First Tee - Coachella Valley

First Tee – Coachella Valley Magazine • Winter 2022 • 5 J ay Gilstrap plays a vital role at First Tee – Coachella Valley, planting the golf seed in the minds of elementary school children. As Outreach Coordinator, Gilstrap is responsible for delivering the First Tee Schools Program and after-school Community Program. In 2021, those two initiatives served more than 14,000 kids at 20 elementary schools and 14 after-school programs in the Coachella Valley. u u u How did you get involved in the First Tee – Coachella Valley? My wife and I moved to the area in the summer of 2020. I was able to secure a posi- tion as a Level 1 Coach in the fall and was elevated to the full-time Out- reach Coordinator position in June 2021. In total, I've been with the First Tee – Coachella Valley 15 months. Prior to that, I was on staff with First Tee of Northwest Arkansas for nine years, and an informal supporter of First Tee of Augusta for five years. u u u How would you describe the First Tee's physical education programs? The First Tee School and Community (After-School) curriculum are lessons that have been adapted to be deliv- ered on school campuses. We have seen gymnasiums, grass fields even black top courts serve as the "golf course" for the First Tee lessons. u u u How do these programs impact kids? We are getting to the kids where they are. Many students do not have the ability to go anywhere other than home and school. By bringing First Tee classes to students "between the bells," and after school, we are able to open a door for all students to learn life enhancing values through the game of golf! ................................................................ >  Click here to inquire about how to get your school or afterschool program involved. Thanks to fundraising efforts, there is no cost to elementary schools for the equipment, training and support of the First Tee School and Community Programs. Higher learning Growing School Programs throughout the Coachella Valley is helping to Build Game Changers in our Community! Q&A: OUTREACH COORDINATOR JAY GILSTRAP From left: Coaches and Junior Coaches Jay Gilstrap, Maleyna Gregorio, Braden Bernaldo, Mark Crabb and Cohen Harvey.

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