Veteran Wellness & Mental Health Archives

October 5, 2026October 27, 2026

The Golf Season May End in the Midwest. The Mission Doesn’t. Meet one of our 2026 National Grant Recipients.

The Golf Season May End in the Midwest.
The Mission Doesn't.
Meet one of our 2026 National Grant Recipients.

October signals the end of another golf season. In northern states, courses prepare for winter, clubs are packed away, and Tee It Up for the Troops events wind down after months of bringing communities together in support of America’s military heroes.

But the needs of our veterans don’t end when the golf season does.

October 10 is World Mental Health Day, an important reminder that for many veterans, service members, and military families, the challenges associated with military service continue every day of the year. Isolation, unresolved trauma, stress, and difficulty accessing mental health resources don’t follow a season—and neither does our commitment to supporting those who served.

Through the generosity of our golfers, sponsors, volunteers, event committees, and donors, Tee It Up for the Troops is able to partner with organizations providing critical services to veterans throughout the year. These partnerships help ensure that support continues long after the tournaments conclude. One of our 2026 National Grant recipients, Give an Hour, demonstrates just how far that support can reach.

Through its Project Valor program, Give an Hour provides trauma-informed peer support, clinical matching, education, and training for veterans, service members, and their families. The program is designed to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health care, increase access to support, and strengthen one of the most important protective factors after military service: connection.

Project Valor also helps fill a critical gap by supporting veterans before challenges escalate into crisis situations.

In 2025, Project Valor served more than 1,200 veterans, while approximately 3,600 new military-connected individuals reached out to Give an Hour for support. More than 1,000 referrals to clinical care were made, with the organization estimating that approximately 3,000 people were ultimately impacted through the broader reach of its programs.
Veterans and military-connected individuals were able to access peer-led support groups facilitated by trained veterans with lived experience, one-on-one clinical care through Give an Hour’s national network of licensed mental health professionals, and education and training designed around their needs. The result is more than access to services. It is an opportunity for someone to be heard, to reconnect, and to know support is available.

What Happens After the Last Putt

Every golfer, sponsor, volunteer, and donor helps make that year-round impact possible. So, while some of us may be putting away our golf clubs for the winter, we’re not putting away the mission.

Veterans served our country in every season.

Our commitment to serving them should do the same.

June 2, 2026June 5, 2026

Supporting Invisible Wounds – PTSD Awareness Month

June is PTSD Awareness Month:
Supporting the Invisible Wounds of War

Every June, communities across the country recognize PTSD Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing understanding of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), reducing stigma, and encouraging those who are struggling to seek help.

PTSD affects millions of Americans, including many of our nation's veterans.

While PTSD can develop after any traumatic event—including sexual assault, serious accidents, natural disasters, or violence—military veterans often face unique challenges because of the experiences they encountered during service. The effects can impact relationships, employment, physical health, and overall quality of life.

At Tee It Up for the Troops, we recognize that when a service member returns home, they often face challenges that extend far beyond their military service. That is why our mission focuses on six critical pillars of support designed to help veterans and their families thrive after service.

One of those pillars is PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment. These invisible wounds of war often go untreated due to stigma, shame, or misdiagnosis. Yet their impact can be profound—not only for veterans, but also for their spouses, children, caregivers, and communities. Through our grants and partnerships with organizations across the country, Tee It Up for the Troops helps provide access to programs and services that support veterans coping with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
PTSD Coach App

One of the most important messages of PTSD Awareness Month is simple: treatment works.

Many veterans and survivors believe they should simply "push through" their symptoms or handle them alone. The truth is that evidence-based treatments can significantly reduce PTSD symptoms and improve quality of life. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness—it is a sign of strength. For veterans looking for additional support, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a free mobile application called PTSD Coach.

Designed for veterans, service members, survivors, and their families, the app provides reliable information about PTSD, self-assessment tools, coping strategies, and resources for finding professional support.

While the app is not intended to replace professional care, it can be a valuable companion alongside treatment and recovery efforts. Family members and friends can also use the app to better understand PTSD and learn ways to support loved ones.

