As part of the Sands Cares Youth Empowerment Initiative, young golfers from across Long Island had a front-row seat to one of the LPGA’s top tournaments
Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) gifted 140 tickets to the students and families of First Tee to attend the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Course in New Jersey. The Mizuho Americas Open is known as a purpose-driven event that aims to promote women athletes and set new standards of competition and collaboration. This year it showcased the stars of today alongside the future of the game, with 120 LPGA players competing alongside 24 top-ranked junior girls on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Tour, creating an unprecedented week of education and access to inspire the next generation of LPGA Tour players.
“The primary goals of the Sands Cares Youth Empowerment Initiative include providing young people with access to great role models, unique learning opportunities, and the resources they need to make positive contributions to their communities,” said Ron Reese, Senior Vice President at Las Vegas Sands. “By partnering once again with First Tee, we continue to give new energy and motivation to some of Long Island’s future golfers to reach for their dreams.”
As an Official Partner of the Mizuho Americas Open, Sands gifted 140 tickets to First Tee to distribute to its students and parents. First Tee New York serves students ages 7-18 from Hempstead, Uniondale, East Meadow, Garden City and other local communities, helping them to build character, instill life-enhancing values, and promote healthy choices through the game of golf, with a focus on serving minority and underprivileged youth. Sands New York and First Tee originally partnered in September 2023 for a youth clinic featuring Two-Time Major Champion Golfer Collin Morikawa.
“Exposing our students to the very best in their respective field, in particular when they get to experience world-class venues such as Liberty National, is paramount to our mission of developing life skills and educational opportunities through golf. The opportunity to show youth from our community what is possible for them in life through role models such as the awe-inspiring LPGA players is a key objective to give them a dream to chase, and allows them to think in ways they may not have otherwise. We are so grateful to Sands for making this possible and enhancing the special experiences First Tee is able to provide to students who may not have access to these opportunities otherwise,” First Tee executive director Matt Rawitzer said.
Launched in 2023 and specifically created for Long Island, the Sands Cares Youth Empowerment Initiative is part of Sands’ global priority on youth education and mentoring. The initiative has hosted a session with soccer stars David Beckham and Carli Lloyd and local soccer clubs, an appearance by former New York Jet D’Brickashaw Ferguson at the annual banquet for Uniondale Knights Youth Football, and a visit by 1969 World Series-winning Miracle Met Art Shamsky with local little leagues and baseball clubs. Creating opportunities for today’s youth builds tomorrow’s leaders and supports the company’s overarching goal of helping sustain thriving communities that are great places to live, work and visit.
Sands is fully committed to Long Island as a future home if it is successful in winning a downstate New York gaming license, with plans to build a world-class destination resort that works hand-in-hand with the community to drive positive impact through Sands Cares.