Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation Inc.

About Us

Mission: To educate students in a public-private partnership and improve their academic performance, self-esteem, and character using the golf course as a living classroom.

The Foundation in partnership with Pinellas County Schools offer the unique, public-private Chi Chi Rodriguez Academy that serves grades 4 through 8. The public school system identifies children in need of the Academy's special surroundings. Pinellas Country Schools also provides the Academy's Principal/teachers/assistants and admin while the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation provides the Academy's Director/facilities and classroom materials.

The most unique feature about the Chi Chi Rodriguez Academy and its programs is the land they live on. The 170 acre campus, comprised of a public golf course and driving range, serves as a living classroom for the students to increase their knowledge of the world.

*Students learn core values and life lessons seamlessly through golf with The First Tee of Clearwater curriculum.
*Students maintain gardens on campus with a volunteer who works with each class on growing vegetables that the students can later pick and eat.
*Students over the years have built 22 bird boxes that are spread out on the golf club's campus and the monitor the boxes as part of their science curriculum under the direction of Native Bird Boxes
*Students get to spend time with adults in every department of the Golf Club and Foundation learning about the various jobs; the students see how basic educational skills like math and reading are used on an everyday basis.