Veterans can learn more and download the PTSD Coach app through the Department of Veterans Affairs website.

June 2026 events

Join Tee It Up for the Troops this PTSD Awareness Month and make a difference for veterans living with the invisible wounds of war.

This month, six Tee It Up for the Troops events are taking place across the country, providing opportunities to honor and support those affected by PTSD.

June 8 - Tee It Up for the Troops - Olympic Hills Golf Club - MN
June 8 - Congressional Charity Golf Classic - Army/Navy Country Club - VA
June 19 - Longest Day of Golf - Bunker Hills - MN
June 22 - Longest Day of Golf - Northern Bay Golf Resort - WI
June 29 - Tee It Up for the Troops - Carrollwood Country Club - FL
June 29 - Tee It Up for the Troops - Country Club of Missouri - MO

Click on an event logo to learn more and get involved.

Every participant, volunteer, sponsor, and donor helps fund programs that provide critical PTSD treatment, recovery resources, and hope for veterans and their families. Together, we can ensure that no veteran has to face these challenges alone.If you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD, remember: help is available, treatment works, and recovery is possible.

May 1, 2026June 1, 2026

New Women Veterans House Coming to Mankato, MN

The dream to build the nation’s first sober home for women veterans struggling with PTSD and addiction has been around since the original Bravo Zulu House project began, and it’s growing closer to becoming reality..

For many veterans, the hardest battles don’t happen overseas—they begin when they come home. The transition to civilian life can be isolating. For women veterans, those challenges are often even more complex. Access to resources, safe housing, and community support isn’t always easy to find. That’s why this new partnership matters.

Tee It Up for the Troops is proud to partner with Bravo Zulu House at the
15th Annual Tee It Up for the Troops – Mankato Golf Event

This event on August 24th will be to support the construction of a Women Veterans House in Mankato, Minnesota—a place designed specifically to help women veterans heal, rebuild, and move forward.

A Place for Healing and Stability - Coming Spring 2027!
This Women Veterans only home will provide more than just a roof. It’s being built to support women veterans navigating PTSD, sobriety, and the transition to stable, independent living. It’s a place where they can take the next step—not alone, but with support behind them.
Through this partnership, we’re expanding the ways our community can show up for those who served—meeting needs that too often go unseen.

For more than a decade, the Mankato Tee It Up for the Troops event has brought people together to honor and support veterans. This year, that impact grows even stronger—creating a direct, lasting difference right here in our community.
Bravo Zulu House identified a critical gap in veteran care and stepped in to fill it, creating the first sober living recovery homes specifically for veterans.
Now, they’ve recognized that women veterans are one of the fastest-growing segments of the veteran population—and that they need a space designed specifically for their recovery and healing.
Tee It Up for the Troops is proud to help bring this Women Veterans House to life.
Because supporting veterans doesn’t stop at saying thank you. It’s about showing up in the moments that matter most. And together, we’re helping build a place where women veterans can find strength, stability, and a new beginning.

How Can You Support?

Support can be given in many ways. Sponsor and golf on August 24th in Mankato. Donate funds or your time volunteering at Tee It Up for the Troops. Knowledge is power, Learn more about Brave Zulu House and their Spring 2027 Plans for the Women Veteran's House.

In March 2026, KEYC's reporter Aaron Stuve published a great report on the work being done on this project. Check it out.

March 2, 2026June 1, 2026

“Welcome Home” – National Vietnam War Veteran’s Day

“Welcome Home”

For many Vietnam veterans, those two words did not come in 1973.

In 1985, Vietnam Veteran Len Erickson, USMC, found himself sleepless at his hotel in Washington, DC. He pulled on his Marine Corps sweatshirt and walked into the chilled early hour as the dawning light broke through the darkened sky. Len’s feet led him to the Vietnam Wall where he was face to face with the thousands of names of soldiers that would never stand next to him.

Not many people were around on this quiet morning, except for another gentleman standing nearby. Len noticed he, too, was wearing a Marine Corps sweatshirt. The stranger looked at Len in earnest, stuck his hand out, and with a firm grip said, “Welcome home, Marine,” before continuing down the wall.

