Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard Hosts CocaCola Youth Clinic & Youth Day on March 22
ORLANDO, Fla. (March 16, 2010) — The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard is known for its support of the community via the Arnold Palmer Medical Center, but the Tournament also gives back through its work with The First Tee, a proven youth development program.
The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard will kick off a week of world-class golf on March 22 with the 2010 CocaCola Youth Clinic in conjunction with The First Tee and the Tournament’s Youth Day.
YOUTH CLINIC: The 2010 CocaCola Youth Clinic will bring more than 200 Orange, Seminole and Osceola County Public School students and their parents together for an interactive clinic that will include a PGA TOUR player and a representative from Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, who will speak about sports safety and how to avoid injuries. Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard Tournament Director Scott Wellington will serve as host.
YOUTH DAY: All youth age 17 and under will gain free access to the Tournament with paid adult on Monday.
WHEN: Monday, March 22, 2010
WHERE: The driving range at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge, 9000 Bay Hill Boulevard, Orlando.
“Young people throughout Central Florida are being introduced to golf and its inherent positive values through The First Tee National School Program,” said The First Tee CEO Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. “We are grateful to Mr. Palmer and Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard for ongoing support of The First Tee, and to CocaCola for sponsoring the Youth Clinic that will be enjoyed by many students who also participate in the National School Program.”
In 2006, Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard began providing funds to bring The First Tee National School Program to the Orange County Public School District. Fifty-five elementary schools currently offer the program – five of which are new this year – with more than 20,000 elementary students participating annually.
In addition to the CocaCola Youth Clinic, the Orange, Seminole, and Osceola County Public School students will be welcomed to participate in the Arnold Palmer Invitational Art Contest which will ask students to interpret visually Mr. Palmer and/or golf in general. The art will be on display at the Tournament in the Program Sales tent from March 25-28. The winning piece of art will be presented to the Tournament Champion.
“Golf has real life applications that are even more beneficial when instilled at a young age,” said Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard Tournament Director Scott Wellington. “If patience, persistence and mental toughness, to only name few, are learned by today’s youth, they will grow to be tomorrow’s leaders — on and off the course.”
The First Tee National School Program is an entry-level golf curriculum designed to be part of elementary school physical education programs. Taught by physical education teachers and based on national physical education standards, the National School Program is a safe, fun and effective way to introduce school children to the basics in golf skills, etiquette and play. The program also includes the element of character education by including as a key objective in each lesson The First Tee Nine Core Values (honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment).
About the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard
The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard will hold its 32nd annual tournament March 22-28, 2010. The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard is one of Central Florida’s signature events, a premier sporting event and a highlight of the PGA TOUR, attracting some of the greatest talent in golf. The entire event is overseen and directed by one of the game’s all-time greats — Arnold Palmer. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Arnold Palmer Medical Center, including Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.
About The First Tee
The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org) is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Augustine, Fla. 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 more than 3.5 million participants in 50 states, 3,400 elementary schools and four international locations - Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore. Former President George H. W. Bush serves as honorary chairman. The First Tee Founding Partners are LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA.
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Lindsey Levy, Push
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