Arnold Palmer has made a $200,000 donation to the First Tee of Central Florida chapter to establish the Arnold Palmer Scholarship Fund.
The First Tee of Central Florida is committed to growing the fund to more than $1,000,000 in the next 10 years. With the help and support of the fund, the First Tee chapter has a five-year goal of impacting the lives of more than 4,500 Central Florida youth by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through golf.
“I am extremely pleased to give my support to this recently established chapter of the First Tee in Central Florida,” Palmer said in a statement. “This community has long been my second home, along with so many other professional golfers. It is a wonderful opportunity to grow the game and the life lessons and skills that align with golf in an area so rich with golf.”
Said Matt Certo, the board president of the First Tee of Central Florida, “We could not be more honored by Mr. Palmer’s gesture and we are extremely grateful for his support. His generosity will allow thousands of local youth to gain exposure to the game of golf through the First Tee program and more importantly learn the positive core values, healthy habits and life skills associated with the game.”
As honorary chairman, Palmer joins the First Tee of Central Florida’s honorary board members Annika Sorenstam, Ken Griffey Jr., Doc Rivers, Tracey Stewart and Golf Channel president Mike McCarley.