For a long moment, he couldn’t find the words. He couldn’t find a thought. He replayed those words in his head as he stared down at the hand that was still warm from the embrace. “Welcome home, Marine.” Why did this feel so strange?

Then Len’s eyes widened with awareness. It was 1985.

Fifteen years since he left Vietnam.

And that was the first time anybody had said welcome home to him.

Fifteen years.

For many Vietnam veterans, the wounds were not only physical, but they carried mental trauma of moral injury, isolation, and the quiet ache of feeling unseen. “We were there (in Vietnam) for a purpose, and I don’t think people understood that in the States.”

And he knew he was not alone. “So many veterans out there who haven’t been welcomed home.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by CreatiVets (@creativets)

On March 29, we observe National Vietnam War Veteran’s Day, honoring the nearly nine million men and women who served during the Vietnam War era. We also remember the more than 58,000 individuals whose names the black granite of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial displays.

A day that carries a deeper purpose for our Vietnam veterans. It exists to offer something many Vietnam veterans never received when they first stepped back onto American soil:

A proper welcome home.

“I went through a lot of trauma in the war, but the biggest trauma was coming home.” Len admits. “When I came home, I threw away all my uniforms because nobody wanted to know about it. I was shocked to find a country of indifference.”

“Welcome Home.”

For Len, those words changed something. Not the past. Not the memories. But the feeling of being seen. “It just made a big difference to me.”

It’s been 53 years since the end of the Vietnam War.

On March 29 this year, we have the opportunity to make sure no Vietnam veteran is left unwelcomed or unseen.

If you know a Vietnam veteran, take a moment. Look them in the eye. Thank them for their service. And say the words that still matter.

Welcome home.

More about Len Erickson, USMC

Len was born and raised in Northern Minnesota. After graduating from high school, he left to go to college in Colorado. Immediately after college in 1966, Len joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in Quantico, Virginia; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Jacksonville Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida; and then Viet Nam. Len served with First Battalion Seventh Marines approximately 25 miles southwest of Danang. He arrived in Viet Nam during the Tet offensive of 1968, and left during the Tet Offensive of 1969.

In 1970, Len and his wife Bonnie married, and over the course of ten years, had three wonderful daughters. He owned a consulting firm that specialized in organizational development for over 20 years, and finished his career as an HVAC distributor.

Len is retired, and looks forward to golfing and spending many years with Bonnie, his wife of near nearly 53 years.

During REUNION, Len Erickson worked with one of our nonprofit partners, Creativets, in Nashville, TN, where professional songwriters turned his story into a song, which was later produced and performed by Scotty Hastings.

Hear Len’s song “Welcome Home”

Hear Len tell his story: On Fox News on Veteran’s Day 2025

February 2, 2026June 1, 2026

Shifting Purpose – The Journey of finding purpose beyond the military experience

Military veterans and family When you serve in the military, you are given a purpose.
You are given a job — your MOS (military occupational specialty code)
You are given structure.
You are given a new family — your squad, your platoon, the people who would stand beside you no matter what.
Maybe your role meant jumping out of airplanes. Maybe it meant running logistics, creating battle plans, repairing aircraft or vehicles, or spending months at sea aboard a ship.

No matter the job, service brings clarity.
Direction.
Belonging.
But when military service ends, that clarity often disappears.
The uniform comes off.
The mission ends.
And the family that once felt permanent is suddenly scattered.

For many veterans, the transition home isn’t just about starting a new job — it’s about losing an identity. The purpose that guided everyday life for years is gone, replaced by uncertainty and isolation.

Today, there are an estimated 16–18 million military veterans living in the United States. Each carries their own story — and many quietly struggle with what comes next.

That is why REUNION exists.

This year, from January 8–11, 2026, Tee It Up for the Troops hosted REUNION at Reunion Resort and Golf Club. 26 veterans came together in a safe, supportive environment — reuniting with comrades from their past and meeting other fellow veterans whose experiences mirrored their own in powerful ways.

This video is a look at the REUNION experience — a weekend filled with honest conversations, renewed bonds, and growth towards healing.

