West Plains, Mo. – The Second Annual West Plains Folds of Honor Golf Tournament successfully raised $30,000, which will be used to fund educational scholarships benefitting the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military veterans and America’s first responders. The event was held at the West Plains Country Club on June 23, 2023, with 38, three-person teams participating. In just two years, the golf tournament has raised $50,000 for Folds of Honor scholarships.
Folds of Honor originated in 2007 and provides scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military. In 2023, this mission expanded to include the families of America’s first responders. Since 2007, 44,000 scholarships have been rewarded, totaling more than $200 million in educational impact. According to the 2022-23 Recipient Data for Missouri, $1,048,045 in total funds have been awarded to 235 scholarship recipients. You can learn more about the organization by visiting www.foldsofhonor.org.
The inaugural West Plains Folds of Honor golf tournament, held in 2022, was a great success, providing four, $5,000 scholarships to recipients in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. This year’s tournament fundraising goal of $25,000 was surpassed, netting $30,000. With the $30,000 raised, a total of six, $5,000 scholarships will be awarded to deserving families in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas.
“The amount of support from our sponsors and community exceeded our expectations,” said Tournament Co-Chair David M. Gohn. “As a result, we were able to reach a maximum participant count of 38, three-person teams. The 2022 West Plains Folds of Honor Golf Tournament hosted 28 three-person team participants, so we were thrilled to welcome back the inaugural golfers, plus an additional ten teams.
“We also hosted an online auction that helped generate funds from golfers and non-golfers. The great response to both the tournament and auction not only allowed us to meet our fundraising goal but also raise an additional $5,000.”
Gohn said he and his Co-Chairmen, Greg Beykirch and Dave Thomas, were honored to have had the opportunity to bring awareness to this very worthy cause and hope to make this event bigger and better each year. “We give sincere thanks to all of our tournament sponsors, players and auction bidders,” Gohn said.
“We are so grateful to West Plains Country Club, the event organizers and volunteers, and all the participants,” said Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, founder/CEO of Folds of Honor. “To exceed their goal demonstrates how hard everyone worked and their commitment to providing life-changing educational scholarships. Everyone involved made a significant positive change in a family’s life.”
The 2024 Folds of Honor Golf Tournament is tentatively scheduled for June 21, 2024, at the West Plains Country Club. The 2024 tournament is expected to fill immediately due to its overwhelming popularity the last two years. Sign up and sponsorships for the 2024 event will open in late March 2024, and will be based on a first come, first served basis. Please follow the West Plains Folds of Honor Golf Tournament Facebook page for more details.
