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June 22, 2016

Tee It Up for the Troops – Alta Vista proudly supports Warrior Foundation~Freedom Station

The Tee It Up for the Troops events at SeaCliff Country Club (Huntington Beach, CA), Vista Valley Country Club (Vista, CA) and Alta Vista Country Club (Placentia, CA) have joined forces to support the Warrior Foundation~Freedom Station located in San Diego, CA. The Warrior Foundation~Freedom Station assists four main groups of warriors: the seriously injured just returning home from war; those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury; those undergoing physical or occupational therapy, and warriors who have been medically retired and remain in our community. To serve this last group in particular, they pioneered a new approach and opened Freedom Station – a unique recovery transition center and housing facility that provides injured warriors with the acclimation time, guidance and resources to successfully make the transition from military service to civilian life.

In particular, the donation of $29,150 from the Alta Valley Country Club event was used to support Freedom Station and the Stand Tall: Modified Combat Boots for Warriors program. As mentioned above, Freedom Station is a unique recovery transition center and housing facility that provides injured warriors with the acclimation time, guidance and resources to successfully make the transition from military service to civilian life.

One of Warrior Foundation’s main program areas is quality-of-life items. They provide supplies to injured warriors that improve quality of life and provide added comfort during recovery. One of the most in-demand items they provide are modified combat boots with special zippers that can accommodate either prosthetic limbs or Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis (IDEO™) braces. When warriors are recovering from battle injuries, nothing boosts morale like being able to stay in uniform. The uniform is deeply intertwined with the pride, privilege and soul of a warrior. It allows them to keep their military bearing. For amputees, new prosthetic legs and feet do not fit properly into combat boots, forcing them to wear other shoes that do not conform.

In what has become one of their most successful programs to date, Warrior Foundation-Freedom Station devised a way to modify combat boots to accommodate prosthetic limbs and IDEO braces. They custom-measure warriors, purchase boots, and then install zippers down the back of the boots so they can easily accommodate prostheses. This allows warriors to maintain an integral part of their identities by staying in uniform.

June 8, 2016

Tee It Up for the Troops – Vista Valley proudly supports Warrior Foundation~Freedom Station

In particular, the donation of $30,000 from the Vista Valley Country Club event was used to support Freedom Station and the Wheelchairs for Warriors program. As mentioned above, Freedom Station is a unique recovery transition center and housing facility that provides injured warriors with the acclimation time, guidance and resources to successfully make the transition from military service to civilian life.

The Wheelchairs for Warriors program is specifically designed to provide amputees with very lightweight, high quality wheelchairs that are custom-tailored for their specific body measurements. Amputees encounter significant challenges in daily living that most people cannot comprehend. Wheelchairs are the greatest mobility tool that amputees have, whether they are used at home, at work or for therapeutic or recreational activities. The standard-issue wheelchairs provided by the government are bulky, heavy and not easy to maneuver. The ultra light wheelchairs we purchase are custom-made specifically to provide the best fit, form and functionality for each individual warrior. Once a warrior is measured, the wheelchair is built to custom specifications. The “one size fits all” approach does not work for wheelchairs, and that’s why the ultra light wheelchairs are made to measure.

There is also the matter of transporting the wheelchair from place to place, in and out of vehicles. It is not an ideal or particularly safe situation to have amputees struggling to load and unload heavy wheelchairs. These ultra light wheelchairs are exponentially more lightweight, compact, easy to transport when compared to the government-issued wheelchairs. Combined with better handling and significantly more maneuverability, it is easy to see why ultra light wheelchairs significantly improve quality of life for our warriors.

May 25, 2016

Tee It Up for the Troops – SeaCliff proudly supports Warrior Foundation~Freedom Station

In particular, the donation of $37,500 from the SeaCliff Country Club was used to support Freedom Station and the Wolfpack Wheelchair Basketball Team. As mentioned above, the Freedom Station is a unique recovery transition center and housing facility that provides injured warriors with the acclimation time, guidance and resources to successfully make the transition from military service to civilian life.

