Lea Jesse from First Tee – Greater Chicago
Our guest this episode on The Chicago Golf Report podcast is Lea Jesse, Chief Executive Officer of First Tee – Greater Chicago. The organization uses the game of golf to help kids build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. First Tee – Greater Chicago provides Life Skills Experience programming at select Chicago Park District facilities and Harborside International Golf Center , Glenwoodie Golf Club , and in Waukegan through the Waukegan Park Districts. The organization strives to instill in participants First Tee Nine Core Values – honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy, and judgment. Young people who become members of First Tee – Greater Chicago enjoy a variety of opportunities to learn life skills that can help them grow as individuals and prepare for the future. In this conversation with Lea we learn: How First Tee – Greater Chicago uses golf as a tool to teach kids life skills and values Why Tiger Wood’s rise to fame helped bring The First Tee to life How the organization helped turn the 100-year-old Waveland clock tower building, adjacent to Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course , into a youth facility and golf practice area The challenges and rewards of bringing together donors, volunteers, and industry leaders to help accomplish the organization’s goals How Cubs’ All-Star Ian Happ became involved with First Tee – Greater Chicago and his personal connection to golf What the future looks like for First Tee – Greater Chicago and youth golf in Chicagoland How First Tee – Greater Chicago, in partnership with the Evanston Wilmette Golf Association, KemperSports , the Western Golf Association , and First Tee – Greater Chicago are working together in the restoration of Canal Shores Golf Course in Evanston