Volunteers, Sponsors, & Donors Archives

April 2, 2026June 1, 2026

How Many Hours Did Our Volunteers Donate in 2025?

In 2025, something powerful happened across Tee It Up for the Troops.

It wasn’t tied to one single event.
And it didn’t come from one person.
It came from thousands of moments—donated by YOU!

In 2025, our volunteers donated 20,764 hours of volunteer service!

How much is 20,764 volunteer hours? It’s the equivalent of:

~10 full-time staff members worth of time
~865 full days of service
~2.4 years of continuous, nonstop work
Over $650,000 in value given back to the mission

Behind every hour is a person who chose to show up. Someone who:

Checked in golfers before sunrise
Stayed late to clean up after an event
Helped plan, organize, and execute tournaments
Gave up weekends to serve something bigger than themselves

What 20,764 Hours Made Possible

Because of our volunteers, we changed lives. Those hours helped fuel programs and support services that provided:

Service dogs for veterans navigating PTSD and daily life challenges
Critical home repairs for injured veterans, making their spaces safe and accessible
Emergency financial assistance when veterans and families needed it most
Support to prevent homelessness, ensuring stability during difficult transitions
Community and connection through events that remind veterans they are not alone

To Our Volunteers
YOU are the reason this mission moves forward.
YOU are the energy behind every event.
The hands that make the work possible.
The heart behind every impact we celebrate.
Because of you, we are not just supporting veterans. We are building a community that stands beside them.

Thank you.

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.

August 25, 2025June 1, 2026

Chipping Marshmallows, Supporting Heroes

**AMP Employees Support Tee It Up for the Troops by hosting a Longest Marshmallow Chipping Contest!**

As the weather begins to cool, marshmallows usually make us think of gooey s’mores by the fire. But as our friends at AMP showed us, marshmallows can serve another purpose too, becoming the perfect stand-in for golf balls during a Longest Marshmallow Chipping Contest that brought out plenty of fun, teamwork, and generosity.

Check Out their LinkedIn post!

Thanks to their efforts, AMP employees raised more than $1,000 for Tee It Up for the Troops. These funds will directly help us serve veterans and their families, providing opportunities for healing, connection, and growth through golf events and community programs.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the employees of AMP and their Fun Committee for hosting such a unique and meaningful event. Their creativity and generosity remind us that even something as lighthearted as chipping marshmallows can make a lasting difference when it’s done in support of those who have sacrificed so much.

If your company or community would like to get involved, consider hosting your own creative fundraiser or supporting our mission with a donation. Together, we can continue to honor and support our nation’s veterans and their families.Learn More about Hosting an Event

July 28, 2025June 1, 2026

Give Your Golf Clubs a Second Life and Support Veterans

As our outdoor golf season winds down, many of us start thinking about upgrading our golf clubs. Perhaps you’ve caught yourself saying things like,

Donate your golf clubs

“If only I had used new clubs, I would have definitely golfed better.”

“End-of-season sales mean I can finally get that new driver.”

“I swear my putter has a personal grudge against me.”

“Clearly my handicap is the club’s fault, not mine.”

But then comes the inevitable question: What do I do with my old clubs?

Instead of letting them collect dust in the garage, consider giving your golf gear a new mission, one that supports a cause close to home. Through our partnership with 2nd Swing, you can donate your gently used golf clubs to benefit Tee It Up for the Troops, a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring and supporting veterans and their families.

Donating is easy with two convenient options:

Option 1: Bring your clubs to any 2nd Swing location and let them know you’d like to donate them to Tee It Up for the Troops.

Option 2: Mail them in—shipping is on us! To mail your clubs:

Gather clubs – Collect your gently used, name-brand golf clubs.
Check value – Use the 2nd Swing Value Guide to get an estimated value, plus a free shipping label.
Pack & label – Box up your clubs and attach the shipping label.
Ship – Drop the package at any FedEx location. A donation receipt will be sent within 6–8 weeks.

