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The first thought that comes to many people’s minds when Thanksgiving arrives is the Thanksgiving meal. There is of course the star of the show: the turkey. There are also all our favorite side dishes: stuffing and sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, and a whole lineup of pies!

When we sit at such a bountiful feast with our family and friends, there is a lot to see and to be thankful for—and a lot worth giving back for.

Giving Tuesday

Thanksgiving for many also signals the start of the holiday giving season, beginning with Giving Tuesday, which is the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States. Giving Tuesday is a movement that provides the opportunity for people to contribute to charities that support local communities. Tee It Up for the Troops has been honored to receive Giving Tuesday gifts, and we ask for you to consider supporting our veterans-focused charity during this unprecedented holiday giving season.

Why Our Veterans Need and Deserve Help this Holiday Season

Our American military veterans are heroes. Every single veteran is an American hero. Ordinary men and women who answer the call, put on the uniform, and perform their duties with pride, honor, and dignity. Many of these duties are often unseen, unknown, and unappreciated. Like many of the things in life that keep us free to pursue life, liberty and happiness, our military men and women are often overlooked and taken for granted. We just assume that our military will always be there, fighting our battles and keeping us from harm’s way, and we thank God they are.

However, sadly our nation’s reality is that many of the hardest battles our veterans will face are after they return from their military theater. There are wounds that we do not see like PTSD, brain injuries, and fractured families. Our veterans have sacrificed so much for us, so we ask you to take a moment this Thanksgiving to tell a veteran, “We see you!”

We also ask that you say thank you to our veterans by making an end-of-the-year charitable contribution to Tee It Up for the Troops. Tee It Up for the Troops uses these funds to sustain our unique REUNION program, which reunites combat veterans for four days of golf, relaxation, and healing. In addition, Tee It Up for the Troops helps organize fundraising events around the country for veterans. We encourage you and your family to create a new Thanksgiving tradition by saying thank you to our Military heroes and giving back on Giving Tuesday.

You can donate immediately here: https://teeitupforthetroops.org/donate/

 

How the CARES Act Helps Charitable Giving

To promote and reward charitable giving and to help our country’s not-for-profit agencies, the United States Congress passed the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act this year. The CARES Act has recognized the desires of individuals, foundations, and businesses to support not-for-profit organizations such as Tee It Up for the Troops. Incentive-based tax benefits can be gained if you make donations by the end of 2020. This is important because as of now, the United States Congress is not planning on continuing the CARES ACT into 2021.

The details of the CARES ACT can be found in an earlier article we posted.

We thank you for your support and contributions. When you give, you make a positive difference. It is as simple as that: giving helps.

We also take this moment to give a heartfelt thank you to all our military veterans, current service members, and their families. We acknowledge your service, commitment, and sacrifices.

We wish you all a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

While we celebrate Veterans Day and National Veterans and Military Families Month, we want to THANK our American veterans and their families for the tremendous sacrifices they have made. We recognize the blessings of freedom secured for us by your service, and we express our deep appreciation for you and your family!

Please stop and thank a veteran not only on Veterans Day but with every opportunity. We want all those who wear the uniform to know that we recognize and appreciate their strength and courage in fighting for our freedom, and we will keep fighting for our veterans and their families.

Our goals for Veterans Day are to bring awareness to the daily struggles our veterans and their families face. Your contributions and participation help to ease these burdens that so many of our veterans share.

Your charitable giving directly supports our programming at Tee It Up for the Troops and strengthens the pillars our organization is built upon:

• Suicide Prevention
• PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury
• Housing and Homelessness
• Employment
• Family and Caregiver Support
• Golf and Sports Rehabilitation

 

 

Tee It Up for the Troops supports veterans year-round with golf events organized by communities around the country.

• Our golf events are a great way to say THANK YOU to veterans by raising money for local and national veteran-focused charities.
• Our golf events are a GREAT way for your business to become a partnering sponsor—or better yet, sponsor your own Tee It Up for the Troops golf event.
• Our golf events create opportunities to meet our veterans and to hear their stories. These personal interactions change lives for the better.

We know firsthand how much a personal thank you to a veteran means. It means, “I see you. I recognize your sacrifice. Thank you.”

