Joe Tigani is finding out that a little idea can get bigger every day.

The soon-to-be eighth-grader at Tatnall School discovered the joy of playing golf, and all the physical, emotional and social benefits that can come along with it. So his idea was simple: Find a way to allow more children to discover golf.

Joe, 13, didn't know that is precisely the mission of The First Tee of Delaware, part of a national organization designed to impact the lives of young people through golf. But he went online, did some research, and ...

"Joe called me in July, and the rest is history," said Charma Bell, community relations director for The First Tee of Delaware. "I thought, 'Thank you, Jesus.' That's what I said. Our prayers were being answered. Because with the McDonald's LPGA Championship ending earlier this year, we lost our major sponsor. This couldn't have come at a better time."

Joe's idea will come to fruition when three local golf courses host Pennies for Putts. Children involved in The First Tee of Delaware program will be at Delaware National Country Club, Hartefeld National Golf Club and Ed Oliver Golf Club, educating golfers about the program and accepting donations. And a silent auction -- featuring one very unique item -- will be held at Delaware National. All of the proceeds will benefit The First Tee of Delaware.

"He has gotten so much out of golf," said Joe's father, Paul Tigani. "It has made him more social, more honest, and it has improved his character. He wanted to help other kids do that. This whole thing has come together just in the last 30 days, and the amount of help he has had from the local pros has been unbelievable."

One of those pros was Delaware National's Rob Mancill, who really helped Joe get the ball rolling.

"He approached me about it, and I said that's a great idea," Mancill said. "He was just asking for donations, maybe a dollar from everybody who goes out and plays that day. And I said, 'That's a start, but there's a lot of other things we could do.' ... Really, he's done almost all the work. I came up with some of the ideas, but he's done the groundwork."

Mancill suggested the silent auction, and donated a series of three golf lessons (the bid is already $125) and a free foursome of golf at Delaware National. Joe took it from there, and eight other area courses have donated free foursomes for the auction.

Then, he took it one unique step further. Joe asked Justin Martinson, a junior on the University of Delaware golf team and the reigning Delaware Open champion, if he would be willing to play a round of golf with a threesome of the highest bidders.

"He's a great kid. I met him at Hartefeld, and he asked me if I would be willing to do it and I said, 'Sure,' " Martinson said. "I'm excited about it. It's going to be a new experience for me, something different. I don't know how much a round of golf with me is worth, but I hope he gets a lot of money for it."

The round with Martinson will take place at Fieldstone Golf Club in Greenville.

Bell said The First Tee of Delaware hopes to net at least $1,500 from the fundraiser. She said it would go a long way toward The First Tee being able to start its first school-based program at a local elementary or middle school, with equipment and instruction provided to physical education teachers so they can introduce golf to more children.

Helping others runs in Joe's family. His uncle is Sam Beard, co-founder and president of the Jefferson Awards for Public Service. Joe said his uncle suggested that he come up with a community service project, and he decided to focus on his favorite sport. Suddenly, a once-shy teenager has spent the last month writing letters, calling and e-mailing The First Tee of Delaware and area golf courses, plus producing fliers and other promotional materials for Saturday's fundraiser.

"I just wanted to help underprivileged kids learn to play golf. I didn't know about The First Tee, but I found out about it and I called them," Joe said. "I didn't know exactly what we could do, but a lot of people have helped me and I think it has been great. And this is just the start. Next year and later, I want to make it bigger and make it regional, or even national."

So next year, don't be surprised if the Pennsylvania Open champion plays with a threesome to benefit The First Tee of Pennsylvania. And if Joe has his way, one day don't be shocked if the U.S. Open champion plays with a threesome every year to benefit The First Tee national program.

"I talked to Bob Palumbo and Ron Holliday, our owners, and they mentioned that next year we would possibly have a golf outing at Delaware National in support of The First Tee," Mancill said. "We could try to get some of the local pros out to do some instruction with underprivileged youth and really make this thing grow. It started with Joe, and now it's snowballing. And all the credit has to go to him."

Update: The Pennies for Putts fundraiser took place on September 5, 2009, and Brad Myers reports that $4,700 was raised, far exceeding the goal of $1,500.

This article was originally published in The (Wilmington, Del.) News Journal. If you have any questions or comments about it, please contact Brad Myers at brmyers@wilmingt.gannett.com.