15th Annual Tee Off for Children's Literacy Golf Tournament Fundraiser

For fifteen years, golfers, sponsors, and community partners have come together to expand access to early literacy and learning for children across Northern Virginia.

This year, we invite you to celebrate 15 years of expanding opportunities for young learners by joining us for the 15th Annual Tee Off for Children's Literacy Golf Tournament at beautiful Raspberry Falls Golf & Hunt Club.

Whether you are a returning golfer or joining us for the first time, your participation helps provide free preschool to children whose families earn too much to qualify for publicly funded preschool but cannot afford the high cost of other preschool options.

Spend a memorable day on the course, become part of AART's story, and help build brighter futures, one swing at a time.

Peter Knapp, AART Golf Chairman
Michelle Sullivan, AART Executive Director

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I pay my green fees with a check or cash? We prefer that golfers and sponsors pay electronically through our Registration system; however, we accept checks and cash. Please email us at info@allagesreadtogether.org on how to do so.

When does the tournament start? Registration and breakfast will be open at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m. We ask that all golfers arrive as early as possible to allow time to check in, have breakfast, listen to opening remarks and rules, and grab drinks for their carts.

What are the prizes? There are 1st- and 2nd-Place NET and 1st- and 2nd-Place GROSS for teams. For individuals, there are Closest to the Pin, Longest Drive (Men), and Longest Drive (Women).

What time is lunch served? The buffet-style luncheon will be set out after half the teams have returned to the clubhouse, typically between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. You are welcome to browse the silent auction, network with other players, and enjoy some appetizers while you wait for the other teams to join. Once all teams return, we will have the awards ceremony and final remarks.

Are there sponsorship opportunities? Yes! On the right, click Sponsor Our Event to see which sponsorships are available. We have a limited number, and it's first come, first served.

Why is preschool so important? We are so glad you asked! Preschool is the time when children learn the foundational learning and social skills that they will carry with them for a lifetime. Far too many are left behind because preschool is NOT part of the public school system in Virginia. Only 29% of economically disadvantaged children attend preschool (Hughes).

Children who enter kindergarten without preschool experience are typically 12.- 14 months behind their peers. (US Dept. of Ed.). If they cannot catch up and read at a basic level by the end of third grade, they are four times more likely to leave school without a diploma (Hernandez). For economically disadvantaged third graders in Loudoun County, only 49% meet grade-level reading standards, putting 5 out of every 10 children in that position (VDOE).

What is unique about the AART program? AART is the only portable preschool serving Loudoun and Fairfax Counties directly in the communities we serve. All AART classes are held in donated in-kind spaces such as libraries, community centers, and affordable housing complexes. This helps keep administrative costs low, so more money goes to our program and helps keep our classes accessible by foot or public transportation.

Why should I trust AART as a nonprofit? 83% of our funding goes to our program, which is 13% higher than what Charity Navigator (a trusted nonprofit that values and rates charities) suggests (70%). (Sanchez).

Speaking of Charity Navigator, AART has the highest rating of four stars!
At Candid, AART has the highest rating with the Platinum Transparency seal of approval.

References

Hernandez, D.J. (2011). Double Jeopardy: How Third-Grade Reading Skills and Poverty Influence High School Graduation. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED518818.pdf

Hughes, E. (2021-2). Insight Region - Ready for Kindergarten, Ready for Life. Retrieved from https://www.cfnova.org/images/InsightRegion_IPS3_ReadyforKindergarten_ReadyforLife.pdf

Sanchez, Michelle. (2023). Nonprofit Ratios: How to Use Them and What They Measure. Retrieved from https://warrenaverett.com/insights/nonprofit-ratio...

STEP - Stepping Towards Excellence in Preschool. (2023). Full-Day Phased Approach Proposal for FY24 and Beyond. Retrieved from https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/loudoun/Board.nsf/files/CP9MKM5AEDD7/$file/

Virginia Department of Education. (2024). Grade 3 English Reading. Retrieved from https://schoolquality.virginia.gov/divisions/loudo...