Veteran and First Responder Families Supported by Grassroots Fundraising Throughout May
FRISCO, Texas – The PGA of America REACH Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charitable organization of the PGA of America, will once again join forces with Folds of Honor to support Veteran and First Responder families throughout May with Patriot Golf Days, culminating Memorial Day weekend (May 24-26).
Founded in 2007 by former F-16 fighter pilot and PGA of America Golf Professional Lt Col Dan Rooney, Patriot Golf Days is a grassroots fundraising initiative encouraging golfers across the country to support families of Veterans and First Responders.
Patriot Golf Days events have raised more than $106 million and funded about 21,240 academic scholarships, helping Veterans and First Responders’ spouses and children.
Folds of Honor is a non-profit foundation providing academic scholarships to families of fallen or disabled military service members and First Responders. For 18 years, Patriot Golf Days has been supported by PGA of America Golf Professionals, 41 PGA of America Sections and golfers in all 50 states. Fundraising activities include rounding up green fees, donations, golf tournaments and participating in Hero100 Golf Marathons.
“The PGA of America and Folds of Honor share an intense desire to serve our Veterans, Active Duty Military and First Responders,” said PGA of America President and Master Professional Don Rea Jr., Owner/Operator of Augusta Ranch Golf Club (Arizona). “Our more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals know first-hand the healing powers of golf. We are truly honored to support Patriot Golf Days this year and appreciate the support Folds of Honor provides to our PGA HOPE Veterans and programming.”
“As a PGA of America Golf Professional, I’m grateful to my fellow Members for their unwavering support of Patriot Golf Days,” said Lt Col Dan Rooney, founder and CEO of Folds of Honor. “Folds of Honor is blessed to be working with the leading golf organizations to make a life-changing difference for our recipients. I’m thankful too for the individuals who play golf during the month of May or make an online donation. These funds provide educational scholarships to the families who deserve and need our help and who have sacrificed so much.”
To support Patriot Golf Days, click here.
The PGA of America REACH Foundation will support the promotional efforts for Patriot Golf Days to the more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals, their facilities and consumers. Folds of Honor will lead onsite efforts for Patriot Golf Days activities through Memorial Day weekend.
Since 2023, the Folds of Honor Foundation has made a significant annual commitment to PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), the flagship military program of the PGA of America REACH Foundation. The program introduces golf to Veterans and Active Duty Military through a six- to eight-week golf instruction curriculum taught by PGA of America Golf Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency.
PGA HOPE, celebrating over a decade of impact in 2025, has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Veterans Affairs, which enables direct referrals to the program as a form of therapy.
The program has served more than 50,000 Veterans since 2015, is available in all 50 states and is free to all Veterans.
To support and learn more about PGA HOPE, click here.
About PGA of America REACH Foundation
The PGA of America REACH Foundation is the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America. The mission of the Foundation is to positively impact the lives of youth, military and diverse populations by enabling access to PGA of America Golf Professionals, PGA Sections and the game of golf. For more information on the PGA of America REACH Foundation, visit PGAREACH.org, follow @PGAREACH on Instagram, X and find us on Facebook.
About Folds of Honor
Folds of Honor is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of US military service members and first responders who have fallen or been disabled while serving our country and communities. Our educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program. Funds for a second bachelor’s degree or trade/technical program certification are also available. Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 62,000 scholarships totaling about $290 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 45 percent are minorities. A total of 91 percent of every dollar raised directly funds scholarships. It is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and Platinum on Candid. It was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, the only-ever F-16 fighter pilot (with three combat tours in Iraq) and PGA Professional. He is currently stationed at Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. For more information or to donate in support of a Folds of Honor scholarship visit foldsofhonor.org.
Media Contacts:
Jesse Dodson, PGA of America, jdodson@pgahq.com
Glenn Greenspan, Folds of Honor, GGreenspan@foldsofhonor.org
