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March 14, 2006 |
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 VINCENT
KINGThe First Tee By Susan Manning Vincent King is a newcomer to Charlotte, but he is not a newcomer when it comes to helping kids. As Director of First Tee of Charlotte, he is fortunate to be able to combine two of his passions-playing golf and helping underprivileged kids. He came to Charlotte in October 2005 to develop the First Tee program in our community. Vincent was born and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio but he has ties to the South from an early age since his parents were from South Carolina and Alabama. After graduating from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, he played basketball in Europe for several years. While he was there, he was introduced to the game of golf. Golf became one of his passions after he came home to the United States in 1997 and saw Tiger Woods win his first Masters. Vincent went out the next day and bought his first set of clubs and began playing golf every day. He was researching opportunities to help out kids, when he was introduced to the First Tee of America, a program that is all about helping youth learn life skills through the game of golf. He was also following a mandate from his wife to give up golf or learn to make money doing it. So, he combined his two passions-helping kids and golf-by his involvement with the First Tee program in Cleveland. He later went to Akron, Ohio where he served as Director of the First Tee for three years and won national recognition before coming to Charlotte this past fall. First Tee teaches the values of integrity, respect and honesty through the game of golf for boys and girls, 9-18 years of age. The program teaches life skills for youth while teaching them the game of golf. It costs $35 for a six week program and offers scholarships for youth that can't afford the tuition. In order to qualify for a scholarship, the youth must have a 2.26 grade point average, 85% school attendance and commit to completing 85% of the First Tee program as well as donating 10 hours of volunteer service to the program. The program's slogan is "to whom much is given, much is required", so participants are expected to give back to the program. Students can achieve four levels of skills-par, birdie, eagle and ace-in learning golf skills as well as building character as they work on life skills. Volunteers provide instruction and mentoring for youth as they get involved with kids' lives. First Tee is currently seeking a permanent home in Charlotte at the Revolution Park 9 hole golf course and plan to be serving 125 kids per day in the near future. Through a partnership with Wayne Weston and the County Park & Recreation Department, they currently rotate instruction and programs among the five public golf courses around the county. If you're interested in volunteering for this program, there will be a Volunteer Orientation next Tuesday, March 21st at 7:00pm at the Sunset Hills Golf Course. All volunteers are screened and trained in life skills, risk management and how to work with kids. If you're planning on attending the Wachovia Championship, be on the look-out for Vincent and his First Tee kids-he's hoping to have 30 involved in the golf tournament. While Vincent King is a newcomer to Charlotte, with his passion for golf and helping kids he's someone worth knowing and supporting in his new home town. Head Table: Bill Loftin, Jr., Russell Ranson, Herb Harriss, Natalie English, George MacBain, Jimmy Flowers; Invocation: Randall Groves Visitors & Guests: Randall Groves; Health & Happiness: Harley Dickson; Song: Richard Early; Piano: Thomas Moore
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Revised: January 24, 2008.