100-Hole Golf Marathons Raise More than $125,000 to support PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) New Jersey, Folds of Honor Foundation, Golf Fore Veterans and Backpacks for Life
Photo link of participating NJ PGA Professionals: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1C3sgOzznwnMjaJY7ykX5xWPCpKIApbwY?usp=sharing
Bedminster, N.J.,- The New Jersey Golf Foundation (NJGF), the (501c3) charitable arm of the New Jersey Section, PGA of America (NJPGA), has announced that a team of New Jersey PGA Professionals participated in a series of 100-hole golf marathons over Memorial Day Weekend raising more $125,000, while paying tribute to fallen heroes and their families.
Brian Mackey, the Director of Instruction at North Jersey Country Club led “A Walk to Remember,” walking and playing 100-holes of golf at his home club, while Mark DeLaura (Crestmont CC), and Nick Bova (Hamilton Farm GC) hosted 100-hole golf marathons at their facilities. Grant Sturgeon (Arcola CC), Bill Hook (Knickerbocker CC) and David Reasoner (The Ridgewood CC) supported the initiative by hosting fundraisers at their respective clubs.
Proceeds from the Memorial Day events will support PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) New Jersey, Folds of Honor, the recently established Golf Fore Veterans and Backpacks for Life.
“Memorial Day Weekend is a time to honor, remember and respect all of the brave souls who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our way of life, both overseas and those that fell victim to the emotional wounds they brought home with them,” said Brian Mackey, Director of Instruction, North Jersey CC and Co-Founder, Golf Fore Veterans. “My colleagues and I walked and played 100 holes of golf to pay tribute to America’s heroes while holding all of the Gold Star families in our hearts on such a somber day.”
PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) New Jersey, the signature military program of the New Jersey Golf Foundation, is a rehabilitative golf program for Veterans and Active-duty Military that enhances their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. Led by more than 100 NJPGA Professionals, golf programming is now available in all 15 NJPGA serving counties, positively impacting 500+ Veterans across the state annually.
Additionally, Folds of Honor provides education scholarships to spouses and children of fallen heroes, while Golf FORE Veterans, a non-profit organization created by NJPGA Professionals Brian Mackey, Mark DeLaura, Nick Bova, Grant Sturgeon, David Reasoner, Bill Hook and Retired US Army Veteran, Krystal Cordero, supports a mission to provide financial and emotional support to NJ Veterans and their families. Further, Backpacks for Life provides a personalized support system for homeless and at-risk veterans struggling to reintegrate into civilian life.
Mackey adds, “I want to thank the North Jersey CC family for leading the charge and inspiring the New Jersey golf community to come together for such a meaningful cause. Likewise, I’m so appreciative of my fellow PGA Professionals and their respective clubs for stepping up and enabling us to make a difference.”
For more information on the NJ Golf Foundation’s military programming, please visit www.njgolffoundation.org.
About The New Jersey Golf Foundation
Founded in 2004, the New Jersey Golf Foundation is a 501(c)(3) and the charitable arm of the New Jersey Section, PGA of America. Through a wide range of programming, the NJGF champions a commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) with the goal of evolving the composition of the game of golf to better reflect the broad array of differences in our society at large. With a focus on 3 core pillars (youth, military, special needs), the NJGF’s mission is to positively impact lives and communities through the game of golf. Led by PGA Professionals, the NJGF hosts a dynamic line-up of programming that provides access for individuals from all backgrounds to experience the game of golf in a welcoming environment. Signature programs include, Golf In Schools, which is run annually at more than 200 schools, impacting more than 120,000 boys and girls (K-8); PGA Junior League featuring more than 90 teams and 1,300 kids under the age of 13 throughout New Jersey; Special Olympics New Jersey Golf and programming for individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities and PGA HOPE, the flagship military program that introduces golf to Veterans with disabilities. For more information, visit www.njgolffoundation.org.