At REUNION, veterans are reminded of something many have forgotten:

They are not alone.
They are still needed.
And their purpose did not end with service.

For veterans seeking reconnection — and for sponsors who make this work possible — REUNION stands as a reminder that coming home is not the end of the journey.

Sometimes, it’s where the next purpose begins.

To learn more, support, or apply for REUNION, visit: https://teeitupforthetroops.org/reunion/

October 27, 2025June 1, 2026

For Some, November 11 Is More Than Just Veteran’s Day

For most people, November 11 is a day to honor those who have served our country. For Erik and Melissa Holtan, it’s even more special. The date marks Veteran’s Day, Erik’s birthday, and the couple’s wedding anniversary.

“It means a lot to me beyond just being my birthday,” Erik shared. “Seeing the pride of older generations finally being celebrated after not getting recognition before—it’s powerful. I’m proud to see the community come together like that.” Every year, Erik and Melissa start their morning at their local Hy-Vee, where veterans are invited for breakfast. “In a funny way, it’s nice to get free breakfast to celebrate our Anniversary.”

“We both served in the same unit, and that’s actually how we met,” Melissa said. “So it’s not just a day of celebration for us—it’s also a reminder of where our story began.”

As the years go by, the day’s meaning continues to grow for them. “Our anniversary is a date, but our marriage is daily,” Melissa said with a smile. This year, the Holtans will celebrate their 30th anniversary with a trip to a Liberty University football game in Lynchburg, Virginia—a getaway they started last year and hope to make a yearly tradition.

During Erik’s deployment in 2005, the couple leaned heavily on their community for support. Beyond the Yellow Ribbon (BTYR) wasn’t around yet when he served overseas, but once it formed, the Holtans didn’t hesitate to get involved. “We knew not everyone had strong family support,” Erik explained. “So we dedicated a lot of time to help local BTYR networks. I served as chairman for our local group, and Melissa was always there beside me helping at events. The community we served was so appreciative.”

That’s why Tee It Up for the Troops’ support of Beyond the Yellow Ribbon means so much to them. “When our local BTYR started, funding was tough,” Erik said. “Having nonprofits like Tee It Up for the Troops partner with us was such a blessing. ” People have needs the other 364 days too. That’s why local networks and nonprofits are so vital—they step in when families need help most.”

Looking ahead, Erik and Melissa hope the next generation continues that spirit of service. “We want our kids and grandkids to understand the sacrifices Veterans and their families make,” Erik said. “It’s not always easy, and we’ll need a new generation of support to carry it forward.”

Erik also encourages his fellow Veterans to stay connected. “Reach out to those you served with, even if it’s just once a year,” he shared. “Time moves fast, and those old friendships matter more than you realize.”

That message of reconnection is exactly what Tee It Up for the Troops’ REUNION Program is all about. Through this initiative, Tee It Up for the Troops brings together combat Veterans who were separated after deployment, giving them a chance to reconnect, reflect, and heal alongside their brothers and sisters in arms.

To learn more about the Reunion Program and how you can support future reunions, visit our REUNION page.

To learn more about the BTYR, visit, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon.

September 29, 2025June 1, 2026

Honoring Service, Fueling Support: The Ripple Effect of Your Giving

Every year, Tee It Up for the Troops is reminded of the incredible ripple effect your generosity creates. Since launching our grant program in 2006, we’ve proudly awarded over $18,000,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations nationwide—ensuring that veterans and their families, whether in small hometowns or large cities, can access the resources they need not just to survive, but to thrive.

Map showing the locations of nonprofit organizations

For the 2025 grant cycle, we received over 240 applications—each one representing a veteran, a family, or a community seeking hope, healing, and support. Guided by Tee It Up for the Troops’ six core pillars of care, our team carefully reviewed each request, committed to honoring your trust and ensuring every donated dollar fuels programs that make a lasting impact. Whether it’s helping veterans heal from invisible wounds, preventing suicide, supporting employment and housing, or strengthening families and caregivers, your generosity is driving real change where it’s needed most.

