My name is Emily Denes and I was born and raised right here in Arizona. I graduated from Arizona State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nonprofit Leadership & Management, driven by my lifelong passion for community service and making a meaningful impact.

I have spent the majority of my career at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley where I held various roles on the resource development team in my ten-year tenure. During this time, the organization grew by $20M and added 20+ Clubhouse locations. I then transitioned to Child Crisis Arizona as Director of Development, helping ensure safe kids and strong families.

Now, as Director of Development at First Tee – Phoenix, I’m thrilled to blend my expertise and passions of youth development, sports, and fundraising. Having been a lifelong athlete, I understand firsthand the transformative power of sports in shaping character and developing leadership skills. Although I discovered golf later in life as a fun weekend outing with friends, I quickly recognized its potential for professional networking, community engagement, and enhancing life skills, aligning perfectly with our mission here at First Tee – Phoenix.

I look foreword to teeing up to success together as we expand our reach and deepen our impact to all youth across the Valley!