First Green Receives $112,250 Grant from the United States Golf Association to Expand Innovative STEM Educational Activities

December 3, 2014 – First Green announces it has been awarded a $112,250 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) grant by the United States Golf Association (USGA) for 2015. The grant is funded by the USGA’s partnership with Chevron and designed to encourage students in science, technology, engineering and math disciplines through the world of golf.

Dr. Kimberly S. Erusha, Managing Director of the USGA Green Section, said in awarding the grant, “The goal of the Chevron-USGA partnership and our Eagles for Education funding is to make STEM more fun and engaging through the game of golf. The First Green’s educational and environmental outreach programs on the golf course have shown tremendous success supporting this objective, for which we are extremely grateful.”

In 2013 and 2014, USGA/Chevron grants totaling $255,750 funded expansion of First Green to Oregon and the launch of First Green in Northern and Southern California. It also enabled First Green to respond to growing interest in the program across the country, as well as in Canada. In awarding the grant, the USGA continued its recognition of First Green for innovative STEM field trips in which students use the golf course as a learning lab, participating in hands-on activities such as calculating a stream’s velocity and learning about computerized irrigation systems. The 2015 grant will help First Green continue to increase its impact.

About First Green

First Green is an innovative environmental education outreach program using golf courses as environmental learning labs – the only program of its kind. First Green has extensive resources for golf course superintendents, including online lesson plans.
First Green has been providing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) learning since 1997.
Golf course superintendents and/or local golf course representatives host students on field trips where they test water quality, collect soil samples, identify plants, design plantings, assist in stream bed restoration and are involved in the ecology and environmental aspects of the golf course. The students are also introduced to many other aspects of golf.
A tax-exempt nonprofit, First Green was founded in the State of Washington in 1997 and is expanding nationally. For more information and to view introductory First Green videos, visit www.thefirstgreen.org.

Supporters

In addition to the USGA, supporters of First Green include the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), Washington State Golf Association, Pacific Northwest Golf Association, the Northwest Turfgrass Association, Western Washington Golf Course Superintendents Association, local golf clubs, public and private school systems, and individual contributors who assist the organization through monetary grants and participation in field trips.

About the USGA

The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, Equipment Standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s working jurisdiction comprises the United States, its territories and Mexico.

The USGA is a global leader in the development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history and funds an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” charitable giving program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.

For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.

About Chevron

Chevron is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies, with subsidiaries that conduct business worldwide. The company is involved in virtually every facet of the energy industry. Chevron explores for, produces and transports crude oil and natural gas; refines, markets and distributes transportation fuels and lubricants; manufactures and sells petrochemical products; generates power and produces geothermal energy; provides energy efficiency solutions; and develops the energy resources of the future, including biofuels. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.

For More Information

For more information about First Green, visit www.thefirstgreen.org or contact Cathy Relyea at 425/373-9915 (office) or 425/765-9915 (cell), or cathyrelyea@thefirstgreen.org.