Important note: Please DO NOT send golf clubs or equipment directly to the Tee It Up for the Troops office, as we are unable to process them or provide donation receipts.

Click here to Get Started

Whether it’s a driver, putter, or full set, your donation helps fund programs that support veterans and their families.

It’s a small gesture that can make a big difference in the lives of those who’ve served. Thank you for helping Tee It Up for the Troops honor, remember, respect, and support our veterans, one club at a time.

June 30, 2025June 1, 2026

A Milestone Worth Celebrating: $18 Million Granted to Help Our Veterans

It’s no small feat to grow from a soldier’s selfless request to “Help those back home” in 2005 to now surpassing $18 million in total grants to veteran service organizations. Over the past 20 years, Tee It Up for the Troops has proudly supported critical programs that serve the unique needs of our nation’s veterans — helping them heal, rebuild, and thrive.

“Thanks to the unwavering dedication of hundreds of extraordinary volunteers, Tee It Up for the Troops has now proudly surpassed $18 million in grants to our trusted nonprofit partners. But this milestone is far more than a number—it’s a powerful reflection of our deep and lasting commitment to those who have served and sacrificed to protect our nation’s freedoms. These funds support critical programs that assist our veterans and their families as they transition from the battlefront to the homefront, helping them heal and ‘get back on course’ from the visible and invisible wounds of war.”

— Tim Wegscheid, President & Executive Director

Grant Recipient Spotlight: Leashes of Valor

Helping Post-9/11 Veterans and Rescue Dogs Heal Together

One of our most recent national grant recipients, Leashes of Valor, trains service dogs for post-9/11 veterans with PTSD and other service-connected injuries. Whenever possible, they rescue dogs from shelters — giving a second chance to both the veteran and the dog. Veterans like Xander Hernandez are finding hope and healing through these life-changing partnerships.

“The moment I saw her, and the leash went in my hand, I knew — this is it.”
— Xander Hernandez

Xander was a senior in high school on 9/11. The attack set him on a path to enlist in the Army immediately through the delayed-entry program. He deployed to Iraq as a radio communications specialist, determined to serve. But war left its mark. Xander suffered spinal and leg injuries during two deployments and later received a diagnosis of PTSD. He spent over a decade searching — unsuccessfully — for a service dog. After years of disappointment and even being scammed by a fake nonprofit, Xander nearly gave up. That’s when his wife discovered Leashes of Valor, and everything changed.

“When I got to training and saw Red, it was instant. She’s been the perfect match ever since.”

With his service dog Ruby Red by his side, Xander is now embracing a new life — one with greater freedom, independence, and peace of mind.

Where Your Support Goes

Because of your generosity, we’re able to fund trusted partners like Leashes of Valor, as well as many other organizations (See just a few our beneficiaries here.) that support our mission providing services around our six core pillars:

Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment
Suicide Prevention
Housing & homelessness
Employment
Family & caregiver support
Golf & sports rehabilitation

What’s Next? Onward to $20 Million

We’re not done yet. With your continued support, we look forward to growing our impact and reaching the next milestone — together.

Want to help us get there? Donate here or Get Involved

April 28, 2025June 1, 2026

Vehicles For Veterans Donates $325,676 to Tee It Up for the Troops

Vehicles For Veterans reaches significant donation milestone to support veteran charity Tee It Up for the Troops.

APRIL, 2025 — Vehicles For Veterans is proud to announce a remarkable donation milestone, contributing $325,676 to “Tee It Up for the Troops.” This veteran-centered organization benefits from proceeds of car donations collected nationwide.

Tee It Up for the Troops is a fiercely passionate charity committed to helping veterans and their families successfully transition from the battlefront to the home front. Founded in 2005, the organization utilizes golf events to increase awareness and invest funds to provide vital support to veterans for rehabilitative programs, family assistance, and community reintegration services.

