Good Evening Former Mayor Giuliani, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentleman.

 

Before I even start, Let me first thank each and every one of you who are here tonight to support the MGA Foundations and all of its programs.

 

Through generosity like yours, you are not only supporting kids to learn a great sport, but you are supporting lives. Lives that otherwise would have been so predictable, growing up in the inner cities. Your generosity changes that and makes a difference.

 

Allowing kids to dream and have a support system through these programs make more of a difference than you could ever imagine.

 

Take me for example. I was born in Nicaragua and raised in the Bronx- my voice representing all the inner city youth who, without the MGA programs would never have doors open, opportunities, a chance to see the rewards of hard work and never really learn the tremendous impact of self respect, responsibility, leadership, goal setting and the game of golf.

 

I was introduced to the MGA in the Golf in Schools Program when I was in sixth grade. Not only did I learn the fundamentals of golf, it became a stepping-stone to learning who I was and what I was actually capable of.  Next came the First Tee Program at Mosholu Golf Course, where I not only became an intermediate player through private and group lessons from the golf professionals, I received the equipment necessary to play on an actual golf course. It was here where I learned the “nine core values” of life itself.

 

Honesty-Integrity-Confidence-Courtesy-Judgment- Perseverance-Sportsmanship-Responsibility and the one that hits home for me…..Respect.

 

You see, in this day and age it’s really hard being a kid. With peer pressure, an abundance of drugs and just basically the need to feel and be cool, having respect for myself and knowing who I am as a person, makes a difference that makes the whole world feel different for me.

 

I was fortunate enough to be picked to go to Nashville, Tenn. last year to the First Tee Nationals where I got a chance to improve my golf skills, meet new friends from all over the country, have fun and sharpen my leadership skills which then earned me a place in the GOLFWORKS program where I worked at Mosholu Golf Course, became a peer teacher and learned about careers in the golf industry.

 

I learned how to be responsible, on time for my job, and best of all, earned money and learned the values of working hard.

 

I can say being involved with generous, caring people like yourselves and programs like these can change a kid’s life, like it did for me. You can make a difference.

 

And as for me- I’m not done yet. Just imagine where I will be and how much I can give back to this great sport because of you, and for that I say thank you.

 

I’d just like to end tonight with just one more thought.

 

WHAT IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MAKE A KID EXCITED ABOUT THEIR LIFE?

 

WHAT IF?? 

 

- MGA -