Dear First Tee – Greater Seattle Community,
At First Tee Greater Seattle, we recognize the importance of any changes to service fees, and take great pride in maintaining the same rates since 2014. Over the past decade, we have experienced remarkable growth, expanding our participant base from 1,500 to over 3,000 youth and growing from four program locations to 21, spanning from Maple Valley to Mount Vernon and covering King, Snohomish, and Skagit Counties.
As we continue to expand and enhance our programs, the costs associated with maintaining our facilities, delivering exceptional programming, and supporting our staff and coaching team have steadily risen. In line with our commitment to excellence and to support those who are committed to mentoring all the young people involved, First Tee – Greater Seattle has adopted Seattle’s new minimum wage ($20.70) for all coaches at our chapter, and not just those in Seattle. Since 2014, our coaching team has grown from 35 hourly-paid coaches to more than 70 dedicated professionals.
To support these advancements and continue our upward trajectory, we are making a necessary adjustment to our service fees. This change will enable us to:
- Keep up with increasing costs of doing business.
- Continue to support all families in our community.
- Offer discounted and free programs for local schools and youth centers.
- Introduce program enhancements.
- Improve our facilities.
- Expand and train our professional coaching team.
- Extend our programs further north into Skagit and Whatcom Counties.
Our unwavering mission is to provide greater value and ensure that every youth in King, Snohomish, Skagit, and surrounding counties can access and enjoy all that First Tee has to offer.
We want to reassure you that this decision was not made lightly. Our commitment to accessibility remains steadfast, and we will continue to offer partial and full scholarships to all participants. Since our inception in 2003, no participant has ever been turned away for financial reasons—a principle we are deeply proud to uphold. Nearly 85 cents of every dollar goes directly back into programming, reinforcing our focus on serving the community.
To further support our families, First Tee – Greater Seattle will also introduce discounts for the following:
- Multi-participant (families with more than one child in the program).
- Military (active and former)
- PLUS status members
More to come
We are grateful for your trust and support as we work together to grow and strengthen our programs. Thank you for being an integral part of the First Tee – Greater Seattle community.
Sincerely,
The First Tee – Greater Seattle Team
Questions or feedback? Please reach out to us!
Dan Wartelle
Executive Director
[email protected]
Evan Johnsen
Vice President, Programs & Development
[email protected]