Category: Press

First Tee Greater Chicago Names New Chief Executive Officer

CHICAGO, IL, August 8, 2019 — First Tee Greater Chicago is pleased to announce the appointment of the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer, Lea Jesse.  Through her years of business development and leadership experience at various high-profile consulting firms, banks, and most recently another Chicago area nonprofit, Lea Jesse brings a refreshing and unique set of skills to her new role that will greatly benefit First Tee Greater Chicago in the years to come.
“We are looking forward to the impact that Lea will make for the youth that we serve. We are confident in her leadership style, ability to propel our organization further, and confidence to deepen our roots through the Chicago area,”
-Pat Goss, President of the organization’s Board of Directors. Most recently, Lea Jesse served as the Director of the Patrons Program at Chicago’s Big Shoulders Fund, a nonprofit that provides support for local inner-city Catholic schools. During her tenure, she used her business expertise to pave the path to long-term success for their school networks. Most notably, she rebuilt and expanded their Fellowship Program, which improved school enrollment rates and began attracting high-quality talent from universities all over the country. This organizational restructuring led to many former Fellows working in local schools.
“While having been exposed to golf later in life, I’ve learned it truly is a great forum for connecting people, communities, and causes. The game teaches the principles of honesty, integrity, and sportsmanship. I am excited to help First Tee Greater Chicago enter this new chapter in its history. At the end of the day, this is about so much more than golf,”
-Lea Jesse, CEO of First Tee Greater Chicago. In the corporate world, she established herself as an expert in Donor-Advised Funds by reinvigorating a previously-defunct program called the Charitable Giving Fund at J.P. Morgan, building relationships and introducing brand-new product features that tripled the program’s assets. Noted for her ability to build relationships, Lea Jesse understands the importance of interacting with key organizational stakeholders from the children served by programming to donors to board members and the others in-between. She joins First Tee Greater Chicago at a pivotal time in the organization’s history as it takes on two new projects, a strategic plan, and aggressive fundraising goals to reach more of Chicago’s youth.

About First Tee Greater Chicago

First Tee is an international youth development initiative of the World Golf Foundation and is supported by the leading organizations in golf. First Tee Greater Chicago, a 501 (c) 3 organization, is one of nearly two hundred chapters located throughout the country and in five international locations dedicated to impacting 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. The Greater Chicago chapter is in its seventeenth year of reaching young people through its core program, the Life Skills Experience, as well as First Tee National School and DRIVE programs.

Katarina Sheirok Selected for First Tee’s National Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. Life Skills & Leadership Academy

Katarina (KAT) Sheirok -Teen Selected for First Tee’s National Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. Life Skills & Leadership Academy

96 teens tapped nationally to attend academy in Boise, Idaho July 24-30

Chicago, IL – July 22nd – Katarina Sheirok from First Tee of Greater Chicago is headed to the Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. Life Skills & Leadership Academy in Boise, Idaho July 24-30. Katarina will join more than 90 junior golfers, ages 14-17, from First Tee chapters around the country at the youth leadership event.

Hosted by First Tee headquarters, the academy recognizes and rewards exceptional teen participants who are prepared to build upon leadership skills introduced through programs at First Tee chapters. Top coaches in First Tee’s network deliver the golf and leadership instruction that incorporate the First Tee’s Nine Core Values in a concentrated, week-long event. Participants build skills preparing them for success beyond the golf course. They will experience championship golf, career exploration, dorm living at Boise State University and meeting other teens from around the country sharing golf as their common bond.

“I am so excited to have been chosen for this opportunity. Since being a participant in The First Tee my coaches, teachers, family and friends have helped me to strengthen my self-confidence.” – Kat Sheirok

Sheirok, 16, is a junior at Trinity High School in River Forest, IL. Active in First Tee of Greater Chicago for 7 years, she participates as a junior coach and volunteers in several chapter events. She also volunteers at the cat animal shelter near her school, Alter server at church and many other community and school activities.

“Kat has a great personality and interacts very well with others. She is always eager to help and exhibits leadership skills in everything she does.” – Coach Erika

The First Tee is a youth development organization dedicated to helping youth builds character through the game of golf. Through in-school and after-school programs, it helps shape young people’s lives by reinforcing values like integrity, respect, and perseverance embedded in the game of golf.

For more information, visit www.firstteegreaterchicago.org To request an interview with Sheirok call 773-502-0259 and ask for Assistant Program Director Erika Shavers

About First Tee of Greater Chicago

The First Tee www.firstteegreaterchicago.org is a nonprofit youth development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since its beginning, The First Tee of Greater Chicago has expanded to reach 50,000+ young people on golf courses, in elementary schools and at other youth-serving locations. First Tee of Greater Chicago is one of 145 First Tee chapters across the United States and select international locations.

Media Contact: Shannon Lucas, 630-537-0556 [email protected]