FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE		Contact:  Steve Gerrish, The First Tee
January 27, 2009		(904) 940-4314

                                        

GENERAL COLIN POWELL TO SERVE AS KEYNOTE SPEAKER
AT THE FIRST TEE NETWORK MEETING IN SAN JOSE

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL – The First Tee, an international positive youth development organization, is pleased to announce that General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.), former U.S. Secretary of State and founding chairman of America’s Promise Alliance, has agreed to speak at the organization’s upcoming gathering of board members, coaches, teachers, staff and volunteers dedicated to impacting the lives of young people through the game of golf.  General Powell will deliver the keynote address at the Gala Dinner on March 1.

“There is no greater individual to share his insights about the challenges our young people face today, and what we can collectively do to improve the well-being of our youth, than General Powell,” said Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., chief executive officer of The First Tee.  “We are appreciative and delighted he will be joining us.  I know those in attendance will be part of a very special evening.”

 In September 2008, The First Tee joined the America’s Promise Alliance partner network, working together to create positive and lasting outcomes for young people.  Founded by General Powell in 1997, the Alliance is made up of nonprofit groups, corporations, community leaders, charitable foundations, policymakers, faith-based organizations, individuals and others that believe children must have access to fundamental education, life and health resources to succeed at home, in school and in the community.

General Powell is expected to speak about the shared missions of the respective organizations and share his thoughts on what caring adults can do to help prepare and motivate young people to become responsible and productive citizens.

Since returning to private life, General Powell has become a strategic limited partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, a renowned Silicon Valley venture capital firm. He is the founder of the Colin Powell Center for Policy Studies at his alma mater, the City College of New York.  The Center is student-focused with a mission to develop a new generation of publicly engaged leaders.  General Powell is also helping to raise funds for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC and for the construction of an education center for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.   

The theme of The First Tee Network Meeting being held February 26 to March 1, 2009 is Forces Fore Good, which draws its title from the highly acclaimed book Forces for Good that examines the six practices of high-impact nonprofits.  One of the book’s co-authors, Heather McLeod Grant, will speak to attendees about steps they can take to become agents of change.

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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, 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.  Through its network of more than 200 community-based Chapters and 700 program locations, as well as a presence in more than 2,600 elementary schools, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its values to more than 2.9 million participants and students in 48 states and four international locations – Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore.   Former President George H. W. Bush serves as honorary chairman.  The Founding Partners of The First Tee are the Augusta National Golf Club, LPGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA.

America’s Promise Alliance
For more information about America’s Promise Alliance, please visit www.americaspromise.org.