Las Vegas, Nevada (February 19, 2014)–Josh Johnson, a Las Vegas Golf Region resident and member of the San Diego Padres, has made another donation to The First Tee of Southern Nevada. Johnson, along with his wife, Heidi, donated $11,000 to the program, matching the amount of their donation in 2013. The funds will be used to help deserving and talented junior golfers who compete on the Southern Nevada Junior Golf Tour and earn membership on Southern Nevada travel teams. The donation was made through Johnson's Double Nickel Foundation. –By Brian Hurlburt.
“My wife, Heidi, and I feel strongly about giving back to the community and we feel that helping children is the best place for our resources,” says Johnson. “Growing up, I always related to sports best, and I feel that simply learning how to play a sport is not always enough. Learning how to play sports the right way by honoring the rules and respecting your teammates, coaches, and opponents is just as important. These aspects of sports and sportsmanship help mold children into fine young adults. The First Tee of Southern Nevada program exemplifies those characteristics and we are proud to sponsor such a terrific organization.”
The First Tee of Southern Nevada instills life skills and core values to area junior golfers. Among those core values are respect, integrity, perseverance, and sportsmanship. As part of the overall mission, the organization operates the Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association (SNJGA) Tour which allows juniors to chase competitive dreams and bring their athletic and life skills to the course. Several juniors who play and have played the SNJGA Tour have gone on to receive college scholarships and a select few have then moved on to the LPGA and PGA Tour. The intertwining of competition and the core values was what prompted the Johnsons to get involved.
"The First Tee of Southern Nevada is very appreciative to Josh and his Double Nickel Foundation for continuing to sponsor of our Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association,” says Kevin Favreau, The First Tee of Southern Nevada executive director. “His $11,000 donation will help us to pay the costs associated with our competitive SNJGA travel teams."
The Double Nickel Foundation is a non-profit organization 501(c)(3) that promotes lasting improvements in the lives of local underprivileged children. We believe that children everywhere deserve hope and opportunity. The Double Nickel Foundation strives to make a lasting difference in the lives of disadvantaged children. It is the belief that by assisting these children the organization is investing in their futures and the future of the community. Double Nickel pays homage to Johnson’s uniform number 55. Website: www.dnf55.org