Benefiting Veteran and First Responders Families, grassroots fundraising by PGA of America Golf Professionals and Folds of Honor runs throughout May

Folds Commitment Supports Work Done by PGA HOPE

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FRISCO, Texas (April 30, 2024) - PGA of America Golf Professionals around the country will once again join Folds of Honor—a non-profit foundation that provides academic scholarships to families of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders—to operate Patriot Golf Days fundraising efforts throughout May, culminating Memorial Day weekend (May 25-27).

Created by PGA of America Golf Professional Lt Col Dan Rooney, a former F-16 fighter pilot, Patriot Golf Days began as a grassroots fundraising initiative in 2007 encouraging golfers across the country to add an extra dollar to their green fees to fund Folds of Honor scholarships.

Over the last 17 years, Patriot Golf Days has grown to encompass a variety of fundraising efforts involving PGA of America Golf Professionals and golfers in all 50 states and 41 PGA of America Sections. These include rounding up green fees, donations at the counter, hosting golf tournaments and participating in Hero100 Golf Marathons. In total, Patriot Golf Days events have raised more than $84 million and funded more than 16,800 scholarships to help Veterans and first responders’ spouses and children.

Folds of Honor will continue to lead the onsite efforts for Patriot Golf Days activities through Memorial Day weekend. The PGA of America REACH Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America, will support the promotional efforts for Patriot Golf Days to the more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals, their facilities and consumers.

“Veterans, Active Duty Military and First Responders are very near and dear to the hearts of PGA of America Golf Professionals, myself included as my father served in the Navy during World War II,” said PGA of America President John Lindert, PGA Director of Golf at the Country Club of Lansing (Michigan). “I’m extremely honored and proud of the relationship we have with Folds of Honor and I encourage our more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals to get involved. At the Country Club of Lansing we host a golf marathon each year, playing over 200 holes to support the cause. Patriot Golf Days is a great way for golfers everywhere to show their support and help the families of America’s heroes.”

“As a PGA of America Golf Professional, I’m grateful to my fellow Members for their unwavering support of Patriot Golf Days,” said Lt Col Dan Rooney, founder and CEO of Folds of Honor. “I’m thankful too for the individuals who play golf during the month of May or make an online donation. These funds provide life-changing educational scholarships to the families who have sacrificed so much.”

Additionally, since 2023, the Folds of Honor Foundation has made a significant commitment to PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), the flagship military program of the PGA of America REACH Foundation. PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans and Active Duty Military to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. The program includes a six- to eight-week golf instruction curriculum taught by PGA of America Golf Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency.

With help from Folds of Honor, PGA HOPE aims to expand its reach and impact,  serving more than 17,000 Veterans in 2024. In 2023, the program added 148 new locations, trained an additional 1,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals and reached more than 500 locations in all 50 states.

To donate or register for Patriot Golf Days, visit patriotgolfdays.com.

About the PGA of America

The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who love the game, are expert coaches, operators and business leaders, and work daily to drive interest, inclusion and participation in the sport. The PGA of America owns and operates numerous championships and events, including major championships for men, women, seniors and the Ryder Cup, one of the world’s foremost sporting events. For more information, visit PGA.com and follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

‍About Folds of Honor

‍Folds of Honor is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of US military service members and first responders who have fallen or been disabled while serving our country and communities. Our educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program. Funds for a second bachelor’s degree or trade/technical program certification are also available. Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded over 52,000 scholarships totaling about $244 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 45 percent are minorities. It is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and Platinum on Candid. It was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, the only-ever F-16 fighter pilot (with three combat tours in Iraq) and PGA Professional. He is currently stationed at Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service Detachment 1, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. For more information or to donate in support of a Folds of Honor scholarship visit foldsofhonor.org.

‍Media Contacts:

‍Jesse Dodson, PGA of America, jdodson@pgahq.com

‍Glenn Greenspan, Folds of Honor, GGreenspan@foldsofhonor.org