THE FIRST TEE NATIONAL SCHOOL PROGRAM LAUNCHES
IN STANLEY KISER ELEMENTARY

Lincolnton, NC – (January 11, 2010) -Times Oil Corporation and The First Tee today announced that Kiser Elementary School in Stanley North Carolina will be participating in The First Tee National School Program, a nationwide educational program that promotes character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.  The National School Program is being implemented with funding from Times Oil Corporation and British Petroleum (BP). 

The National School Program curriculum is based on national physical education standards (www.aahperd.com) and utilizes equipment that is designed to be developmentally appropriate, safe and fun for children and beginners.  In addition to building golf skills, the program offers activities that provide lifetime benefits by involving The First Tee Nine Core Values™: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment.

“The National School Program is structured to present a quality, in-school golf curriculum that develops competency, understanding and progression through movement and physical skills,” said Benna Cawthorn, director of The First Tee National School Program. “Through this program, children as young as five will be exposed to the motor patterns associated with golf, along with the inherent values of the game.”
 
“Implementing The First Tee National School Program in our schools is just one more way that Times Oil Corporation and BP can have a positive impact on our community,” said David Boyd, president of Times Oil Corporation.  “We’re excited to get the program into full swing and watch the progress of this program as more children become exposed to golf and the sportsmanship it teaches.”

Teacher training for the program takes place early January.  Kiser Elementary will individually implement the program and related activities through physical education classes.  “Kiser Elementary is excited to have been chosen to be the first school to implement the First Tee program in Gaston County, said Lynn Schaffer, principal at Kiser Elementary.  We see this program as another step to integrating character development across the curriculum.  It's core values parallel traits that we try to instill in our students each and every day." 

Students and parents may visit www.kiserelementary.com or www.thefirsttee.org for more information about the initiative.

About The First Tee

The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org) is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Augustine, Fla. at World Golf Village, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame.  Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.  Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its values to more than 3 million participants in 50 states, over 3,400 elementary schools and five international locations – Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore.   Former President George H. W. Bush serves as honorary chairman.  The First Tee Founding Partners are the Masters Tournament, LPGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA.

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Media Contacts:
Eddie Rhodes, Times Oil Corporation, (704) 905-3842, eddie@timesoil.com
Guy Garbarino, The First Tee National School Program, (904) 940-4324, ggarbarino@thefirsttee.org