Fifth Patriot Golf Day Sets Fundraising Record


In honor of Veterans Day this week, the Folds of Honor Foundation has announced its preliminary fundraising numbers from Patriot Golf Day. Through the support of PGA professionals and United States Golf Association (USGA) members, Patriot Golf Day events have already raised a record amount of more than $3.2 million (as of November 4) to benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation, bringing the five-year total to more than $12 million.

Held over Labor Day Weekend, the Fifth Annual Patriot Golf Day gave golfers an opportunity to honor American heroes and their families by making donations at participating golf facilities nationwide.

The inaugural Patriot Golf Day was held September 1, 2007, and resulted in donations of more than $1.1 million. In 2010, Patriot Golf Day donations totaled $3.2 million and this year's donations have already topped that total with facilities continuing to report and host fundraising events throughout the end of the year.

Patriot Golf Day is the primary fundraiser for the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides educational scholarships for children and spouses of military service men and women killed or disabled while serving our great nation. More than 2,200 educational scholarships have been awarded by Folds of Honor since its inception in 2007.

"PGA professionals and USGA members continue to be an inspiration with their unwavering support of our American military and the Folds of Honor Foundation," said PGA of America President Allen Wronowski. "The PGA of America considers it a privilege to use the game of golf to honor the sacrifice of those who daily defend our freedom."

Patriot Golf Day was originated by Major Dan Rooney, a PGA professional, USGA Member and former F-16 military pilot from Broken Arrow, Okla., who has served three tours of duty in Iraq. During Labor Day Weekend at participating courses nationwide, golfers were asked to donate at least $1 for each round of golf. Non-golfers participated by making a donation to the foundation at the Folds of Honor website (see below for a link). More than 4,500 PGA facilities registered to host Patriot Golf Day activities this year.

President George W. Bush served as Honorary Chairman of Patriot Golf Day Weekend for the second consecutive year and helped "kick-off" the weekend festivities by playing a round of golf with Major Rooney, Wronowski, veteran amputee Major Ed Pulido and FOX & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade, September 1, at Dallas (Texas) National Golf Club.

"We continue to be awed by the generosity of the golf community when it comes to educating the legacy of our military service men and women who sacrificed life and limb to protect this great nation," Rooney said. "Education is vital for the next generation, and I couldn't be more humbled to be able to make it a possibility for military families."

To find out more about Patriot Golf Day, visit www.FoldsofHonor.org.

The above report is courtesy of the PGA of America. For more information, visit www.pga.com.