We also know firsthand that there is an incredible amount of work to do on behalf of our veterans—work that saves lives. During National Veterans and Military Families Month, we are asking you to help thank veterans through charitable giving and personal participation.

To get involved and help our veterans, work with Tee It for the Troops to volunteer at an event or even start your own event in your community. You can also donate directly to support our unique REUNION Program, which reunites combat veterans for four days of golf, healing, and relaxation with old comrades.

To all our military veterans and their families who sacrifice so much to keep our country safe and strong, THANK YOU!

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, since 2009, Americans have increased their online spending by 100 billion dollars.

According to a 2018 NPR/Marist poll, 69% of Americans shopped online during the year, and 43% regularly shop online.

That is a lot of money spent on shopping, and with the advent of Covid-19, the percentage of people regularly shopping online has dramatically increased.

What does online shopping and AmazonSmile have to do with Tee It Up for The Troops?  Four words: Fast, Easy, Life-Changing Donations.

Shop AmazonSmile to Raise Money for Tee It Up for the Troops at No Cost to You!

Amazon through its AmazonSmile initiative is donating 0.5% of all eligible purchases to the charity of your choice when you shop. That means it’s possible to send real donations to Tee It Up for the Troops at absolutely NO cost to you—just shopping at smile.amazon.com does the trick!

Designate Tee It Up for the Troops as your charity, and Amazon will send donations to benefit the organization every time you shop—every little bit counts!

Giving to Tee It Up for the Troops has never been easier. Let’s get started!

There are a couple of different ways you can sign up for the AmazonSmile program.

Join AmazonSmile at smile.amazon.com. You can sign up to the AmazonSmile program at smile.amazon.com on your computer, tablet, or phone. There you’ll select the Get Started button and sign into your Amazon account. After you sign in, there will be a list of charities to choose from. Search for Tee It Up for the Troops in the search bar and select us! Once you’ve selected Tee It Up for the Troops, then you’re set up!

Here’s the all-important final step: make sure you shop at smile.amazon.com rather than plain amazon.com. Using the “smile.amazon.com” address will ensure that Amazon contributes part of the purchase price to Tee It Up for the Troops!

Get the app. Download or update to the latest version of the Amazon Shopping app on your phone. You can find the app in the App Store for your iPhone or Google Play for Android. Log in to your Amazon account on the app. Once you’re logged in, navigate to the Settings menu ( where you can also see buttons for Account and Your Orders). Below Settings, you’ll find an AmazonSmile button. Click the AmazonSmile button, and then proceed through the instructions provided, and you’ll be set!

You can begin to make a difference in our veterans’ lives with a smile and a click, here and now, today.

Please give to Tee It Up for the Troops through AmazonSmile. You can start today!

Award Based on Outstanding Online Reviews

Tee It Up for the Troops, with their national headquarters in Burnsville, Minn., announced today it has been named a “2020 Top-Rated Nonprofit” by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews of charities and nonprofits.

Tee It Up for the Troops provides critically needed services to combat veterans and their families and has hosted nearly 550 fundraising events in over 40 states over the last 16 years, allowing the non-profit organization to donate over $11 million to partnering veteran service organizations.

“We are very proud to be recognized by GreatNonprofits as a Top-Rated Nonprofit based on user reviews by our veterans, military family members, sponsors, donors, volunteers, and supporters,” says Tim Wegscheid, President & Executive Director for Tee It Up for the Troops. “Thank you to our supporters and everyone who shared your Tee It Up for the Troops experience. We are honored by this achievement and dedicated to supporting all those who serve(d) in the Armed Forces of our great nation with your help!”

The Top-Rated Nonprofit award was based on the large number of positive reviews that Tee It Up for the Troops received – reviews written by volunteers, donors, and military veterans and family member aid recipients. People posted about their personal experiences with the nonprofit.

For example, one combat veteran wrote, “Tee It Up for the Troops is a great organization. I wish I would’ve found them sooner as golf has played a significant role in my overall mental stability since coming home and transitioning into civilian life.” Another supporter wrote, “An essential organization that works hard to help Veterans of America’s Armed Forces and their families to heal, transition, grow and thrive…they believe in their mission, they achieve their goals and they help veterans in need succeed in life.”

