Golf facilities across the United States will host special events and collect donations this Labor Day weekend (Aug. 29 – Sept. 1) for Patriot Golf Day, the primary fundraiser for Folds of Honor, a charitable organization that provides educational scholarships and assistance to the families of military members disabled or killed in service to our country.
Nearly 5,200 facilities are registered to host Patriot Golf Day nationwide. Golfers can find participating courses and make donations at PatriotGolfDay.com, while non-golfers can participate by learning more and donating at FoldsofHonor.org.
“For the past seven years, the golf industry has supported Folds of Honor in positively impacting the lives of our American heroes by helping their families realize their educational dreams,” said Major Dan Rooney, Folds of Honor founder. “We encourage golfers across the country to hit the links this Labor Day weekend and pay tribute to our military and the sacrifices they make to preserve our freedoms.”
Patriot Golf Day was launched in 2007 and is jointly supported by the PGA of America and the United States Golf Association (USGA). Last year, a record amount of more than $5 million was raised for Folds of Honor through Patriot Golf Day donations and events. Since its inception, Folds of Honor has awarded more than 7,500 educational scholarships to military families. Thanks to donations received through Patriot Golf Day events and partner support, more than 2,050 scholarships totaling over $10 million were awarded in 2014.
Major Rooney, a PGA Professional, USGA Member and former F-16 military pilot with the Oklahoma Air National Guard, founded Folds of Honor in 2007 following his second of three tours of duty in Iraq. Rooney witnessed a profound display of a family’s grief as they welcomed home the remains of Corporal Brock Bucklin, inspiring him to create the organization and honor Bucklin’s son, Jacob, with the first Folds of Honor scholarship.
As of January 2014, there are more than 1.4 million dependents of fallen and wounded service members from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts alone, and 85 percent do not qualify for federal scholarship assistance.* Folds of Honor’s mission is to ensure that no family is left behind in the field of battle, by honoring their sacrifice and educating their legacy.
*Source: Veterans Administration
Folds of Honor www.FoldsofHonor.org