“We are thrilled to contribute to the exceptional work being done by Tee It Up for the Troops,” said Randy Heiligman, Executive Director and Co-Founder of National Fundraising Management, the marketing arm of Vehicles for Veterans. “Our partnership has a meaningful impact on veterans and their families, and we are committed to continuing our support.”

All the funds Vehicles For Veterans has donated to Tee It Up for the Troops came from generous vehicle donations across the U.S.A. In the hands of Vehicles For Veterans, an unwanted vehicle can make a big impact on those who have served our country through great charity recipients like Tee It Up for the Troops.

“We are deeply grateful for the generous support from Vehicles For Veterans,” said Tim Wegscheid, President, Tee It Up for the Troops. “Their substantial donations will significantly enhance our ability to provide services to veterans and their families. Together, we are making a profound difference in the lives of those who have bravely served our country.”

Car Donation Foundation d/b/a Vehicles For Veterans, a non-profit 501(c)(3) vehicle donation organization, aids veteran charities across the U.S. Donors enjoy free towing and receive a tax-deductible receipt. Car Donation Foundation has successfully donated over $171 million, continuously making a difference in veteran communities.

Learn More about Vehicles for Veterans

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.

June 26, 2024June 1, 2026

The Longest Day of Golf for the Troops

Longest Day of Golf for the Troops event in Alaska

Golfing Under the Midnight Sun – Alaska’s Longest Day of Golf for the Troops

For the first time in Tee It Up for the Troops’ history, a Longest Day of Golf for the Troops Event took place in the state of Alaska! As part of the 2024 Longest Day of Golf for the Troops, one combat Marine veteran in Alaska played through the longest day yet!

Last month on June 6 marked the 80th Anniversary of D-Day and the US-led

Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944, marking a deadly, yet pivotal day in world history. This day marked the “beginning of the end of WWII” and is often referred to asThe Longest Day.” Also a famous book and movie (starring John Wayne), “The Longest Day” honored those who fought for our freedom on D-Day. Thus, on the longest days of the year near the summer solstice, our Longest Day of Golf for the Troops event provides a unique opportunity to honor all those who have served and continue to sacrifice for our freedom.

Combat Marine veteran Brian Schiller swinging his way through the Longest Day of Golf for the Troops in Alaska.

Brian Schiller’s Longest Day Challenge on June 20^th, took advantage of Alaska’s 20-plus hours of daylight so he could play as many holes as possible that day to raise awareness and funds to support the ongoing issues that many of our nation’s veterans and military families face. Issues like homelessness, PTSD, employment, suicide prevention, and other invisible wounds of war. Brian played 81 holes of golf during his Longest Day Challenge at Moose Run Golf Course on the Joint Military Base Elmendorf-Richardson, near Anchorage, Alaska. The Marine veteran dedicated the first 80 holes to the 80th Anniversary of “The Longest Day” D-Day Landing. The 81st hole was dedicated to Chesty Puller, the most decorated U.S. Marine in the history of the Corps.

Golfing under the midnight sun is one of the unique things you can only do in Alaska as it is daylight from 4 a.m. to midnight. As you play a round…and another round… and another round, it’s easy to forget it’s midnight as it’s so bright outside. Brian describes the Alaskan golf course as having “stunning landscapes and chances for wildlife spotting.” And sure enough, a bear encounter took place on the 12th hole of his second round. See the picture below.

black bear at Moose Run Golf Course, Alaska — A black bear showed up to cheer on Brian at Moose Run Golf Course, Alaska during the Longest Day for the Troops.

“I have supported Tee It Up for the Troops for over 10 years due to my exposure to the outstanding work they do to support our nation’s heroes and their families,” said Marine veteran Brian Schiller. “I have been able to witness and take part in many different activities and treatments that are designed to help promote healing and overcoming the physical and mental obstacles that are a result of selfless service to our country. Using golf as a platform is unique and extremely effective, therefore I am proud to support Tee It Up for the Troops. Having 20 hours of daylight provided the perfect opportunity for me to continue to support an organization I am proud of while experiencing the amazing and unique nature that is Alaska.”

