Multi-year gift will positively impact youth across the maritime provinces through affordable and inclusive access to golf
FEBRUARY 29, 2024 – Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation are proud to announce that the Hewitt Foundation has pledged a major gift of $1.35M CAD that directly benefits First Tee – Atlantic.
The Hewitt Foundation is a private Canadian foundation that was established in 2017 at the time of the sale of Hewitt Equipment Limited and Atlantic Tractors and Equipment. Hewitt Equipment was founded in 1952 by the late Robert Hewitt. Jim Hewitt and the Hewitt family created the Foundation to help bring meaningful and sustainable social, economic, and cultural change by granting, investing, and collaborating with other organizations, partners, and the public.
“We are proud to support organizations that are bettering the lives of Canadians through healthy, active living and education. We understand the values that the game of golf can provide and are aligned with First Tee’s mission to provide environments that foster inner confidence, perseverance, and honesty through sport,” said Hewitt Foundation CEO, Kim Anderson. “The Maritimes are especially important to us. Hewitt Equipment operated in these provinces for 65 years, so it is special to continue that legacy and support the communities that helped make the Hewitt family business successful.”
Golf Canada partnered with First Tee in 2020 to launch First Tee – Canada and provide youth with affordable and inclusive access to golf along with life-enhancing experiences through the game. First Tee – Atlantic launched in 2022 and as of 2024, six chapters are operating First Tee – Canada programming in every province.
First Tee is delivered in three settings, golf courses, schools, and community centres with unique curriculums and training for each. Last year, First Tee – Atlantic delivered programming to nearly 11,500 participants at 54 program locations across all four provinces, with a team of three staff and 20 certified First Tee coaches. Nearly 40 percent of participants identified as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Colour), and 52 percent identified as female. Through the support of donors like the Hewitt Foundation, 72 percent of programming was provided at no cost to participants.
“The generosity of the Hewitt Foundation has helped accelerate the growth and impact made in communities across the Atlantic,” said Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer, Kevin Blue. “This financial support allows us to onboard program locations, train coaches, provide program equipment kits, and most importantly, provide affordable and accessible introductory golf programming to children. The work we do would not be possible without the support of donors like the Hewitt Foundation.”
Through its deep network of donors, Golf Canada Foundation is a critical partner in supporting the advancement of First Tee – Canada chapters across the country through its fundraising and philanthropic efforts.
“The Hewitt Foundation, alongside many other generous donors, is the reason we have positively impacted over 85,000 youth across Canada,” said Golf Canada Foundation CEO, Martin Barnard. “We are committed to the same mission – providing empowering opportunities to children through sport and ensuring golf participation more closely reflects the strengths of Canada’s diversity. Together, we are building game changers.”
The generosity of the Hewitt Foundation adds to a growing number of significant donations that have been secured since First Tee – Canada’s inception in 2020.
To learn more about First Tee – Atlantic, or to donate, visit www.firstteeatlantic.ca/.