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The First Tee Opens A New Store On eBay Sports To Raise Resources And Awareness For Its Youth-Focused Golf Programs Consumers buy first rate gear while helping to impact the lives of young people Contact Tracy Huber ORLANDO (January 23, 2003) - The First Tee, a nonprofit youth golf initiative of the World Golf Foundation, is selling merchandise originally received as donations through its new store on eBay. Managed by 3balls - an established eBay golf seller - this new charity-driven store is accessible only on eBay Sports at www.ebay.com/thefirsttee. The first round of auctions, slated for January 21-31, 2003, will feature dozens of items, like the chance to play golf with PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem, signed LeRoy Nieman lithographs, and new golf products from dozens of PGA Merchandise Show exhibitors. Many of The First Tee's supporters donate merchandise that the organization is unable to use in its programs - which are designed to teach children critical life skills through the game of golf. The First Tee store on eBay offers a viable solution for turning gifted gear into dollars. "The golf equipment we receive is often too advanced for the children who participate in our programs," said Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., The First Tee's executive director. "Through our new store on eBay Sports, we now have an efficient way to sell products, generate funds and communicate our message among a broad base of golf enthusiasts." The First Tee store is one of the first nonprofit organizations to participate in eBay's new charity platform, "Dream To Play," which enables sports marketers, leagues, associations and retailers to offer items on a charity's behalf. "eBay Sports creates an environment where manufacturers, retailers, charities, individuals and consumers can come together in support of worthwhile causes," said Drew Marich, eBay's senior category manager, sporting goods. "It's our mission to give buyers and sellers the opportunity to support the world of sports in new and meaningful ways." 3balls will collect and list items donated to The First Tee Chapters, handle the auctions and run day-to-day operations. "We support The First Tee's mission to make golf more accessible to children," said Alex Choi at 3balls. "We feel this partnership supports the goals of all three partners." The owners of 3balls, who also run Massachusetts based Joe & Leigh's Discount Golf Pro Shop, created 3balls in 1998 to sell slow-moving merchandise and pre-owned gear on eBay. After realizing eBay's potential to liquidate used equipment, 3balls took the lead on creating a system for other stores to take clubs in on trade for resale on the secondary market. This enables retailers to sell more new product, as golfers trade-in and trade-up. 3balls is one of the top sellers on eBay Sports, which officially launched in October 2002. As the leading sports commerce site, www.ebaysports.com offers consumers sporting goods products, player/team memorabilia, licensed merchandise, tickets to games, experiences with athletes, sports apparel and shoes. Golf is a powerhouse business on eBay Sports and home to a wide range of retailers, individuals and associations (PGA TOUR, PGA of America) - which sell new and pre-owned products. More than 50,000 golf items are available daily. About eBay Sports eBay Sports (www.ebaysports.com), a part of eBay Inc., is the Internet's largest marketplace for buying and selling all things sports. The site offers a wide array of sporting goods, team and athlete-related merchandise, memorabilia, tickets and experiences. Recently ranked the No. 1 sports commerce site on the Web by Media Metrix and Nielsen//NetRatings, eBay Sports transacted one billion dollars worth of sports-related items in 2002. About eBay eBay is The World's Online Marketplace. Founded in 1995, eBay created a powerful platform for the sale of goods and services by a passionate community of individuals and businesses. On any given day, there are millions of items across thousands of categories for sale on eBay through auction or fixed price formats. eBay enables trade on a local, national and international basis with customized sites in markets around the world. About The First Tee The First Tee, in cooperation with local communities, develops affordable golf learning facilities that provide access to those individuals, particularly kids, who would otherwise not have an opportunity to play the game. The program's focus is to give young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop, through golf and character education, life-enhancing values such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship. Established in 1997, The First Tee has over 100 open facilities and has introduced the game of golf to over 170,000 young people since 2000. |