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First Tee says thanks

• First Tee of Albany holds a special event Thursday for supporters of the youth program.

Joshua Brown

ALBANY — Supporters of Albany’s First Tee golf program got a big thank you from program officials Thursday during a special event for current and potential supporters.

Because First Tee, which teaches life skills and “core values” to youth through golf, is a nonprofit organization, Thursday’s event was designed to thank its current sponsors and “inform and educate potential future contributors,” Executive Director Burkett Carver said.

“We’re responsible for our own support,” he said as attendees mingled at the course, which sits behind the Albany Civic Center.

The program will serve about 700-plus youths this year, about 500 more than it did last year, Carver said.

Up to about 300 people were expected at the event, during which they had barbecue, wine, beer and could hit golf balls from the driving range or putt.

State Farm insurance agent Jay Kimbro presented the center with a $1,000 oversized check later in the evening as part of a grant program available through local and corporate State Farm.

That money would cover just under 10 percent of the center’s monthly operating costs, Carver said.

“I think for one, it just ... incorporates golf into life’s lessons, and gives people an opportunity to experience a great game and learn those life lessons,” Kimbro said. “It’s a great character-building program.”

Carver said, “We’re just saying thank you to the current contributors and supporters and giving exposure to the facility to potential contributors.”

This is the first year in the course’s three years that it has organized such an event, Carver said, though he said he hopes to continue the event in the future.

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