Donor Spotlight: Nathan Diepstra
Program of Support: Golf Marathon
Giving Mechanism: First-time gift from an First Tee alum (made online)
You don’t have to be a longtime donor to make a meaningful impact. Nathan Diepstra, a First Tee alum from the Class of 2018, signed up for First Tee as a kid through a partnership with Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation, starting as a 12-year-old. Quickly, Nathan grew into a teenager eager to explore opportunities.
When he became a teenager, Nathan didn’t aspire to be a competitive golfer, so First Tee helped him develop job skills. First, Nathan served as a junior coach (see graphic below), assisting at class with younger participants.
Shortly after, though, First Tee came alongside Nathan and his interest in pursuing an accounting degree. He began working in the office under the direction of our staff. He eventually became our payroll processor for three years while in college at Calvin University, gaining skills and receiving mentorship that set the foundation for his career in accounting.
Now, Nathan is a full-time accountant in Pittsburgh, PA, and has volunteered at the First Tee Pittsburgh, and participated in some of the First Tee Alumni Network gatherings there.
For the first time this year, Nathan made his first gift to First Tee – West Michigan — supporting his former boss, mentor, and coach Ben Elenbaas, who participated in the First Tee Golf Marathon.
Nathan’s gift is a full-circle moment: one alumni giving back to the program and people who helped shape his life. Your first gift can do the same — helping kids take their first swings toward confidence, courage, and community, whether through scholarships, Girls Golf Clinics, or career-exploration programs like Nathan experienced. Today, your gift DOUBLES — don’t miss the chance to drive youth forward and end the year with impact.
Donor Spotlight: Women Who Care of Oceana County
Program of Support: First Tee’s programs in Oceana County
Giving Mechanism: Giving Circle
A new giving trend has exploded the past few years. The concept is simple: A $100 gift from one person has some impact, but if a group of 100 or 200 people each committed to $100, that collective group could be transformational for a non-profit.
Giving circles, which can be named “Women Who Care”, “Guys Who Give”, or “Businesses Who Care”, have exploded across West Michigan, combining networking and relationship building with philanthropy. Each giving circle group works similarly:
- The group commits to meeting quarterly and writing a $100 check or $1,000 check
- They take nominations for local non-profits from the group each meeting
- Three nominations are pulled and make a pitch about their nonprofit
- Each individual votes to decide who will receive that meeting’s gift
First Tee – West Michigan was the beneficiary of this process through the Women Who Care of Oceana County. Oceana County is the furthest north in our chapter’s service area, and has more than 75 First Tee participants, mostly being impacted at Colonial Golf Course. Oceana/Newaygo/Muskegon Program Coordinator McKenna Inglis grew up in Shelby, which has embraced First Tee’s expansion to the area two years ago.
Collectively, the Women of Oceana County raised more than $15,000 for First Tee programs this fall, which helped ensure that the 70% of students who receive the program for free can continue to do so next year. This gift was meaningful, as the demand for First Tee in Oceana, Newaygo, and Muskegon has skyrocketed, but funding for the program there has lagged (see graph below for Oceana | Muskegon | Newaygo County numbers).
Gina Ferwerda, co-founder of the group, was thrilled that First Tee was selected. “When I heard more about First Tee, I was immediately drawn in,” said Ferwerda. “We chose to give to First Tee because it’s building kids’ confidence and character, not just golf swings. It’s about life skills, and I really believe in that.”
Joining a giving circle in your community and nominating First Tee as your charity can make a difference. The Women Who Care in Kalamazoo County also selected First Tee – West Michigan in 2021 as one of their charities, helping to buoy a growing impact there. First Tee was also a finalist in 2023 at “100 West Michigan Businesses Who Care”, but was not selected.
To find or join a giving circle in your community, see a list below:
Women Who Care, Oceana County | Women Who Care, Allegan County | Women Who Care, Kalamazoo County | Women Who Care, Kent County | Women Who Care, Muskegon County | Women Who Care, Newaygo County | Women Who Care, Holland/Zeeland
Guys Who Give, Barry County | Guys Who Give, Kalamazoo County | Guys Who Give, Kent County | Men Who Care, Muskegon County | Guys Who Give, Ottawa County
100 West Michigan Businesses Who Care
For the final 10 days of 2026, YOUR GIFT DOUBLES, thanks to a generous dollar for dollar $15,000 match made available by an anonymous donor. Give online today to ensure your gift gets matched, and help expand First Tee’s impact in 2026 and beyond!