“I couldn’t have accomplished this without the support, logistical assistance, and camaraderie of the State Director of Alaska Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Bryan Fisher. Director Fisher who is also a Marine. Director Fisher started and ended the day with me, golfing 45 of the 81 holes and was also the BEST caddie a guy could ask for,” added Brian.

Other Longest Day of Golf for the Troops Events Around the Country

This year there were several Longest Day of Golf for the Troops events held across the country. The Tee It Up for the Troops Bunker Hills Longest Day of Golf Event in Coon Rapids, Minnesota was held on June 21 and has been running for 11 consecutive years. Several golfers played more than 100 holes with most of them starting at 4:15 a.m. and finishing around 9:45 p.m. Pat Reis, Event Chair of the Bunker Hills Longest Day of Golf for the Troops said, “Considering the weather forecast, the fact we had 33 golfers who played more than 2,100 holes and some sturdy golfers who played non-stop-from-4:15 a.m. to full darkness at almost 10 p.m., is remarkable.”

Some of the golfers in the Bunker Hills Longest Day of Golf for the Troops.

Earlier this summer the Tee It Up for the Troops – Northern Bay Wisconsin Longest Day of Golf for the Troops event was held on June 10. Northern Bay Resort has been participating in the Longest Day event for five years.

How to Get Involved in the Longest Day of Golf for the Troops

Longest Day of Golf for the Troops event in Wisconsin — Northern Bay Wisconsin – Longest Day of Golf for the Troops.

To participate in the Longest Day of Golf for the Troops golf fundraiser, each participant collects donations/pledges from friends, family, co-workers, club members, etc., and then plays as many holes of golf as possible on their chosen day to honor all those who serve(d).

Click here to learn more about this event and register for your Longest Day of Golf Marathon.

April 23, 2024June 1, 2026

Tee It Up for the Troops and The Warrior’s Journey are Excited About a New Continuum of Care Program

Tee It Up for the Troops and The Warrior’s Journey are excited about a new Continuum of Care Program. This new collaboration will provide continuing services and programs to Tee It Up for the Troops’ REUNION warriors and their families.

REUNION is a multi-day event where combat veterans and their comrades discuss their days of service, injuries, and post-military struggles in a supportive environment surrounded by support networks and partner resource organizations. The physical and psychological injuries sustained during combat can affect multiple aspects of a veteran’s transition from the military to civilian life. The invisible wounds often lead to isolation, addiction, and suicide. REUNION connects and reunites combat veterans who use their common bonds to work through post-military challenges.

One of our vital partner resource organizations that has been active in providing group learning and discussion sessions and other support at REUNION is The Warrior’s Journey. The Warrior’s Journey provides warrior-to-warrior intervention and preventative resources to care for the invisible wounds of war and helps equip veterans with the tools they need to tackle the problems life throws at them.

Oftentimes, the REUNION event opens emotional doors that have not been opened for quite some time – some good and some bad – and further processing and support are needed when veterans return home. The REUNION experience has now come full circle with opportunities for customized after-care provided to warriors and their families by The Warrior’s Journey. That’s why Tee It Up for the Troops and The Warrior’s Journey are excited about a new continuum of care program.

Kevin Weaver, President/CEO and Co-Founder of The Warrior’s Journey speaks to a group of REUNION warriors.

“Serving in the military comes with unique challenges that most people do not fully understand,” said Kevin Weaver, President/CEO and Co-Founder of The Warrior’s Journey. “The invisible wounds that veterans carry are a testament to the sacrifices they made. The Warrior’s Journey, along with Tee It Up for the Troops, wanted to make sure there is support that follows the veteran and family after they attend the REUNION event.” Kevin is a US Air Force veteran. He served in the USAF Security Forces and the Office of Special Investigations from 1983-1987.

