ELMSFORD, N.Y. (August 11, 2009) — Four students from The First Tee of Metropolitan New York have been selected to participate in two leadership initiatives. Paul Toohey from Mosholu and Steve Fetko from Fairchild Wheeler have been chosen for the Toro Future Leaders Forum which takes place November 12-15 in Orlando, Fla. Caitlin Lopes from Mosholu and Tim Kearan from Eisenhower Park were chosen to attend the Life Skills and Leadership Academy in Eugene, Ore., from July 28-August 4. The academy featured lessons on life skills, golf clinics and career exploration.

At the Toro Future Leaders Forum, 50 participants nationwide have been chosen to attend and explore a variety of career opportunities within and outside the golf industry. The future leaders participate in hands-on, interactive sessions on customer service, PGA Tour tournament management, agronomy, researching colleges, and educational requirements for chosen career fields. This program is among the most intense training sessions available for The First Tee participants.  It also includes an immersion in the sport, business and science of golf and provides character education to help prepare The First Tee participants to be tomorrow’s leaders. 

About The First Tee of Metropolitan New York

The First Tee of Metropolitan New York was created in 2001 as a joint venture between the MGA Foundation and the Metropolitan Section of the PGA to create affordable and accessible golf facilities and bring First Tee programming to young people of all backgrounds throughout the New York metropolitan area. TFTMNY serves as the local chapter in the New York metropolitan area. Facilities include The First Tee of Essex County (Newark, N.J.), The First Tee of Nassau County (Eisenhower Park), The Golf Club at Chelsea Piers, The First Tee at Fairchild-Wheeler (Bridgeport, Conn.), and the main chapter location at Mosholu Golf Course in the Bronx. With these five sites, the MGA Foundation and the Met PGA have now expanded their partnership network to include the New Jersey PGA and the New Jersey State Golf Association and The First Tee of Connecticut in Fairfield County.