History Of The Youth Foundation

1979

Bill Hayes, a teacher, golfer, and part-time detention officer, invited professional golfer Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez to a juvenile detention center in Florida to give a golf clinic for the detained youngsters. Rodriguez and Hayes agreed there had to be a better way to help these adolescents succeed. The Hayes-Rodriguez team enlisted Bob James, founder of Raymond James Financial, Inc., and the three of them embarked on the journey of building the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation. The first activity of the new Youth Foundation was an after school program, started with just 17 youngsters.

1983

The Youth Foundation found a home for its after school program at the Glen Oaks par-three golf course near downtown Clearwater. 

1989

The Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club opened up in Clearwater to provide the community’s youth with additional access to the after school programs developed at the Glen Oaks facility.

1993

The Youth Foundation developed a Public Private Partnership School with the Pinellas County School System at the Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club. The school started out serving fifth-grade students who were not achieving at their grade level, had low self-esteem, or were having difficulty adjusting to their academic environment.

2004

The Youth Foundation’s programs expanded to include the Clearwater chapter of First Tee, created to promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.

2007

First Tee - Clearwater’s program expanded to serve over 800 participants. During that time the Public Private Partnership School grew into what became the Chi Chi Rodriguez Academy, at which point the Academy expanded to serve fourth through eighth graders.

2008

The Youth Foundation receives federal grant funding to add the Big Brothers Big Sisters Sisters program into its after school program.

2009

The Academy assumed management of the 30-acre driving range across the street from the Academy and renamed it the Chi Chi Rodriguez Sports Complex. Additionally, the Youth Foundation added the Boys and Girls Club of America into its programming, spurring a growth in the after school program.