First Tee of Albany to Close, Unable to Reach Agreement With YMCA
Tuesday, May 1st, 2012
The First Tee of Albany will close its downtown facility behind the Civic Center and relinquish its chapter effective May 1st, according to Jim Rusin, First Tee of Albany President. The First Tee's local board tried to arrange an operating agreement with the YMCA but was unable to do so at this time.
"After three years of struggling to raise operating funds we have simply run out of options to keep the First Tee in business," Rusin said. "We do not receive funds from the City of Albany, Dougherty County or First Tee National and were solely responsible for raising the money to keep our First Tee chapter operating. Our donations and grant money have continued to decline In what is still a pretty bad economy."
"The First Tee has operated for 11 years in Albany and touched the lives of over 5,000 children in a very positive way. We hope to restart our chapter if the economy rebounds and the situation is right for another try," Rusin said.
Helen Kirbo, local attorney and board member will take the proper steps as it pertains to Dougherty County and the First Tee National for an orderly closure.
First Tee provides golf opportunities to millions of children with over 200 chapters around the world.