We are proud to spotlight a few of the organizations you’ve helped empower to create meaningful change. These stories go beyond grants—they’re about you. They reflect the impact your support has when it reaches those working on the front lines of veteran care. And they serve as a powerful reminder that together, we’re building more than just events. We’re building hope, healing, and a legacy of gratitude.

Guest House | Chicago, IL

Guest House is deeply grateful for Tee It Up for the Troops’ support. The grant received supported our Road Home program, which is essential to improving access to mental health treatment for U.S. military veterans.

With your help, Guest House provided 3,090 nights of no-cost lodging and support services for 265 veterans while they received care for military traumas at the Road Home Intensive Outpatient Program at Rush University Medical Center. The Road Home program delivered two weeks of day-long treatment to veterans striving to overcome the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, and related mental health conditions, while Guest House provided veteran-focused lodging and supportive care.

Home For Our Troops | Taunton, MA

Home For Our Troops has had an exciting year. Thanks to your support, in 2025 we delivered 12 homes to severely injured veterans, broke ground on 10 construction projects, including our first in Wyoming, and welcomed 18 new veterans into the HFOT family. All of this fulfills our mission to build homes and rebuild lives.

“This home is a game changer. There is no longer this looming question of what if. The question now becomes, what’s next? This home will provide Ed with full independence and a place to completely decompress. Our lives changed when we heard, ‘Welcome to the family.’”

— Stephany Bonfiglio, wife of HM3 Ed Bonfiglio

Imprints of Honor | Phoenix, AZ

Thank you so much for supporting our mission with a grant for our After-School Chapter Program, which creates a platform for veterans to share their service experiences and connect with their communities. Your support provides the gift of knowledge, appreciation, honor, and legacy.

Although our name has changed from Veterans Heritage Project to Imprints of Honor, our mission remains the same. Our program continues to recognize the importance of veterans’ service while helping students learn about history, citizenship, and leadership. We are now in our 21st year of students interviewing veterans and preserving their legacies by writing and publishing service stories, engaging in civic activities, and planning community events to honor veterans.

Meaningful connections are made between veterans and students. Storytelling from one generation to the next shares experience, imparts lessons, preserves legacy, and inspires youth. Beyond the emotional healing veterans experience, many deepen their conversations with family members and build mentor relationships with their student interviewers, inspiring young people to lead lives of honor through examples of courage and perseverance.

May 26, 2025June 1, 2026

Invisible Wounds: PTSD in Veterans & How REUNION Helps

Help Veterans Heal from the Invisible Wounds of War

June is PTSD Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on the mental health challenges many of our nation’s heroes face after returning home. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects hundreds of thousands of veterans and subsequently their families. It can lead to anxiety, depression, isolation, substance abuse, and tragically, suicide.

At Tee It Up for the Troops, we have learned that one of the most powerful forms of healing is connection—with those who’ve walked the same path.

That’s why we created REUNION, a life-changing outreach program designed to reunite veterans with the people who understand them best—their fellow comrades. These one-on-one reunions foster healing, trust, and hope.

Not only do we provide support for the veterans but also their spouse/significant others who attend. A key addition was to offer support to those who provide critical care and encouragement for the veterans in their lives.

Learn More about REUNION

Why Your Support Matters

REUNION helps veterans process trauma and rediscover a sense of purpose, hope, and belonging. Through helpful breakout sessions, reconnection through shared stories, and fellowship on and off the golf course, participants break the cycle of isolation and take steps toward healing.

Tee It Up for the Troops relies on companies, corporations, foundations, and individual REUNION sponsors and donors to assist us in reuniting combat veterans and helping them transition from the battlefront to the home front.

CreatiVets during the annual REUNION event

With your donation or sponsorship, you can:

Cover travel and lodging costs for a veteran
Provide access to mental health resources
Rebuild connections that combat PTSD’s isolating effects
Align your brand or organization with a cause that changes these heroes’ lives

Your support sends a powerful message to our nation’s heroes:

You are not alone.
You are not forgotten.
And healing is possible.

Are You or Someone You Know a Combat Veteran Living with PTSD?
If you or someone you care about could benefit from the healing power of REUNION, we invite you to reach out.
Learn more.

