NEW YORK, N.Y. (January 24, 2012) – On Tuesday, January 24, The First Tee of Metropolitan New York Young Benefactors hosted its 2012 Kickoff Event at Drive 495, the Manhattan golf and fitness center hosting The Met Golfer Makeover, which is owned by two-time  MGA Jerry Courville Sr. Player of the Year Joe Saladino and his brother, Don.

Founded by Ned May, Kate Keller and TFTMNY Board Member Michael Rudin, the Young Benefactors are a group of young professionals with the mission of leveraging the members’ collective experience and expertise to find ways to support The First Tee of Metropolitan New York. May spoke of the group’s latest addition to TFTMNY’s programming, Path to College, which is a series of interactive seminars designed to provide guidance to high school students during the college application process, including SAT tutoring, résumé building, interview practice and critiquing, as well as financial aid and scholarship information.

The Kickoff Event was designed to thank those who have supported Young Benefactors in the past and to introduce others to the great work that The First Tee does in conducting youth development programs throughout the region. Attendees of the event enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and used Drive 495’s state-of-the-art golf simulators to compete in longest drive and closest to the pin contests during the evening.

This was the first of a series of Young Benefactors events that will take place during 2012, including a Masters Cocktail Party and Volunteer Day, as well as two tournaments—a Junior-Am and a Member-Guest—which will both be held at the TFTMNY headquarters at Mosholu Golf Course.

For more information on how to join Young Benefactors and to get involved with promoting and supporting the efforts of The First Tee, please click here to learn more.