Cadillac Announces Partnership with The First Tee of San Francisco at World Golf Championships-Cadillac Match Play

February 17, 2015 /3BL Media/ - Cadillac announced a unique partnership with The First Tee of San Francisco, a nonprofit that uses the sport of golf to teach students life skills through a year-round development program, at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Match Play press conference held at TPC Harding Park. The Cadillac Match Play will be played at TPC Harding Park on April 27-May 3 as the top 64 golfers in the world square off in a rare match-play competition.

Funding from Cadillac will support the retrofitting of a recycled shipping container into an innovative and interactive classroom at Golden Gate Park Golf Course. The project includes the interior design, exterior beautification, landscaping, supplies and furniture needed to transform the shipping container into a fully functional and environmentally friendly learning space at Golden Gate Park Golf Course.

"We are greatly appreciative of Cadillac's support in helping us continue to serve the youth of our city,” said Dan Burke, Executive Director, The First Tee of San Francisco. “This unique learning facility is the perfect setting to introduce students in historically under-served neighborhoods to the game of golf and its inherent values."

Values inherent to the game of golf, including integrity, honesty, self-control and self-reliance are explored both on the course and in a classroom setting. With more than 200 chapters nationally and globally, The First Tee chapters impact the lives of young people, ages 5 through 18, by providing structured educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf since 1997.

Financial support for this project was made possible through Cadillac’s participation in CBS EcoMedia’s EducationAd program.

“We are honored to partner with The First Tee of San Francisco to further enhance the great work they do for the Bay Area community,” said Sam Prabakaran, Western Region Marketing Manager, Cadillac.

The World Golf Championships-Cadillac Match Play has generated more than $15 million for charity since its inception.  The PGA TOUR has been The First Tee of San Francisco’s largest single contributor since the chapter launched through the TOUR’s national fundraising efforts as well as past events held at TPC Harding Park.

“It’s great when partnerships are formed that can help in the communities where we play,” said Cadillac Match Play Executive Director Tom Clark. “The PGA TOUR has supported First Tee chapters throughout the country. We believe that our sport teaches life lessons that build character and success outside the ropes. Our team thanks Cadillac for extending their title sponsorship of the Cadillac Match Play into the community.”

“It’s a privilege to partner with Cadillac to help The First Tee of San Francisco expose more youth in this community to the game of golf,” said Paul Polizzotto, President and Founder, CBS EcoMedia. “The interactive classroom at Golden Gate Park Golf Course is such a unique concept and will inspire students to reach their full potential.”

The announcement was made by Sam Prabakaran, Cadillac Regional Marketing Manager Western Region; Edwin Lee, Mayor of San Francisco; Jason Day, 2014 WGC-Cadillac Match Play Champion; Tom Clark, Executive Director, WGC-Cadillac Match Play; Dan Burke, Executive Director, The First Tee of San Francisco; First Tee Students; and Paul Polizzotto, President and Founder of CBS EcoMedia.

About Cadillac
Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. Today, Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio featuring dramatic design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com. Cadillac's media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com.

About the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Match Play
Introduced in 1999, the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Match Play features the top 64 players from the Official World Golf Ranking in a unique match-play format. The Cadillac Match Play is the third of four World Golf Championships events sanctioned and organized by the International Federation of PGA Tours on the PGA TOUR schedule. The other World Golf Championships include the Cadillac Championship (Doral, Fla.), the Bridgestone Invitational (Akron, Ohio) and the HSBC Champions (Shanghai, China). The Cadillac Match Play is broadcast to more than 1 billion households in 225 countries and territories in 32 languages. Proceeds from the event will benefit local Bay Area charities. The Cadillac Match Play has generated more than $15 million for charity since its inception, part of the more than $50 million raised for global charities since the advent of the World Golf Championships in 1999.

Previously, the Cadillac Match Play had been held in Marana, Ariz., since 2007.  It was held at La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif., from 1999-2000 and 2002-2006; in 2001 it was held at The Metropolitan Club in Victoria, Australia.  Jason Day is the defending champion.

Tickets, player quotes, highlight videos, TPC Harding Park information and ticket info can be found at the Cadillac Match Play web site by visiting www.worldgolfchampionships.com.  

About First Tee of San Francisco
Founded by Sandy Tatum in 2004, the First Tee of San Francisco evolved from the partnership between the City of San Francisco and the PGA Tour to renovate Harding Park and bring world-class golf back to the historic course.  The San Francisco Chapter is part of the national First Tee network now consisting of over 250 chapters throughout the country.  The First Tee of San Francisco is a unique youth development program that uses the sport of golf to teach students LIFE SKILLS. Values inherent to the game of golf: integrity, honesty, self-control and self-reliance are also explored both on course and in a classroom setting. Students learn to apply these values and principles to all aspects of their lives. Our goal is to have each student leave our program with the self-management, goal setting, and conflict resolution skills necessary to compete and contribute in their respective communities. Our students lead both on and off the golf course.

About CBS EcoMedia Inc.
At EcoMedia, we’re propelled by the desire to create positive social change; that’s been our mission since we founded the company in 2002.  In 2010, after successfully partnering with CBS on a wide range of environmental projects, EcoMedia became the newest addition to the CBS Corporation portfolio, exponentially scaling our reach across television, radio, interactive, publishing and outdoor media.

Through our patent-pending EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd programs, an innovative twist on traditional advertising, advertisers are able to support much-needed local projects which in turn creates jobs, saves taxpayer money and improves the quality of life in communities nationwide.  In the process, we’re fundamentally altering the advertising landscape, elevating the ordinary, traditional commercial – and media, in general – into a catalyst for tangible, quantifiable social change.  Please visit ecomediacbs.com, like us at facebook.com/EcoMediaCBS or follow us at Twitter.com/EcoMediaCBS.

By participating in EcoMedia’s EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd advertising programs, EcoMedia’s advertisers agree to provide funding for projects we believe will have a beneficial effect upon the environment, health and/or education within local communities.  EcoMedia’s advertising programs are not certification programs nor are the EcoAd, WellnessAd or EducationAd logos seals of approval. EcoMedia does not in any way certify, endorse or make any representations about EcoMedia program advertisers, their products or services.