September 16, 2024June 1, 2026

Extraordinary Woman, Notre Dame Alumnus, and Tee It Up for the Troops Combat Veteran

When Tee It Up for the Troops combat veteran Danielle Green was growing up on the south side of Chicago, Danielle Green’s grandmother always encouraged her to “get out and be somebody.” At first, it seemed like basketball would be the way she’d accomplish that mission. After earning a basketball scholarship to the University of Notre Dame and becoming the 17th-leading scorer in program history, she had certainly gotten out and become somebody. However, after graduating with a degree in psychology from Notre Dame, Danielle felt she could do more to serve others, so she joined the U.S. Army as a military police officer.

In 2004, while patrolling on a 115-degree rooftop in Baghdad, Iraq, she was injured by a rocket-propelled grenade causing her to lose her dominant left arm. She was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat. She had to re-learn how to do almost everything, reinvent herself, and find a new purpose. After eight months of occupational therapy at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Danielle returned to Chicago to complete a master’s degree in counseling from Saint Xavier University. She embarked on a career with the Chicago Board of Education and continued with a career with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs for 12 years.

Her passion for serving others has led her to help countless people over the last 19 years, including her support as a Tee It Up for the Troops combat veteran. She’s counseled warriors in mental health, aided in veterans’ transition to civilian life, and now travels the country to share her powerful story as a spokesperson with the Wounded Warrior Project in the hope that more veterans will reach out for the help they need. Danielle was recognized for her service when she received the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2015 ESPY Awards. Danielle resides in St Petersburg, FL with her nine-year-old son Daniel, and her life partner Robert.

Veterans Give Back Hat Collection

Imperial, the premier headwear brand in the golf industry, has launched a special Veterans Give Back Hat Collection, in partnership with Tee It Up for the Troops. Each unique style in this collection was hand-selected by a U.S. veteran, and embroidered with their name, nickname, or call sign in their honor. A portion of proceeds from this collection is given back to Tee It Up for the Troops to go towards veteran services.

The D-Smooth – A tonal camo knit performance cap is named for U.S. veteran Danielle Green.

The D-Smooth cap in honor of U.S. veteran Danielle Green.Support our troops by buying one of these personalized hats HERE.

August 7, 2024June 1, 2026

Small Donations Make a Huge Difference for Military Families!

More Than a Lemonade Stand – Small donations make a huge difference for military families!

Just ask Cole and Noah Dingels who got patriotic and creative with their lemonade stand and raised $1,817 for military veterans! Watch the video below showing these amazing boys in action!

Small donations make a huge difference and can have a significant impact on people’s lives. Even the seemingly small contribution – like buying a glass of lemonade or donating $20 – can improve the life of a veteran and military family. When numerous individuals rally behind a cause, the collective impact multiplies exponentially.

Noah, age 9, and Cole, age 6 raised $1,817 for Tee It Up for the Troops by selling one cup of lemonade at a time! Noah and Cole are two incredible young men dedicated to our mission for three years in a row with a lemonade stand at our Olympic Hills Golf Club event in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

Cole and Noah Dingels get patriotic and creative with their lemonade stand and raise $1,817 for military veterans!

The boys do it in honor of CW5 “Papa Gene,” the grandpa they never had the opportunity to meet, who served our country for over 30 years as a helicopter pilot. This year, Noah had the idea to clean and sell golf balls to help make even more of an impact!

Noah & Cole’s parents ensure their boys understand the sacrifices our military makes and how important it is to support our veterans. Mom, Angela, said, “Each year this event invites important conversation with our kids about our great country and the incredible service men and women who sacrifice so much to protect our freedoms.” Small donations make a huge difference when families like this support our veterans.

Thank you to Noah and Cole for making a difference! Additionally, thank you to their parents, Brian and Angela, for teaching their kids about the roles and sacrifices of military personnel, which can help kids understand and appreciate the freedoms and security they enjoy.

The Golf Season May End in the Midwest. The Mission Doesn't. Meet one of our 2026 National Grant Recipients.