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Button Hole Kid
Juliet Vongphoumy |
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She's one of the best up and coming young golfers in the state, perhaps in the entire region. The small framed, 14 year old Juliet Vongphoumy started playing golf at Button Hole five years ago. Juliet liked all sports but golf quickly became her favorite, and Button Hole played an important role in her skill development.
"Button Hole has meant a lot to Juliet. It is very close and we are very, very lucky to have Button Hole here," says Juliet's mother Katie.
The daughter of first generation parents from Laos, Juliet now has her sights on a college golf scholarship and then the LPGA. "She wants to be on the LPGA tour. Golf is not an easy game.She has to work on that goal, but I believe. I feel like she is going to be there," says Katie. "I feel so good about it."
For now, Juliet is putting the concentration skills learned at Button Hole to good use. With a full academic/needs-based scholarship to LaSalle Academy she earned high honors last semester.
"We hope this will give her an opportunity she otherwise might not have. Hopefully it will help her in the future, and she will look back on her time at LaSalle and sponsor a young student here," says Mary Beth Beretta, LaSalle Director of Finance and Facilities.
LaSalle President, Brother Michael McKenery adds, "We are delighted to have Juliet. When she came to LaSalle, she wrote a note promising to make us very proud and she absolutely is accomplishing that."
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Button Hole's Inspirational Story Featured in Providence Journal |
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Button Hole's unique and exceptional contribution to inner city youth and their families was recognized by Providence Journal columnist Mark Patinkin. Late in October, Patinkin joined Ryan Moyeno and his father Carlos for a round of golf to see first-hand how Button Hole teaches kids life lessons through the game of golf.
Mark couldn't have picked a better twosome to join. Carlos is a single parent, raising Ryan in Providence; 14 year old Ryan, now a freshman at Central High school, started playing three years ago in Button Hole's after-school program at Perry Middle School.
Button Hole is credited by Carlos with "bringing out the best in Ryan." Patinkin heralds Button Hole as one of the best courses in the country for putting golf within the geographic and economic reach of inner city youth.
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Neither Sleet, Nor Rain, Nor Snow... Will Keep Us From Our Game of Golf!
We're golf enthusiasts, so even though the weather is turning, we are still playing golf. Albeit, we've moved indoors and we've brought our Button Hole kids along with us. Our in-school and after-school programs again have vigorous attendance and lots of enthusiasm from staff and students.
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Button Hole
Teaches Phys-Ed
As part of the physical education program at 3 schools in Providence, our instructors went into classrooms, gyms and, for as long as the weather held, outdoor fields to introduce hundreds of students to the game of golf. Button Hole teaches life skills of honesty, humility, and perseverance through the lessons in golf. This fall Button Hole's in-school program was conducted at George West Elementary, Robert Bailey Elementary and Esek Hopkins Middle School in Providence.
In addition, on Thursday mornings 21 students from the Martin Luther King School have been coming to Button Hole for instruction.
After the New Year, Button Hole instructors will be teaching golf as part of the regular physical education programs in additional Providence elementary and middle schools. |
Safe, Instructional
Options For After School
Children from several Providence schools have been coming to Button Hole for after school activities this fall. Working either directly with the schools, or with other after school programs, Button Hole provides a safe haven to kids where they learn golf and build relationships. As a partner of the Olneyville Community School (OCS) Button Hole has served as an after school instruction program every Monday and Tuesday for students from the William D'Abate Elementary School.
As part of the Providence After School Alliance, Button Hole worked with students from Perry Middle School and Springfield Middle School this fall. The program, which wrapped up its 11 week session on December 13th gave 12 children a safe instructional option for an after school activity. Kids practiced golf skills with our instructors and the sport continues to gain in popularity with urban youth.
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Want to Get Involved?
Help support Button Hole.
Volunteer or Make a Donation.
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