October 30, 2025 | Program Update
As fall programs wind down and we begin to reflect on program impact, we are pleased to report that 85 young people received routine transportation to the golf course on a First Tee bus this year. Thanks to generous community support and some amazing chaperones, we were able to serve 10 after-school groups (50 students) from Oakland Elementary, Mt. Zion Elementary, Compass Collegiate Academy, A.C. Corcoran Elementary, Meeting Street Academy, and Chicora Elementary on a weekly basis over the spring and fall seasons. Participants in our Pathfinder Immersion Program (35 students) also received rides to golf courses and enrichment activities on Saturdays throughout the school year and Monday through Friday during the summer.
Transportation plays a crucial role in expanding access to our programs, and it has been a game-changer for children with working parents, according to Oakland Elementary PE Coach April Blanton… “The bus transportation has been awesome. It allows students who may not have after school transportation the opportunity to participate in an extracurricular activity.”
Coach Jordan Lewis, a dedicated volunteer who had a chance to work with Coach Blanton’s students at Shadowmoss Country Club, describes bus transportation as “the greatest,” and he really loves the energy that after-school groups bring to the golf course… “Not a single kid from Oakland has shown up grumpy. They’re all the most excited to learn and participate.”
It truly takes a village to make these bus rides happen. Thank you to the dedicated donors who keep our fleet fueled, to the site coordinators who provide vital connections, and to world’s most versatile bus drivers, Coach Johnson and Coach Jensen. Special thanks is also due to the teachers, teaching fellows, and parents who helped out as chaperones with after-school spring and fall programs: Dennis Wright (A.C. Corcoran), Bryan Linnen (Compass Collegiate), Derek Fangos (Compass Collegiate), Nick White (Meeting Street Academy), CJ Rozzi (Mt. Zion), Emma King (Oakland Elementary), April Blanton (Oakland Elementary), Dana Allen (Oakland Elementary), and Bree Jackson (Oakland Elementary).
Want to get involved? We’re eager to add a new bus driver to our roster for spring 2026. Click here to learn more.