Silent Auctions of Drivers at Participating Patriot Golf Day Courses Aims to Raise $1 Million Plus For Families
Patriot Day DriversCARLSBAD, Calif. (July 21, 2008) -TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company, the world’s leading maker of metalwoods, today announced it will produce a limited number of special-edition Patriot Golf Day drivers in hopes of helping the Folds of Honor Foundation raise more than $1 million during its Patriot Golf Day fundraising event. The foundation, which provides educational scholarships to families of those who have become disabled or lost their lives in the line of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan, is the sole beneficiary of Patriot Golf Day.
Patriot Golf Day is supported by The PGA of America and is the vision of Captain Dan Rooney, who is both a PGA Teaching Professional and an F-16 fighter pilot in the 125th Fighter Squadron of the Oklahoma Air National Guard. It was held for the first time on September 1, 2007; more than 3,200 golf courses participated and helped raise more than $1.1 million by donating one dollar for every player who played that day. This year, Patriot Golf Day will span all four days of Labor Day weekend (Friday, August 29 through Monday, September 1).
TaylorMade-adidas Golf has vowed to help the Foundation double the first year’s fundraising efforts by creating specially-designed, limited edition drivers inspired by the F-16 “Viper” fighter jet that Captain Rooney piloted during two tours in Iraq. The driver features the Patriot Golf Day Logo on the toe, a laser-etched F-16 jet on the sole, a deep “intimidation” black crown and a specially-designed Patriot Golf Day head cover in red, white and blue.
Beginning in August, participating golf facilities will receive a single driver in a commemorative box to put on display for silent auction prior to Patriot Golf Day. Net proceeds from the silent auction will go to the Folds of Honor Foundation to support college and vocational scholarships for the spouses and children of fallen and wounded soldiers.
“More than 37,000 service members have been killed or wounded, and Patriot Golf Day is a way for patriotic Americans to assist families of those military personnel who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom,” said Rooney, who will return to Iraq for a third tour of duty this summer. “TaylorMade-adidas Golf’s support of Patriot Golf Day has helped us add a critical fundraising component that will allow us to reach more families with scholarships and other forms of support.”
“When we learned of Dan Rooney’s fundraising mission with Patriot Golf Day, it wasn’t a question of whether or not we would, but how much could we do to help,” said Mark King, president and CEO of TaylorMade-adidas Golf. “We hope the money raised from the auction of the TaylorMade limited edition drivers will positively impact families of servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom.”
About Folds of Honor Foundation
Folds of Honor is a legacy foundation designed to provide financial assistance for the education of dependents and spouses of soldiers who are either killed or disabled while serving and defending our great nation. For this generation and those to come, we will achieve this mission through fundraising, partnerships and synergistic alliances with other patriotic organizations and foundations. For more information on the Folds of Honor Foundation, please contact Jody Fisher at 212.843.8296 or atjfisher@rubenstein.com.
About Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. dba TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company
Taylor Made Golf Company has led the golf industry’s technological revolution since the company was founded in 1979. TaylorMade metalwoods, irons and putters have been used to win hundreds of professional golf tournaments around the world. In 1998, TaylorMade became a wholly owned subsidiary of adidas AG. adidas Golf footwear and apparel is the choice of hundreds of professional golfers around the world. Learn more about TaylorMade-adidas Golf and its brands at (800) 888-CLUB or www.tmag.com,www.taylormadegolf.com and www.adidasgolf.com.
About the adidas Group
The adidas Group is one of the global leaders within the sporting goods industry, offering a broad range of products around three core segments adidas, Reebok and TaylorMade-adidas Golf. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, the Group has almost 30,000 employees and generated sales of more than ?10.3 billion.
Contact:
Scott Leightman
Tel: 760.476.5748
email: scott.leightman@tmag.com
John Steinbach
Tel: 760.918.6330
email: john.steinbach@tmag.com
