The Gragtmans Family Foundation has announced a $1 million U.S. donation to the Golf Canada Foundation for the advancement of First Tee–Canada.
The Gragtmans Family Foundation as the Founding Donor and Trustee of First Tee – Ontario will fund and facilitate the provincial chapter launch including program development and delivery with multi-faceted activities designed for schools, community centres and youth facilities.
Golf Canada intends on launching chapters in every province in Canada by 2022, with the goal of 100,000 annual participants in the program by 2023.
“The Gragtmans Family Foundation focuses on the positive development and advancement of youth in Canada and abroad,” said Ian Gragtmans, founder of the Gragtmans Family Foundation.
“We are thrilled to be aligned with one of the world’s premiere and proven international youth development organizations. Our mission of providing youth with support to help positively design and advance their lives aligns well with the First Tee values of integrity, respect and perseverance,” he said.
Gragtmans credits many who have and continue to act as mentors, and his support of First Tee Canada directly reflects the ongoing responsibility of giving back by helping others.
“The pace of growth behind First Tee–Canada since being announced in fall 2020 has been incredible and that’s because of the shared vision of youth champions like the Gragtmans Family Foundation,” said Golf Canada chief sport officer Kevin Blue.
“The generosity of the Gragtmans Family Foundation towards this provincial chapter-founding, multi-year gift brings incredible momentum to our national youth development program in Canada’s largest market and will surely set the example and encourage deeper expansion across the Canadian philanthropic community,” he added.
Through its network of donors and trustees, Golf Canada Foundation is a partner in supporting the launch and advancement of First Tee Canada through its fundraising and philanthropic efforts.
Canada’s provincial golf associations will also play a role in the advancement of First Tee Canada as chapters form in markets across Canada.
“We are extremely grateful to Ian Gragtmans and the Gragtmans Family Foundation for their incredible generosity as the catalyst to officially launch the first Ontario chapter of First Tee Canada,” said Golf Canada Foundation CEO Martin Barnard.
“The meaningful support of our donors and corporate champions has far exceeded our early expectations and has provided real momentum in our discussion with others who want to get behind this character building program for youth,” he said.