Eagles legends Merrill Reese and Mike Quick honored by First Tee at golf event at the Linc
First Tee hosted its first Links at the Linc event. The nonprofit is dedicated to improving children’s life skills through the game of golf.
Merrill Reese stood in the Eagles locker room at Lincoln Financial Field surrounded by Eagles alumni Ron Jaworski, Dick Vermeil, and Harold Carmichael for a VIP cocktail service as First Tee prepared to honor the Eagles play-by-play announcer alongside former Eagles wide receiver Mike Quick.
The two Philadelphia icons, who work together broadcasting Eagles games on 94.1 WIP, were honored by the national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving children’s life skills through the game of golf for their continued support.
» READ MORE: Top 10 Merrill Reese moments as the legendary announcer heads into the Hall of Fame
“I love the fact that they want to recognize me but that really has nothing to do with why I do what I do and why I get so much joy out of doing what I do,” Quick said. “But getting honored with Merrill Reese, now that’s special. We’ve been together for 28 years now. And sometimes you have to recognize when you are in rare air. I’ve had the good fortune to work with Merrill Reese. I don’t take that for granted. I recognize that he’s a living treasure. And I treasure all the time that I have with him.”
Quick has been on the board of First Tee for over a decade, using the game of golf as a vehicle to teach kids life skills, interpersonal skills, how to set goals, how to manage their emotions, and how to deal with adversity.
Every year, First Tee hosts the Mike Quick Celebrity Invitational to celebrate the nonprofit’s mission — and every year Reese makes an appearance.
“We thought with Merrill being the play-by-play announcer for 50 years, it would be a great time to honor him,” said Bill Hyndman, the CEO of First Tee. “Mike Quick’s on our board. He’s been a tremendous supporter of First Tee for my entire time. I started working when Mike joined our board and that was really easy.”
“Today’s Links at the Linc event is at such an incredible venue,” Hyndman said. “It’s very unique and because of Mike, the Eagles are a great supporter of our organization. So, it seemed like the perfect venue to be able to do something really cool at the Linc for our supporters.”
At Thursday’s fundraising event, First Tee hosted a cocktail reception, dinner, a closest to the pin contest, a silent auction, and a VIP reception in the locker room. Quick and Reese also had a fireside chat hosted by Eagles insider Dave Spadaro, where they discussed their love for football. “Rain Man” Reese also recalled iconic memories and praised two players in attendance.
“The Eagles never had a better pair of wide receivers than two people who are here tonight. Mike Quick and Harold Carmichael,” Reese said.
Links at the Linc also gave supporters an opportunity to hear from some of the success stories of First Tee, including Penn student Maria Ramos, Cheltenham High School students Andi and Rory Jones, and MIT student Devin Carpenter, who overcame his public speaking struggles through the different programs he was part of.
“I hope people can see the opportunities that First Tee is able to provide,” Carpenter said. “And can help First Tee be able to reach more kids because you know they helped me so much over the last 10 years. And I want to be able to spread the word even more. Or help First Tee impact as many people as they can.”
First Tee offers several programs for students to build strength, self-confidence, and resilience that they can carry on and off the golf course. Some of those programs include: Caddie Academy, PGA junior league teams, and a greenskeeper pathway program. The organization also offers scholarships to students.
“To me, that’s the whole essence of it,” Quick said. “Just the feeling that I get from seeing these young people grow in the program and mature and blossom because of all that the program offers. This opportunity to hang out with peers and at the same time you’re learning. You’re learning about how to handle life. I think there’s so many wonderful things about that program that make young people grow and learn.”
» READ MORE: First Tee doesn’t just teach golf. It teaches kids how to be better people.
The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia is already across eight counties with 25 different program locations. The nonprofit plans on expanding its footprint into six new sites in New Jersey this year, including Cape May County, Atlantic County, and Cumberland County.
“The success that we’re having is due in large part to our board of directors,” Quick said. “Because the board actually gets involved. They don’t just have their name down. They actually grab a glove and get in the game. They make sure they are using their resources to pour into these kids. I think that’s the biggest thing.”