“Savvy donors want to see the impact of their donations more than ever,” said Perla Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits. “Tee It Up for the Troop’s award is well-deserved recognition not only of their work but the tremendous support they receive, as shown by the many outstanding reviews they have received from people who have direct experience working with them.”

GreatNonprofits is the leading website where people share stories about their personal experiences on more than 1.6 million charities and nonprofits. The GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Awards are the only awards for nonprofits determined by those who have direct experience with the charities – as donors, volunteers, and recipients of aid.

To read about our five-star ratings, reviews and add your own review if interested, please visit: https://greatnonprofits.org/org/tee-it-up-for-the-troops-inc

The Opening Ceremony is a tradition at Tee It Up for the Troops events that pays tribute to American heroes who have, and continue to, put their lives at risk on the frontlines. This opening ceremony sets a patriotic tone to the day, honors our veterans and reminds everyone why they are a Tee It Up for the Troops event. It is an opportunity for sponsors, participants, and all in attendance to celebrate patriotic pride.

Our military is built on traditions, customs, and manners, and so too are our military charity events. It’s valuable for everyone to learn about these traditions and customs that have become part of Tee It Up for the Troops opening ceremonies. With the 530+ events that have been held in over 40 states, each Tee It Up for the Troops opening ceremony is uniquely planned by each local community planning committee. While no two opening ceremonies are ever the same, below are the elements and their meaning that you might find at a typical opening ceremony.

• Bagpiper: Many of our ceremonies start with a bagpiper in a traditional Scottish kilt playing and walking up the first fairway toward the attendees. Bagpipes have become associated with U.S. military memorial services, retirements, or changes of command on account of their connection with Scottish martial history. As early as the 14th century, Scottish warriors used musical instruments—mostly horns—to intimidate their English adversaries.

• Invocation by Military Chaplain: An invocation prayer or request for the spiritual presence and blessing of God in the event.
• Soloists to sing National Anthem and God Bless America: We all know the great tale of our national anthem being written in the wake of battle with the British in 1814, but did you know God Bless America was written by a Russian immigrant serving in the US Army during the first world war? None other than Irving Berlin—one of the most successful and beloved American songwriters of the 20^th century—penned this tune to celebrate the nation he loved dearly.
• Presentation of Colors by Honor Guard / Color Guard. While we no longer carry colors into battle—during which they served a crucial communication function—the presentation of colors ceremony still plays an important role in keeping national and unit traditions alive.

• Moment of Silence: The moment of silence is a time-honored tradition to create a space for reflection and respect—and there’s plenty of that to go around during a Tee It Up for the Troops opening ceremony honoring our nation’s heroes.

• Rifle Volley: Typically done in three volleys by an odd number of members, rifle and other gun salutes are common across the world for honoring servicemembers, royalty, and foreign dignitaries.

• Gold-Star Family Recognition: Gold Star Families are relatives of US military members who have died in battle. A wreath is laid at the ceremony and attending parents, spouses, children, or other family members can carry a rose to lay on the wreath.

• Honoring Veterans in Attendance: All attending veterans are recognized and honored for their service during the ceremony.
• Taps: Often played at military funerals and other events like wreath laying ceremonies, this bugle call (it’s not a song) has its origins in the Civil War.
• Retire the Colors: Retiring the colors marks the end of the ceremony, during which the color guard retrieves the colors and removes them respectfully.

Some of our events have additional symbols and demonstrations of patriotism that pay tribute to American heroes who continue to put their lives at risk on the frontlines.

• Static Displays: military vehicles, fire engines with U.S. flags at the entrance or on a hole.
• Helicopter or parachute landing to mark the start of the ceremony.
• Video Link / Teleconference of deployed units.
• Patriotic Motorcycle association riders: Some riders participate in the ceremony by holding US Flags around the staging area.
• White Dove Release: White doves are a widely recognized symbol of peace and hope. A white dove release incorporates this powerful symbol into the ceremony honoring our veterans and what they’ve fought for.

• Bald Eagle on display: The Bald Eagle became the national emblem of the United States of America in 1782. The fierce beauty and proud independence of this great bird aptly symbolize the strength and freedom of America, that same strength and freedom that is found in the United States Armed Forces.

• Flyover: The first military flyover took place during the 1918 World Series. Today’s military flyovers serve to promote and honor our armed services. The missing man formation is an aerial “salute” performed during a flyover and is typically in memory of a fallen pilot, a well-known military service member, or veteran.  

