For the fourth consecutive year, thousands of golf facilities nationwide will participate in Patriot Golf Day®, over Labor Day Weekend (Sept. 3-6), collecting donations and raising awareness for Folds of Honor Foundation.
Patriot Golf Day, jointly supported by The PGA of America and the United States Golf Association, is the primary fundraiser for Folds of Honor which awards post-secondary educational scholarships for children and spouses of military servicemen and women killed or disabled while serving our great nation.
Through events across the country since 2007, PGA Professionals have helped raise more than $5.3 million, allowing Folds of Honor to award 1,163 post-secondary educational scholarships.
George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States of America, is the Honorary Chairman of this year’s Patriot Golf Day Weekend. President Bush joins PGA of America President Jim Remy, Patriot Golf Day founder and PGA Professional Major Dan Rooney, double amputee Staff Sgt. Heath Calhoun, and FOX & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade to “tee off” Patriot Golf Day Weekend, Friday (Sept. 3) in Waco, Texas. Calhoun’s three children - Mason, 7, Brystal, 5, and Bailee, 4, are Folds of Honor future-use scholarship recipients. Calhoun lost both of his legs above the knee from injuries sustained when his Humvee was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in Mozul, Iraq, Nov. 7, 2003.
“Patriot Golf Day gives us a chance to recognize our American heroes, which is the least we can do as American citizens,” PGA of America President Jim Remy said. “It’s an honor to be able to kick off Patriot Golf Day weekend with a former President, as well as privilege to play with Major Dan Rooney and an American hero, Staff Sgt. Calhoun, who sacrificed so much so that we can have our freedom.”
During Labor Day weekend at participating public courses, golfers are asked to donate at least $1 for each round of golf. Participating private facilities will accept donations. Non-golfers can also participate by making a donation to the foundation at its website at FoldsofHonor.org.
As a proud supporter and Official Card of Patriot Golf Day, American Express will match donations made using an American Express® Card during Patriot Golf Day Weekend (Sept. 3-6) to support the Folds of Honor Foundation.
While registration is still in progress, there are currently more than 3,500 facilities registered to host Patriot Golf Day events nationwide. Seven PGA Sections have at least 50 percent of its facilities registered to host Patriot Golf Day events led by the Tennessee PGA Section with 100 percent (172 facilities). The Aloha PGA Section has 85.5 percent of its facilities registered, followed by Midwest (85.4 percent), Carolinas (68.4 percent), North Florida (57.4 percent), New Jersey (52.9 percent) and Nebraska (50 percent).
For the most updated list of registered facilities, visit PlayGolfAmerica.com or PatriotGolfDay.com.
More about Patriot Golf Day and the Folds of Honor
There are 172,000 dependents of fallen and wounded military service men and women from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts alone, and 85 percent of those dependents do not qualify for federal educational assistance. Patriot Golf Day allows the Folds of Honor to present an ongoing tribute to our brave service members by ensuring that the families of fallen and wounded warriors have hope for the right educational start to life and best future possible.
Major Dan Rooney, a PGA Professional, USGA member and F-16 military pilot with the Oklahoma Air National Guard, founded the Folds of Honor Foundation following his second of three tours of duty in Iraq. After witnessing the tragic homecoming of a fallen American solider, Rooney was inspired to start Folds of Honor to provide support to military families in the aftermath of their tragedies.
The inaugural Patriot Golf Day was held Sept. 1, 2007, and resulted in donations of more than $1 million!
The second annual event was held over Labor Day weekend (Aug. 29-Sept. 1, 2008) and raised more than $2 million, while the 2009 event raised more than $2.3 million.
So, if you're planning on playing golf this weekend, make sure you give to the families of the heroes who admirably served this great country! G-d Bless the USA!
