MOLINE, Ill., Aug. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- John Deere announced
today an extension of its commitment to The First Tee®, the
non-profit youth development organization that uses golf to teach
life and leadership skills to young people.
Deere's support from 2017 through 2021 will focus on community
service and volunteerism, leadership skills for girls, and program
support of The First Tee activities in select Deere
communities.
"Over the next five years, this initiative will encourage and
recognize young people who take an active role in preparing for
their future and serve the communities where they live," said
Mara Downing, president of the John
Deere Foundation and director of corporate citizenship and global
brand management at Deere & Company.
A nationwide contest in the U.S. will demonstrate the impact of
leadership skills gained through community service and volunteerism
with The First Tee. The First Tee participants, age 14 to 18, will
be invited to submit a written essay for the opportunity to win a
$5,000 college scholarship plus the
opportunity to be a VIP guest and pro-am participant in 2017 at the
John Deere Classic in Silvis,
Ill.
Essays will focus on how students are a "Power for Good" through
service to their communities, the impact their work is having, and
how their work is connected to the values learned through The First
Tee and the game of golf. The contest will be launched later this
year.
An event for girls focused on developing leadership skills
within the context of the game of golf will be held in conjunction
with LPGA-USGA Girls Golf in a selected community of The First Tee.
The winner of the national essay contest will be celebrated at this
event, which will be the first-ever event for The First Tee to
focus on leadership skills and golf awareness for a female-only
audience.
The John Deere Foundation will also provide funding to further
develop The First Tee chapters in select John Deere home
communities, including the Quad Cities in Illinois and Iowa; Des Moines,
Iowa; and Cary, N.C.
"Our team is thrilled to stand alongside John Deere to highlight
the core values learned through involvement with the great game of
golf," said Jennifer Weiler, senior
vice president and chief development officer at The First Tee. "We
are encouraged by companies like John Deere who believe the seeds
of leadership are sown at a young age and that programs such as The
First Tee help the next generation learn, grow and succeed."
About the First Tee®
The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth
development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of
young people by providing educational programs that build
character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy
choices through the game of golf. With its home office at World
Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., The First Tee reaches young
people on golf courses, in elementary schools and at other
youth-serving locations. Since its inception in 1997, The
First Tee has grown its network to deliver programs in all 50
United States and select international locations. In 2015, The
First Tee brought character education through the game of golf to
more than 4.7 million young people. The First Tee's Founding
Partners are LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR
and the USGA. Shell Oil Company is The First Tee's Founding
Corporate Partner and Johnson & Johnson is its Legacy Partner.
Former President George W. Bush serves as honorary chair.
About John Deere
Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) is a world leader in providing
advanced products and services and is committed to the success of
customers whose work is linked to the land - those who cultivate,
harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the
world's dramatically increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and
infrastructure. Since 1837, John Deere has delivered
innovative products of superior quality built on a tradition of
integrity. For more information, visit John Deere at its
worldwide website at www.JohnDeere.com.
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SOURCE Deere & Company