Bend, we welcomed Dennis Walters from The Dennis Walter Show. He spent the day visiting three Kings School District Elementary Schools sharing his story of overcoming obstacles, reaching for your dreams, and never giving up with over 275 second and fourth graders.
Through partnerships such as these, as well as The First Tee Life Skills Experience, National School Program, and DRIVE, The First Tee of Greater Miami Valley is able to continue making an IMPACT on young lives.
How can folks get involved?
Top Golf West Chester – entertainment complex
Volunteer. Attend Events. Sponsor an Event. Participate in Programming. Spread the Word!
You don’t have to know the game of golf to be a part of this organization. It’s about inspiring our children to be better people–Good golfers…Better people.
To learn more visit www.thefirstteegmv.org or contact Brian K. Parkhurst, PGA Executive Director for more information on how to get involved with fundraising: committees, events etc.