The San Diego Wolfpack is the only all-military wheelchair basketball team in the United States that is comprised of active duty service members and veterans who have sustained an amputation, spinal cord injury or other orthopedic or neurological disorder. Members from all service branches are included, and the team currently includes players from the Army, Marine Corps and Navy.

For our injured warriors, participating in the Wolfpack has helped to increase quality of life, promote healthy lifestyles and teamwork, and foster a sense of pride and accomplishment. The team truly has much to be proud of. In its second year, the Wolfpack went 27-3 and emerged from 83 teams to finish 2^nd in the national championships. Warrior Foundation-Freedom Station supports the Wolfpack by providing funds for equipment, practice facilities, and transportation, travel and lodging to regional and national games and championships across the country. Some of the required equipment includes uniforms, league regulation basketballs, ultra light wheelchairs and much more.

April 22, 2016

FIRST “OPERATION HEARTFIRST” GYM OFFICIALLY OPENS

Grand Opening ceremonies for, military veterans, Tristan and Hannah Ambrozewski’s Anytime Fitness gym in Southern Pines, NC – near Fort Bragg – took place on April 12th, 2016.

The very first beneficiaries of a partnership between Tee It Up for the Troops and Anytime Fitness’ Operation HeartFirst initiative are dedicated to helping other military veterans and their families get to a healthier place.

Asked what they would like to say to Operation HeartFirst contributors, Tristan replied, “Three things: Thank you. Thank you. And thank you!”

The next Operation HeartFirst recipient(s) will be introduced at Anytime Fitness’ conference in Lake Placid in August of 2016. This opportunity is for the Columbus, GA area near Fort Benning. Click here for information about the 2nd Operation Heartfirst opportunity. Applications are due by May 1st!

April 1, 2016

Anytime Fitness® partners with Tee It Up for the Troops® to assist veterans.

Operation HeartFirst™ will help military vets own and operate their own franchised gyms.

Hastings, Minn. – For the 2^nd year in a row, Anytime Fitness is partnering with Tee It Up for the Troops, a national non-profit organization, in an effort to help military veterans open their own gyms and provide additional employment opportunities for fellow veterans. Dubbed “Operation HeartFirst,” Tee It Up For the Troops will offer a $125,000 grant and a $125,000 loan to a select number of honorably discharged veterans for the purpose of assisting with initial start-up capital to be used for the development of an Anytime Fitness franchise. Anytime Fitness’ HeartFirst Charitable Foundation™ will provide a grant to Tee It Up for the Troops, which will then offer this opportunity to approved veterans, National Guard members, or reservists, as well as oversee the selection process and management of logistics.

“Operation HeartFirst is our way of saying thank you to all of the fine service men and women who’ve made tremendous sacrifices for our country,” said Dave Mortensen, President of Anytime Fitness, LLC. “Currently, about 10% of our franchisees are military veterans. We’d like to see that number grow even higher. Veterans are some of our best and most successful club operators.”

APPLICATION PROCESS

Tee It Up for the Troops will accept online applications from April 1 – May 1, 2016, via http://www.teeitupforthetroops.org/anytime-fitness-veteran-franchise-opportunity/. Among other key criteria, interested veterans must have “a passion for fitness and community engagement.”

“We are looking for candidates who are eager to help others lead healthier lifestyles and who continue to serve and support the U.S. military and its veterans,” said Tim Wegscheid, President of Tee It Up for the Troops. “This particular opportunity involves an Anytime Fitness gym to be located in the Columbus, GA area, near Fort Benning. The selected franchisee will determine the precise location of the gym.”

Anytime Fitness, LLC has also agreed to waive its initial franchise fee and ongoing royalty payments related to this opportunity. Consideration will be given by the selection committee to veterans with service-related disabilities.

“The unemployment rate for military veterans is significantly higher than the national average,” said Chuck Runyon, CEO of Anytime Fitness, LLC. “That’s just not right. Our hope is that Operation HeartFirst will not only help veterans operate their own businesses, but also provide jobs for other vets as club managers and personal trainers – for many years to come.”

