TOUR Championship announces Alana Sims and Nigel Youmans as 2024 HOPE Tee Shot Honorees
First Tee – Metro Atlanta participants to receive $5,000 scholarship on behalf of Accenture
ATLANTA – Today, the TOUR Championship announced its 2024 HOPE Tee Shot honorees, with First Tee – Metro Atlanta members Alana Sims and Nigel Youmans selected to each hit the opening tee shots at the TOUR Championship on Thursday, August 29, moments before the PGA TOUR’s 30 best players begin the first round of competition. As part of this tournament tradition, both honorees also receive a $5,000 scholarship on behalf of TOUR Championship Proud Partner Accenture.
“The HOPE Tee Shot exemplifies all that makes the TOUR Championship unique to Atlanta,” said Alex Urban, Executive Director of the TOUR Championship. “The desire to create opportunities for the community and its youth is something this event and our partners have taken to heart. The HOPE Tee Shot has become a cherished tradition, and one of the most exciting moments during championship week. We’re thankful to our partners at Accenture that the impact of that moment will be felt long after these honorees step off the tee.”
Since 2008, the TOUR Championship has recognized members of First Tee – Metro Atlanta who exemplify the “HOPE” that continues to build in the East Lake community and throughout Atlanta. Each year, both honorees emerge from an intense selection process comprised of a golf competition, essay contest, and interviews with tournament leadership. Sims, 17, and Youmans, 16, will be honored during the HOPE Tee Shot Ceremony on Thursday, August 29 on the first tee of East Lake Golf Club.
“It has been such a pleasure witnessing the phenomenal leadership and golf skills that the students have gained from being a part of First Tee – Metro Atlanta. We are proud to be a partner in supporting the upcoming generation of leaders,” stated Chloe Barzey, Client Account Lead and Atlanta Office Managing Director of Accenture. “A huge congratulations to Alana and Nigel on this accomplishment. I am so excited to watch them hit the ceremonial first tee shot to kick off the tournament.”
Alana Sims
Sims, a rising junior at Riverwood International Charter School, has been a member of First Tee – Metro Atlanta for six years. Throughout her golf career, Alana has relied on her commitment to Integrity – one of First Tee’s Nine Core Values – which has helped prepare her for the HOPE Tee Shot. Her emphasis on Integrity has earned her the respect from peers, deepened her sense of self-worth and accountability, and taught her that winning is not just about the result, but the journey and ethical choices made to get there. Off the golf course, Sims can be found using her artistic abilities to create stunning ceramics or watching her favorite player, Collin Morikawa, compete on the PGA TOUR.
Nigel Youmans
Youmans, a rising junior at Arabia Mountain High School, has been envisioning his chance to hit the HOPE Tee Shot ever since he began his golf career at the First Tee in 2021. Nigel has leaned on Perseverance – another one of First Tee’s Nine Core Values – and his ability to press on when things don’t turn out the way one hoped. His understanding that although there will be obstacles and setbacks in life, the ability to persevere helps to overcome them.
Youmans’ favorite PGA TOUR players are Tiger Woods and Morikawa, and he looks up to his parents as the most influential people in his life.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have Alana and Nigel represent our chapter as the 2024 HOPE Tee Shot honorees,” said Jenae Jenkins, Executive Director of First Tee – Metro Atlanta. “Their growth in the program has been tremendous to watch, and their efforts to get to this point is what the HOPE Tee Shot represents. As we celebrate our 25th year of service and positive impact in the Metro Atlanta community, Alana and Nigel are the latest examples of what can happen when we use golf as the foundation to help the next generation grow into game changers in our communities. We are extremely grateful to the TOUR Championship and their Proud Partners Accenture, Coca-Cola, and Southern Company for sharing their platform with two deserving young people.”
The TOUR Championship will make a return to Labor Day weekend in 2024, with tournament dates set for Aug. 28 – Sept. 1, as the PGA TOUR’s top 30 players compete in the FedExCup Playoffs finale for their chance to win the FedExCup and the season title. To purchase tickets to the 2024 event, visit TOURChampionship.com/tickets. Fans are encouraged to follow the TOUR Championship on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for tournament updates.
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About the TOUR Championship
The TOUR Championship is the culmination of the PGA TOUR season and the FedExCup Playoffs where the TOUR’s top 30 global stars compete for the sport’s ultimate prize, the FedExCup. Since their inception, the Playoffs have concluded in Atlanta at East Lake Golf Club, which has an undeniable aura and historical significance as the place where the legendary career of Bobby Jones was born. The tournament has raised more than $54 million in charitable funds since 1998 and proudly supports the East Lake Foundation; Focused Community Strategies; the Grove Park Foundation; Purpose Built Schools Atlanta; and First Tee – Metro Atlanta. Accenture, The Coca-Cola Company, and Southern Company are the exclusive Proud Partners of the TOUR Championship.
About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services—creating tangible value at speed and scale. We are a talent and innovation led company with 738,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Technology is at the core of change today, and we are one of the world’s leaders in helping drive that change, with strong ecosystem relationships. We combine our strength in technology with unmatched industry experience, functional expertise and global delivery capability. We are uniquely able to deliver tangible outcomes because of our broad range of services, solutions and assets across Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X and Accenture Song. These capabilities, together with our culture of shared success and commitment to creating 360° value, enable us to help our clients succeed and build trusted, lasting relationships. We measure our success by the 360° value we create for our clients, each other, our shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands and nearly 3,900 beverage choices. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most valuable and recognizable brands, our company’s portfolio features 21 billion-dollar brands, 19 of which are available in reduced-, low- or no-calorie options. These brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, we are the No. 1 provider of both sparkling and still beverages. More than 1.9 billion servings of our beverages are enjoyed by consumers in more than 200 countries each day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world’s top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million residential and commercial customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy distribution company with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet customers’ and communities’ needs while advancing our goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have earned the company national awards and recognition from numerous organizations, including Forbes, The Military Times, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, J.D. Power, Fortune, Human Rights Campaign and more. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.
Last modified: September 16, 2024
