Hootie Foundation Donates $10,000 To First Tee of Myrtle Beach

The First Tee of Myrtle Beach accepted a donation on Friday in the amount of $10,000 from the Hootie Foundation, the non-profit organization created in 2000 in conjunction with the annual Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament. The check presentation was made by band member Dean Felber to The First Tee of Myrtle Beach via the South Carolina Junior Golf Association during a morning ceremony at Barefoot Resort & Golf’s Dye Club.

The $10,000 donation was raised from the proceeds generated during last year’s Monday After The Masters event in North Myrtle Beach. Last year, the event recorded its fifth consecutive sell-out in 2010 and raised $300,000 for various South Carolina charities. The Hootie Foundation supports the educational needs of children in South Carolina and the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation.

Robert Harper, chairman of the board of The First Tee of Myrtle Beach and Happ Lathrop, executive director of the South Carolina Junior Golf Association accepted the donation from the Hootie Foundation. Also present at the event was Paul Graham, tournament director for Monday After The Masters.

“We are very thankful to the Hootie Foundation and the South Carolina Junior Golf Association for this donation,” said Joseph Washington, executive director of The First Tee of Myrtle Beach. “This will allow us to continue providing the great programs The First Tee offers our children, so they can learn more about the game of golf and every day lessons that will last a lifetime.”

“This is one of the great things about being part of the band, and that’s having the platform to be able to give back to worthy organizations like The First Tee,” said Dean Felber, bassist for Hootie & The Blowfish. “Every year, we look forward to Monday After The Masters and we thank everyone in the Myrtle Beach community who have supported this event over the years. We can’t wait to do it again this year.”

Founded in 2004, The First Tee of Myrtle Beach is a local non-profit 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. In 2008, The South Carolina Junior Golf Association was named the top regional golf association in the country by Golf Digest. The SCJGA perpetuates the history and traditions of golf through its members with an active outreach to youth around the state of South Carolina.