At the 2020 Tee It Up for the Troops Rochester event in Minnesota, the opening ceremony began with two Navy SEALs parachuting onto the fairway at the Rochester Golf and Country Club. Holding the American flag between them, the two SEALs dropped from the sky and made this ceremony especially powerful for the crowd—and the local Gold Star mothers—present.

“It really defined what Tee It Up for the Troops is for,” says Mike Pruett, who helped to organize and record the Rochester event. “For our military, our fallen—respecting them, showing our respect and support for our troops.” Having two SEALs conclude the opening ceremony reinforced one of the core principles of Tee It Up for the Troops—that servicemembers can often be the best support for their comrades. No one knows better than a fellow soldier what it’s like to put your life on the line to serve your country.

Opening ceremonies at Tee It Up for the Troops events are one-of-a-kind experiences. Without pretension, with utmost respect and dignity, they’re a chance for your community to honor veterans in your own unique way. Communities across the United States have gathered to support our troops. Get together with your community today to start planning your own event!

Start an Event: We’ll help you set up your own community event to raise funds for our veterans.

Find an Event: Tee It Up for the Troops events happen in almost every state! Find one near you today and participate!

Donate: Donate to support our innovative REUNION program, which pays for combat veterans to reunite with their old comrades to help overcome the hidden wounds of war.

Because the needs of our American heroes continue to far exceed our nation’s ability to meet them, Tee It Up for the Troops benefits from generous business sponsors that help veterans and their families gain access to the critical services and support they need and deserve.

We have many national business sponsors that know the power of giving back to our military veterans and are truly dedicated to helping those in need:

National Sponsors

Bridgestone Golf	All Golf Services
2nd Swing	PING
The Club Foundation	Club Managers Association of America
Fisher House	Hero Miles
EZGO	Kopplin Kuebler & Wallace
Imperial Headware	Antigua Apparel
Anytime Fitness	Kentwool
Reunion Resort	Galaxy Sales, Inc.

 

We also have Product/Service Sponsors, Event Sponsors, and many local sponsors not listed here that are critical partners and support American veterans.

Eight Great Benefits for Your Company When Partnering with Tee It Up for The Troops 

1. Be a stellar business example and honor, remember, respect and support the many brave individuals that have kept and continue to keep us all safe. Americans love, respect, and honor our troops and they love businesses that give back to our military veterans and their families.
2. Good and Free Publicity, Brand Awareness, and Reach a Whole New Audience. These are givens, however, when you encourage and make room for your employees to participate, they will be the ones continuing to talk about the event. It is an old school approach, but word of mouth is certainly effective and often carries with it the passion and purpose behind our events. When your employees are talking up your company of their own volition that is good business.
3. Corporate Tax Breaks.  Included in the new stimulus bill passed by the U.S. Congress is the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act, which has recognized the desire of individuals, foundations, and business to support not-for-profit organizations such as Tee It Up for The Troops with incentive-laden tax benefits. Learn how with our detailed outline of the tax benefits for your corporate sponsorship.
4. Spending Power of Millennials.  Did you know that 70% of millennials report that they prefer to spend their money with brands that support worthwhile causes like Tee It Up for the Troops? In fact, Millennials possess 2.45 trillion dollars in spending power and that is a figure that is hard to ignore.
5. Great New Hires for Your Company.  A 2007 study by Deloitte found that 62% of new hires between the ages of 18-26 would prefer to work for a company that offers volunteer opportunities. Partnering with Tee It Up for the Troops offers many worthwhile volunteer opportunities at our events across the nation.
6. Boost Employee Morale.  Study after study shows that volunteering is good for you. It creates empathy, self-esteem, and confidence. And when companies carve out time for employees to volunteer or help at one of our military charity events during work hours, the employees feel as if they too are making a much needed and appreciated contribution. It is also a great team-building exercise.
7. Unlock New Networking Opportunities.  Our charity golf tournaments golf events fuel so much of what we do. Providing recreation, sport, and an arena to network away from the traditional business setting.
8. The Bottom Line. Your corporate sponsorship and participation help the men and women who have served, or who are currently serving in America’s Armed Forces.

