First Tee - Greater Akron

06/23/2026

Every child deserves the chance to believe in themselves.

At First Tee, we ask each of our participants to agree to our Five Key Commitments of Being a Game Changer. One of these commitments is Building a Positive Self-Identity. Through supportive coaches, meaningful experiences, and the game of golf, kids learn:

✅ I am finding my self-confidence.
✅ I am discovering what I'm capable of.
✅ I feel safe to be myself.

When young people believe in who they are, they're empowered to become the best version of themselves—on the course, in the classroom, and in life.

This is what it means to be a Game Changer. 💙

06/21/2026

For many families, golf creates something special—a chance for parents and children to spend meaningful time together, share lessons, celebrate successes, and build memories that last far beyond the final hole.

This Father's Day, we celebrate the dads, grandfathers, and father figures who pass along their love of the game while teaching lessons about patience, perseverance, sportsmanship, and character.

Thank you for the time you invest, the encouragement you give, and the memories you create along the way.

Happy Father's Day from all of us at First Tee – Greater Akron. 💙⛳

06/19/2026

Sometimes the biggest victories don't happen on the golf course.

Our coaches create an environment where kids feel supported, encouraged, and confident enough to be themselves. Over time, those small moments of encouragement can lead to life-changing growth.

Stories like this remind us that First Tee is about so much more than golf. It's about helping young people build confidence, develop character, and discover what they're capable of.

Thank you to our coaches for making a difference in the lives of the kids we serve every day. ❤️⛳

06/18/2026

Hole signs are still available for First Tee – Greater Akron's biggest fundraiser of the year - the Ray Kapper Charity Golf Classic!

✔️ 1 Hole Sign — $200
✔️ 2 Hole Signs — $300

It's a simple and affordable way to showcase your business to golfers, supporters, and community leaders while helping provide opportunities for local kids to learn the game of golf, build confidence, and develop character through First Tee.

Your support helps ensure more young people throughout Greater Akron can experience the life-changing impact of our program.

Interested in reserving your sign? Visit: https://e.givesmart.com/events/OOK/?isOrderFormActive=true

06/15/2026

We're excited to welcome Mark Gerberich to the First Tee – Greater Akron team as our new Director of Development.

Mark brings a deep commitment to our community and a passion for creating opportunities that help young people grow both on and off the golf course.

As we continue to expand our impact across Greater Akron, strong leadership and meaningful partnerships are essential to ensuring every child has access to the life-changing experiences First Tee provides.

Please join us in welcoming Mark to the team!

Read more about Mark's role and what this means for our future: https://firstteeakron.org/first-tee-greater-akron-strengthens-development-team-with-hire-of-mark-gerberich/

06/13/2026

What a day. 🎉

Thursday's 9th Annual Law Enforcement Education Day - Putting with Police - was one for the books. We welcomed 553 total guests, including 421 kids and teens, making it the largest attendance in the event's 9-year history.

This event exists for one reason: to build trust between young people and law enforcement. Days like Thursday remind us why that work matters.

Kids spent the afternoon on the driving range, putting green, and golf cart rides alongside officers - plus pizza, Kona Ice, ice cream, a DJ, a magician, a gaming truck, a dunk tank, and airbrush tattoos. Fun, connection, and memories all in one place.

None of it happens without our incredible sponsors. Thank you to Presenting Sponsor Kaulig Giving, Support Sponsors BFG Federal Credit Union, Rotary Club of Akron, and Akron Bar Foundation, Ice Cream Sponsor Huntington National Bank, and Pizza Sponsor DeCheco's Pizzeria.

We were honored to have nine law enforcement agencies on the course: Akron Police, Bath Police, Copley Police, Cuyahoga Falls Police, Fairlawn Police, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Summa Health Police, Springfield Police, and the Summit County Sheriff's Office, along with Akron Fire Department.

Community partners made the day even richer: the Cleveland Cavs, Cleveland Monsters, Cleveland Charge, University of Akron Football, and Girl Scouts,

Community groups bringing kids to the event included South Street Ministries, City of Akron Community Centers, Salvation Army, Because He Cares, Shaw JCC, Akron Inner City Soccer Club, Hope & Elevation Behavioral Health, Cascade Village YMCA, Westminster YMCA, YMCA Family Enrichment Center, Before The Crowning, GoalGetta Academy, and Childtime.

We also welcomed Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich, Clerk of Courts Tavia Galonski, Councilpersons Tina Boyes and Mark Greer, City of Akron Chief of Public Safety Craig Morgan, and Zippy!

This is what community looks like. Year 10, here we come. 🙌

06/11/2026

It's here! 🏌️ Putting with Police - today, 11am at Mud Run Golf Course & Driving Range. Nine years of bringing our community together one putt at a time.

06/10/2026

Thank you, Matt, for putting into words something we see every day at First Tee – Greater Akron: the most meaningful outcomes often have very little to do with golf itself.

Yes, kids learn how to hold a club, hit a shot, and navigate a golf course. But they also learn how to handle challenges, build confidence, connect with others, and believe in themselves. Those are the lessons that stay with them long after a round of golf is over.

We're grateful to Matt for sharing this perspective and helping shine a light on the impact youth programs like First Tee can have on young people.

Give it a read and let us know what resonates with you most. ⛳❤️

There’s a weird thing that happens when you love golf as much as I do. You want your kids to love it too. Not because you need them to become golfers. And honestly, not even because you care if they ever get “good.” You just know what the game has given you. The challenge. The life lessons. Th...

06/08/2026

Some friendships start in the classroom.
Some start in the neighborhood.
And some start on the golf course. ⛳💚

At First Tee – Greater Akron, kids from different schools, backgrounds, and experiences come together through the game of golf — and along the way, they build friendships that may have never happened otherwise.

What starts as sharing a putting green or cheering each other on during a lesson often turns into confidence, connection, laughter, and lifelong memories.

On this Best Friends Day, we’re celebrating the friendships formed through First Tee and the incredible impact they have on our participants both on and off the course.

Because sometimes the most meaningful friendships are the ones you never expected. 💚

06/07/2026

Every child deserves the opportunity to build confidence, discover their potential, and have a mentor who believes in them.

The Ray Kapper Charity Golf Classic makes that possible.

As First Tee – Greater Akron's largest fundraiser of the year, this event helps provide life-changing opportunities for local kids through scholarships, equipment, coach training, outreach programs, and experiences that extend far beyond the golf course.

Because of the support generated through the Ray Kapper Charity Golf Classic, we can reach more young people across our community and create an even deeper impact on those already in our program—helping them grow in confidence, resilience, character, and leadership.

When you support the Ray Kapper Charity Golf Classic, you're not just supporting a golf event. You're investing in the future of the next generation.

Sponsorships are still available! See link below for details.

Help First Tee - Greater Akron spread the word about 2026 Ray Kapper Charity Golf Classic Benefiting First Tee - Greater Akron!