First Tee - Coachella Valley

First Tee – Coachella Valley Magazine • Summer 2022 • 5 A fter moving to the Coa- chella Valley in 2014, Jon Proctor read an ad for a First Tee charity golf tournament in the area and registered to play. It turned out to be the beginning of a great relationship with the First Tee – Coachella Valley. Proctor had previous experience raising funds for First Tee Fresno since 2008, and led a group that raised more than $600,000 for that organization, but now he serves as a volunteer Board member for the First Tee – Coachella Valley. In the organization's annual fund-raising golf tournament last April, Proctor was instrumental in helping the virtual auction raise $36,000. Here, he talks about the success of the event and his role in the organization: u u u What are your thoughts on the success of the virtual auction? Being old school, I was not in favor of going "virtual" for our auction. Boy, was I wrong! The reception from our donors was beyond our wildest expectations. Bidding begins slowly, but like a great maestro with a highly trained orchestra, it builds to a crushing crescendo and ends with us, the audience, full of excitement and tremendous fulfillment. u u u What types of items were avail- able in the online auction? We had more than 100 items to offer, every- thing from beautiful hand-finished decorative painted desert rocks to high-end stay-and-play golf pack- ages from our beautiful local hotels and golf courses. u u u What was the response from the community to the online auction? When I explain our Nine Core Values and what they mean for the future of our young men and women, people are very impressed and are eager to play a role in as- sisting us meet our goals. u u u What is your role as a volunteer board member? I am a member of "Team Teal" (Executive Director Teal Guion) dealing in creative au- dacity for our auction. We also help with major tournament sponsors, major gifting, and recruitment of new Board members. u u u What made you want to become involved in the First Tee? First Tee teaches children life-enhancing values that will last a lifetime. There is "magic in our message." Q&A: VOLUNTEER BOARD MEMBER JON PROCTOR Online success! Jon Proctor plays vital role in virtual auction "We provide opportunities that teach our students to know that golf is much more than just a game." JON PROCTOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jon Proctor at the annual fundraiser with Executive Director Teal Guion.

• Cover