The first Operation HeartFirst recipients, Tristan and Hannah Ambrozewski, expect to open their Anytime Fitness gym, near Fort Bragg in Southern Pines, NC, within the next few weeks. The next Operation HeartFirst recipients will be selected by June 15th with a club opening date expected early next year.

March 23, 2016

Do you have a few minutes to learn more about Tee It Up for the Troops?

It all started in 2005 when a soldier who was deployed to Iraq was asked what he needed… the answer to that simple question has turned into $6,000,000 in donations from thousands of donors; and support for countless military men, women and their families through the 325+ veteran service organizations that have received financial assistance from Tee It Up for the Troops.

After listening to our story we hope you will consider supporting Tee It Up for the Troops as the needs of our military men, women and their families continue to outweigh the support they receive.

Together, we can show them that we are forever grateful for their service and sacrifice! Together, we can make a difference!

Click here to watch the video and learn more.

March 18, 2016

Proceeds From Inaugural Event Held at Bent Tree Country Club Making A Difference!

Retired Marine and Bent Tree Country Club member, Jay Cassen, along with former marine and Asst General Manager, Kyle Ruch, presented Clint Bruce, former Navy Seal and co-founder of Carry The Load with a $46,000 donation which will be used to continue the mission of Carry The Load.

In addition to this local donation, we were also able to contribute another $46,000 to other veteran service organizations including Fisher House Foundation, Disabled Sports USA, and Hope For The Warriors among others!

These donations were made possible from the generous attendees of the Inaugural Tee It Up for the Troops event held at Bent Tree Country Club on Veteran’s Day 2015.

Thank you to all who made these donations possible and for helping Tee It Up for the Troops fulfill OUR MISSION to HONOR, RESPECT, REMEMBER and SUPPORT all those who have served in the armed forces for our great nation!

Bent Tree Tee It Up for the Troop Golf event

February 21, 2016

David Leadbetter and Lydia Ko host clinic at REUNION 2016

Through the fog could be seen nearly 50 veterans, many showing visible signs of injury, some missing an arm, others a leg. With cameras and phones in hand, they gathered around rows of white folding chairs near the end of the range.

They were there to see David Leadbetter and Lydia Ko.

The World No.1 LPGA golfer, Lydia Ko, joined instructor David Leadbetter in leading a clinic for Tee It Up For the Troops, an organization that reconnects soldiers who are wounded, injured, or ill at an annual REUNION event. This year, 45 veterans reunited during the four-day event at, by no coincidence, Reunion Resort in Orlando, Florida.

HomeFront Resource Center receives donation from Tee It Up for the Troops

“It’s an exciting day,” says Tarryl Clark, Chair of the HomeFront Resource Center. “We had hundreds of people who participated in some way — volunteers or golfers at the event — who helped raise a good chunk of this money.”

Clark, who is also Dean of Sciences, Technology and Math at the school, says they are currently raising money for the design phase of the HomeFront Center.

“The enthusiasm and commitment [seen] from everybody here to continue to be a part of this is really exciting.”

The HomeFront Resource Center, which is expected to open in the fall of 2017, will provide information, counseling, and other services to the veteran community.

The donated funds were raised at the 2015 Tee It Up for the Troops events held at the St. Cloud Country Club and Mendakota Country Club.

Read More: SCTCC Veterans Center Awarded $16K

February 15, 2016

Combat Affected Veterans & the Game of Golf

Military Network Radio with Linda Kreter & co-host Pamela Stokes Eggleston presents:

Combat Affected Veterans & the Game of Golf…

Golf. It’s more than just a game. The intrinsic power of a new skill, renewed independence, networking, the great outdoors, the greens, and being with other veterans and golfers is all part of the value and benefit of golf. More than anything, the sport of golf, the camaraderie of veterans, and the amazing feats they have accomplished on and off the course set a new standard of friendship and respect.

Communities also benefit from meeting and playing competitively with veterans to help bridge that “sweet spot” of understanding between military and civilian members.

Listen Live or Download the podcast here.

Air date, 08Dec2015.