About Paula 4 Kids
Paula 4 Kids was started by LPGA Star and Bradenton resident Paula Creamer. Paula shares the Dream of The First Tee Sarasota/Manatee to create a permanent place for kids to learn to play golf in our community. Paula 4 Kids was created to assist in the dream of providing access and opportunity for youth to play golf and to help raise awareness to the values that the First Tee has to offer in developing the youth that will shape the future of our nation. The Paula 4 Kids Celebrity Golf Event was created by Paula with the express purpose of raising money to support the development a dedicated facility for the First Tee of Sarasota/Manatee.
Paula has been a supporter of The First Tee of Sarasota/Manatee since prior to her rookie year on the LPGA Tour. As a junior, Paula competed at The Inaugural First Tee Open at Pebble Beach. Her involvement with our chapter continued as she turned professional and joined the LPGA tour in 2005 where she became the 2005 Rolex Rookie of the Year. On her graduation day from The Pendelton Academy at IMG she held her first clinic for our chapter at TARA Golf and Country Club. In 2005, in cooperation with the IMG Academies where Paula trained and paved her way to the LPGA Tour, Paula created the Paula 4 Kids scholarships program. For the Past two years Paula has made 2 year round scholarships to The Pendelton Academy at IMG and 40 one week summer scholarships to IMG available to First Tee Youth of the First Tee of Sarasota/Manatee.
In 2007, the Inaugural Paula 4 Kids Celebrity Golf Exhibition was held at The River Strand Golf Club at Heritage Harbour. The event kicked off with a Private Dinner Reception with Paula on Friday evening that featured moving speeches from the two 2006 Pendleton Scholarship recipients and was then followed up with a Celebrity Golf Exhibition on Saturday afternoon. During the Private Dinner Reception, Paula spoke about her commitment to the Paula 4 Kids event and her continued support in helping to build a permanent home for the First Tee of Sarasota/Bradenton through this annual event. On Saturday, the day started with a junior golf clinic for the participating students of The First Tee of Sarasota/Manatee that included Paula and her coach David Whelan, Director of Instruction at IMG Academies. This was then followed by a 9-Hole Celebrity Golf Exhibition that featured PGA and Champions Tour Legends Andy Bean and Tony Jacklin, Big Break Star Don Donatello, Legendary Tennis Coach Nick Bolletieri and Legendary Tennis Star Ivan Lendl. About The First Tee
The First Tee is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Augustine, FL at World Golf Village, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its values to over 1.4 million participants and students in 46 states and five countries – Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and Singapore. Former President George Bush serves as honorary chairman. To learn more about the First Tee Program and the First Tee of Sarasota/Manatee visit their websites at www.thefirsttee.org and www.thefirstteesarasotamanatee.org.
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