Embrace Your Dreams (EYD) began a summer junior tennis program with a life skills and core values component for underserved children at Jordan Park in Allentown in 2000. In 2001, a junior golf program was added at Willowbrook Golf Club. To further its mission, EYD added two new programs: The Rainbow Program (RP), an outreach golf instruction program held at Lehigh Valley municipal parks and Rally Ball tennis (RB) for younger children. The program, now known as First Tee and National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) programs of Embrace Your Dreams, is taught by experienced instructors who are assisted by local amateur golf and tennis players. In 2002, the program expanded to include local field trips. In 2003, a junior tennis program was added at Sand Island in Bethlehem. In September 2004, EYD was designated First Tee Lehigh Valley. First Tee (TFT), a nationally acclaimed organization with 200 chapters nationwide, supports its chapters in creating affordable and accessible golf facilities to primarily reach those children who have not previously had exposure to the game and its positive values. With a focus on youth development, First Tee is designed for young people from a variety of backgrounds and provides the opportunity for youth to develop, through golf and character education, life-enhancing core values through a series of activities and educational experiences.
In 2007, information on gang-prevention was added In 2008, EYD began two after-school junior tennis programs at Clearview Elementary School in Bethlehem and Dieruff High School in Allentown. In 2009, a spring after-school program was added at Roosevelt Elementary School in Allentown and a winter after-school program was started at Central Elementary School in Allentown.
From 2010 through 2017 Embrace Your Dreams ran Summer Golf Programs at 7 locations in Lehigh and Berks counties, and Summer Tennis Programs at 2 locations in Bethlehem and Allentown. After school golf and tennis programs were also done at local elementary schools.
In early 2018, the Board of Directors of EYD unanimously voted to change the name of the organization to First Tee of Lehigh Valley & Berks, and to only offer golf programs. This was due to the overwhelming majority of participants in recent years registering for golf as opposed to tennis.
Today, Summer Golf Programs are offered at 8 locations, including one in Northampton county, and after-school programs are done at numerous elementary schools. Participants are recruited from many elementary and middle schools, and local organizations such as Recreation Bureaus and Boys and Girls Clubs.