Recap of our First Annual Charity Golf Tournament
Newgentek has had a great year so far, and developing and growing our bond with our customers and vendors has always been very important to us. In fact, it’s one of our company’s four core values:
“We believe in fair and transparent business. Building and maintaining trust with our customers, employees, and vendors is the cornerstone to our success in forming lasting partnerships. This contributes not only to the success of our customers, but the good of Newgentek.”
So, a few months back, we decided we wanted to host a golf tournament. A golf tournament...notice the word “charity” isn’t in there. We were a little hesitant. After all, we’re a technology company, read: a bunch of tech nerds, not event planners. We had never put on a tournament before, but we knew we wanted to have an event where our vendors, our customers, and our employees could mingle, get to know each other, and figure out how we work together, why we work together, and strengthen the relationships that are so important to us. We also wanted to have a little fun too!
Newgentek Golf Tournament Planning Committee
An idea turned into planning, and planning turned into asking our vendor partners (shoutout to Brother, Harman, Sonance, Teleadvocate, Broadsmart, Almo, SnapAV, Chief, Cisco, IC Intercom, Ingram Micro, and Global Turf!) to sponsor our tournament. We didn’t say the word charity until we knew we could raise enough, and when we realized just how awesome our vendors are (they donated without us having to beg for it! Thank you!!) we knew exactly what charity we wanted to donate funds to.
Computer Mentors provides opportunities to Tampa Bay’s youth through technology and employment programs that help low income communities. Their team of mentors come from diverse professional backgrounds, and it’s these volunteers that help provide programs for programming foundations, robotics applications and controls, video production and app development, and many other technology disciplines.
CEO Chon Nguyen with Computer Mentors Founder Ralph Smith
Chon Nguyen, Newgentek founder and CEO, developed a passion for technology at a very young age, at a time when there were very exciting things happening in the world of tech.
“I was fortunate to have the resources available to me to develop my interest and passion for technology, and it helped shape my entrepreneurial journey over the years. I know not every child has that opportunity. I heard about Computer Mentors at a local tech event, and I knew it was a charity I wanted to help in the future when the time was right. I’m glad we have an opportunity to do so, and I’m thankful to our sponsors for supporting our efforts.”
Ralph Smith, founder of Computer Mentors Group, and one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, was thrilled to learn of our donation. He was at the golf course and also at the after party for the check presentation, and sent us this sweet note:
“We are overjoyed that Newgentek has chosen Computer Mentors as the non-profit beneficiary of their golf tournament. This donation will help us continue to meet our mission, which is to provide opportunities for educational and employment success through bridging the technology divide for populations without sufficient economic resources, especially as it relates to children and youth.”
We also couldn’t have pulled off the tournament without our customers. We are so thankful to our customers that took time out of their busy schedules to come play with us! We not only got to chat with you and get to know you a little better, but we also got to see how strong your golf game is!
After the tournament, the games didn’t end! We had an after party at Nebraska Mini Mart, a local restaurant with bocce ball courts, shuffleboard, and ping pong! This is where we gave out prizes and raffled off some nice golf accessories! Great venue, delicious food, and awesome company. Oh yeah, and the outdoor sound system is unbelievable (I wonder who did their AV… ok we did).
Again, it was a special day, and we are so thankful to know and do business with such an awesome group of people. And the fact that our fun day benefitted children in the Tampa Bay area just makes it that much sweeter. Thanks again to everyone: the planners, the players, the sponsors… could not have pulled this off without you!
