NECToday #blog details the great fun we had with @FirstTeeDallas at the @VOATexasLPGA last weekend Click To TweetAt NEC Corporation of America we pride ourselves not only on the technology and solutions we sell, but also on the volunteer work we do in the communities where we live and work.

From promoting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education to encouraging community well-being and safe, healthy environments for our kids, NEC strives to make a difference in our world. It’s all part of our brand message, “Orchestrating a brighter world.”

And often times, the work is just plain fun.

This past weekend, in conjunction with the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and the Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic in The Colony, Texas, the team and I were excited and proud to host about 60 kids from The First Tee of Greater Dallas for an annual golf clinic. This fantastic international youth development organization teaches golf skills to kids from all socioeconomic backgrounds while reinforcing core values like integrity, respect and perseverance. The program reaches more than 5 million kids annually and offers programs in all 50 states.

Our group on May 5th in The Colony consisted of girls and boys alike, who were split evenly into three groups. Each group rotated to different stations teaching skills from driving to chipping and putting to target practice. Program Administrator Katie Harris and her staff made the morning fun, educational and exciting for the kids, all of whom looked like they were having a blast while on their best behavior.

Even better, we were treated to some skills lessons, exhibitions and a Q&A with a couple of real, professional golfers, including Germany’s Sandra Gal, as well as Plano native and local pro instructor Natasha Lee.

Sandra started playing golf at age 6 and learned from parents who were already avid golfers. Natasha, on the other hand, discovered the game at 15 and has never looked back. Both women exhibit the discipline, patience and skill required to become great at golf. They also exhibit many other important core values, like respect, courtesy, integrity, sportsmanship and responsibility.

I spoke with two parents who approached me and told me they wanted me to know that this clinic “makes a difference” in the community and particularly in their lives and their daughters’ lives. Their two daughters had just started getting interested in golf last year at this time. They both attended the NEC clinic at the 2017 VOA LPGA Texas Shootout and are now hooked on golf. These two parents were even able to organize a middle school team at their daughters’ school and they have been actively enjoying the sport ever since. They were back again this year and said they wouldn’t miss it.

I also talked to one parent who said her child had nearly given up on the game of golf just prior to our clinic at the 2017 VOA LPGA Texas Shootout in Irving. Meeting the LPGA golfers and First Tee of Greater Dallas instructors renewed her ex

citement, and she’s been back in the swing of things ever since. It’s been great to be associated with The First Tee and positively impact young people’s lives with opportunities they might not get elsewhere.

If you have questions about The First Tee as an organization, I highly encourage you to visit their main web site at www.thefirsttee.org. There you’ll be able to find a local chapter (there are roughly 1,200 of them), learn about the group’s nine core values and learn how you or your company can get involved.

Likewise, if you have questions about NEC and our status as Official Technology Partner of the LPGA, just head over to our LPGA web page at lpga.nec.com. There you can check out the upcoming event schedule and see some of the creative marketing assets we’ve created as part of our partnership.

The LPGA is growing more exciting with each event, and we are proud to provide the data infrastructure, analytics and security solutions behind the scenes that ultimately help fans have an enjoyable experience.

I hope we see you at one of the upcoming tournaments!