One local wealth manager turns his passion for responsible investment into a game changer for The First Tee of Central Florida
Chris Barley, a private wealth advisor for Ameriprise, is making a big impact on the lives of thousands of youth through his investment in The First Tee
Respect. Integrity. Courtesy. Responsibility. Perseverance.
If those look like five of The First Tee’s Nine Core Values, you’re not mistaken. They are. But they are also qualities possessed by a Central Floridian by the name of Chris Barley, who has made a huge impact not only on our Chapter, but on the entire Central Florida community. He may not have played on the professional tour as several of the
| local chapter’s other major benefactors have, yet Barley is also a Trustee of The First Tee, committed to giving $1 million nationally and locally over the next 10 years. For his contribution, and for his unwavering dedication to our organization’s core values, we are eternally grateful.
Barley has been involved with the local chapter of The First Tee since before it was even founded. As, Managing Director and Private Wealth Advisor for Ameriprise Financial, Barley was entrusted with funds from the estate of Central Florida ophthalmologist Dr. David P. Honey after his passing in 2008. It was Barley’s integrity, perseverance and wherewithal that led him to decide upon The First Tee as one of the organizations that would benefit from Dr. Honey’s gift. Dr. Honey had always been passionate about golf, so upon his passing, Barley sought out an organization that could utilize Dr. Honey’s gift and impact as many people as possible. While on the course one afternoon, Barley was reminded of an organization he had briefly heard about in passing years before, and knew that The First Tee was the perfect fit for Dr. Honey’s gift. As the person entrusted with the big responsibility of overseeing the donation, Barley got in touch with the right people at The First Tee’s National Office and became involved in seeing to it that the Central Florida chapter got off the ground.
“Chris has been a big part of The First Tee since before even I came to the Central Florida chapter, and he’s the epitome of the type of person you want involved in your organization,” said Thomas Lawrence, Executive Director of The First Tee of Central Florida. “He approaches his involvement with such genuine care and enthusiasm, it’s impossible not to become excited about the great things we’re doing through the game of golf and the corresponding life lessons when you’re in Chris’ presence.”
Not only is Barley a Trustee of The First Tee, but he is also involved as an Advisory Board Member for the Central Florida chapter. His expertise in the careful and thoughtful investment of funds and talent has helped to grow the Central Florida organization to become one of the strongest chapters in the country.
Alongside Arnold Palmer, Barley is the second Trustee of the Central Florida chapter of The First Tee, and joins the company of Honorary Board Members like Doc River, Annika Sorenstam, Ken Griffey Jr., Tracey Stewart and Mike McCarley. We are thrilled the he selected our organization to benefit from both his generosity as well as the generosity of Dr. Honey.
We cannot thank you enough for all that you do for our chapter, Mr. Barley!