Donor Spotlight: Larry & Lisa Pentiuk
Program of Support: First Tee’s Holland Expansion
Giving Mechanism: Qualified Charitable Distribution, IRA Account
Larry and Lisa’s impact as donors with First Tee started through a love of the game that started 90 years ago for Larry.
“I started my life as a caddie, aged 9, and was surrounded by people who were willing to mentor me. They not only taught me the proper way to play the game, but that through hard work, determination, integrity, it would frame my life to the man I became.“
Through Larry’s love of the game, Larry and Lisa heard about First Tee at a country club near Holland. Jeff Keyser, First Tee’s Holland Area Director, was giving a presentation on the growing demand for First Tee’s programs in Holland, and the need to expand staff to ensure every kid, regardless of background and income, has access to opportunities through First Tee in the Holland community.
Through Lisa and Larry’s generous gift in 2024 (and continued support in 2025) through his Qualified Charitable Distribution, First Tee was able to hire Holland Area Program Coordinator Sarah Owens starting this past summer. Owens comes after a decorated golf career at Hope College, including captaining the team in her junior and senior year, and winning the MIAA Sportsmanship Award her Senior Year. She also interned the summer at First Tee between her junior and senior year.
Hiring First Tee’s 2nd full-time staff member communities has led to massive growth each time in Grand Rapids, Muskegon, and Kalamazoo – more than 50% growth in a two-year period. That was a vision Larry and Lisa’s understood and wanted to support in a big way.
Larry and Lisa’s commitment is already seeing fruit. After just six months on the job, Sarah and First Tee are serving 9% more kids in Holland in 2025 than in 2024.
“Year over year, organizations like the First Tee and Evans Scholars are great foundations for our local youth to participate in, and a way to help shape their futures,” Larry said. “I made it a life long commitment to help organizations do this.”
For the Pentiuks, a Qualified Charitable Distribution through an IRA was a way they could support First Tee’s expansion in a big way, and make it tax beneficial. Click here for a quick article from Dave Ramsey explaining a QCD. First Tee is so grateful for Larry and Lisa’s support of kids and teens in Holland. A final thought from Larry…
“I have found the perfect vehicle to do this through my IRA account via a QCD. I am 99 years young and still love this game and so want others to do the same. Watch your backswing!!”
Would you join Larry and Lisa, and make a year-end gift to help support young people in YOUR backyard?
Donor Spotlight: Rick & Anna Van Swol
Program of Support: First Tee’s Caddie Program
Giving Mechanism: Donor Advised Fund
How it Started, By Rick Van Swol
I was first introduced to the First Tee when they were the beneficiary at a charity golf outing. After meeting CEO Tyler Smies, and finding out more about First Tee and how they help young boys and girls in the area, I agreed to raise money through playing in their Golf Marathon fundraiser. After one year of playing 72 holes, I decided it was much better for my physical-well being to focus on sponsoring the kids for each hole THEY played, or in one case, how many hotdogs they could eat (see picture below).
The Next Push: Supporting First Tee’s Caddie Program
In recent years we have continued to support First Tee financially, but also recently by being part of First Tee’s caddie program. It started at Indian Trails, and now has been piloted at the club I’m a member of. These caddies have a goal of earning enough “loops” to qualify for an Evans Scholarship, a full-ride, room and board college scholarship (see flyer below for more on the caddie program’s growth). I have met some of these caddies program, and have been very impressed with their maturity, manners and enthusiasm. They are way ahead of where I was when I was a teen; they are excellent at interacting with adults and working towards a specific future plan. It also makes the round of golf that much more enjoyable.
Why a Donor Advised Fund?
A number of years ago, I found I was getting predictable regarding our charitable giving by doing most of it at year end and focusing on the tax benefits. Anna and I made the decision to change this, and have found that using a Donor Advised Fund as the basis for our charitable giving works really well for us. It allows you to set aside monies you have earmarked for charitable purposes when it best suits you, taking into account the ever-changing tax laws and your own personal income history. You can donate money, stocks, or other assets into your fund. You can then distribute the “grants” all throughout the year, or save up the balance to be used in future years for special projects, or whatever time table works best for your favorite charities. A Donor Advised Fund is easy to set up, and will have a positive effect for years.
Regardless of how you and your family orchestrate your charitable giving, I would invite and encourage you to find out more about the First Tee and how they are impacting lives all around us.
Written by Rick VanSwol