We are grateful for all of our sponsors who have made the commitment to support those who have fought to protect our freedoms. Want to join our esteemed list of business sponsors? Partner with us today to help our nation’s heroes!

 

• According to a 2019 Congressional Research Service Report titled “Recent Trends in Active Duty Military Deaths,” between 2006 and 2018, 3,863 active duty service members ended their own lives. This is more than service members who were killed in action (2,710) and service members who died by wounds received (886) combined.
• According to a 2016 report from the Office of Suicide Prevention, while veterans account for only 8.5% of the U.S. population, 18% of all adult suicides in the United States are veterans, or about 20 veteran suicides per day.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and we at Tee It Up for the Troops observe the World Suicide Prevention Day each year on September 10. In fact, suicide prevention is one of the six pillars that Tee It Up for the Troops was built on.

The facts are in front of us, and the number of veteran suicides compared to the civilian population is disproportionately high.  Twenty veterans a day is 20 too many. Veteran suicide awareness is the war in front of us, a daily battle that is on the forefront of our organization’s efforts and resources. Twenty veterans a day are dying by their own hands. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for our fallen heroes. For every 20 who daily fall, there are scores upon scores who daily struggle, who daily fight to live another day. These are the men and women we present to you today. These are the lives we, together, are fighting for.

As COVID-19 Crisis Continues, Suicide Risk for Veterans Grows

The preceding numbers on veteran suicide are the latest available to us, but the world has dramatically changed since then. Those 20 veterans a day do not include the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit America tremendously hard. Across the globe, and certainly here at home, we have seen not only the physical toll of this virus, but also the mental toll on the general population. How much more so for our veteran brothers and sisters who have already been fighting to keep their mental acuity strong and sound? The year 2020 has been incredibly brutal for these individuals. We propose to make a difference, and we are asking for your help.

Our Tee It Up for the Troops events and REUNION program are instrumental in bringing more awareness to veteran suicide, help fund our efforts, and are powerful ways for you, your company, and your foundation to make a significant difference in a veteran’s daily life. We know that a healthy mental well-being is tied to activating our bodies as much as we are able, being outside, and with the opportunity to socialize. Our events give these veterans something they can enjoy with brothers/sisters outside of war.

You can be the difference in a veteran’s life. Donate today or find an event near you!

Antigua is a dedicated partner and apparel sponsor for Tee It Up for the Troops. In the office or on the green, our staff, leaders, military heroes, and event participants proudly wear Antigua Sportswear that is co-branded with our logo. The Antigua Group, Inc. is a leading designer and marketer of men’s, women’s and children’s lifestyle apparel and sportswear with a 40-year history as a golf apparel provider.

Antigua has always shown strong support for military veterans. From apparel donations to their Annual Antigua Invitational Golf Tournament benefiting homeless veterans in their home state of Arizona, they believe veterans are the lifeblood of this country and will always do what they can to help.

“As a father of a veteran and the son of a World War II veteran, I am so proud that Antigua is involved in Tee It Up for the Troops great series of events,” said John Anderson, Antigua’s National Sales Manager for the Golf Division. “The most important thing is all the good that comes to military veterans through Tee It Up for the Troops and we are just so proud to be a small part of your great events.”

John’s son, Ryan Cole, was an Army Ranger assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. He was deployed four times to Operation Enduring Freedom and once to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ryan has a master’s degree from Portland State University in Geology and is currently an Engineering Geologist with the U.S. Forest Service.

“The support of Antigua helps our veterans and event participants look good, splash patriotism, and stay cool and comfortable while playing golf in our fundraising events, but more importantly, Antigua supports our mission to improve veteran’s lives by enhancing their mental, social, physical and emotional well-being, said Tim Wegscheid, Tee It Up for the Troops President & Executive Director. “We are grateful to Antigua and John for their tremendous dedication to our military heroes. And a huge thank you to Ryan for his bravery and service to our country!”

Antigua works with Tee It Up for the Troops to supply many co-branded apparel items including golf polos and pullovers like those seen above. One of our most popular patriotic pride apparel items is the Antigua Patriot Golf Polo, also shown above, which has the good old red white and blue across the stars and stripes print on the shirt’s chest.

Thank you, Antigua, for all you do for our veterans! For more information about Antigua Sportswear, Shop Antigua.