Tee It Up for the Troops and The Warrior’s Journey are excited to continue ongoing services and programs to assist our warriors on their journey. Some of the challenges faced include PTS, financial difficulty, family brokenness, addiction, suicide, loss, isolation, and more. Staff from The Warriors Journey coordinate reach-out messaging, intake, connection to resources, case management, and follow-up. The Warrior’s Journey has built a team of veterans, called “warrior connectors,” to provide real-time crisis intervention. They respond within 24 hours (always warrior-to-warrior and 100% confidential) to provide community support, resources, and referrals. The individualized approach to intervention is focused on navigating the available help and resources provided by over 70 partner organizations.

Through this new continuum of care program, veterans now have a new “Battle Buddy,” and a personal advocate through The Warrior’s Journey organization, who can help them navigate many post-military issues and offer support whenever they need it. No warrior should have to navigate alone. Together we are helping veterans heal and strengthening families.

On behalf of our Tee It Up for the Troops warriors and families, we want to thank The Warrior’s Journey for all they are doing for the men and women who served our country! We are so thankful for this expanded partnership that is helping warriors and families live in wholeness and navigate the unique issues of military life!

April 23, 2024June 1, 2026

Tee It Up for the Troops and Veteran-Owned Legendary Golf Apparel Partnership

Tee It Up for the Troops and veteran-owned Legendary Golf Apparel partnership will promote and support each other’s objectives through the sale of custom merchandise and support at golf events.

Legendary Golf Apparel is veteran-owned, family-operated, and passionate about the sport of golf, helping veterans, and growing the game they love. Through this new partnership, Legendary Golf Apparel is making custom Tee It Up for the Troops branded merchandise which is available online or for sale at many of our charity events. In addition, Legendary Golf Apparel has selected Tee It Up for the Troops as one of its non-profit partners and will donate a portion of its profits to Tee It Up for the Troops.

Brock Ruiz, CEO and Founder, of Legendary Golf Apparel and Army veteran, said, “The life lessons the military has taught me have changed my life forever. Honor, integrity, selfless service, and respect are what I will always represent. I’ve always had a passion for golf, and I knew I could somehow use that to help serve. That’s why we founded Legendary Golf Apparel. We donate a portion of all proceeds to Tee It Up for the Troops to help all the veterans we can.”

Brock was an Army Infantryman. He served eight years and was stationed at Fort Hood, TX. In his time in the military, he was deployed two times to Afghanistan. During his second deployment, he was wounded in action ending his military career. During deployment, he witnessed a lot of brothers who did not make it out. He knew when he left the military, he wanted to still help serve our great nation in any possible way. That’s why Brock founded Legendary Golf Apparel in 2022.

Legendary Golf Apparel is based in Minnesota and besides being veteran-owned, the company is family-operated, which sets them apart from other golf brands. Brock’s cousin, Brooks Hitchcock, is the CMO and Co-Founder. The two cousins have been working side by side pursuing the American dream of starting a business while giving back to those who fought and served for our freedom.

Brock Ruiz, Army veteran and CEO (left) and Brooks Hitchcock CMO (right), cousins and founders of Legendary Golf Apparel. — Brock Ruiz, Army veteran and CEO (left), and Brooks Hitchcock CMO (right), cousins and founders of Legendary Golf Apparel.

“Our nation’s veterans have sacrificed greatly in service to our country, and our organization takes the responsibility of supporting them very seriously,” said Tim Wegscheid, President and Executive Director of Tee It Up for the Troops. “This new partnership with Legendary Golf Apparel not only supports a disabled veteran-owned business but also provides high-quality custom-branded golf apparel for our tournament participants. This collaboration results in a double win.”

More and more golfers are searching for more fashion-forward apparel for the course and they’re in luck with Legendary Golf Apparel. Their apparel is designed to make golf fun, stylish, and unique while providing a comfortable and lightweight fit.

Whether you’re looking for patriotic polos, hats, or pullovers at an affordable price, the Tee It Up for the Troops and veteran-owned Legendary Golf Apparel partnership has you covered. Your purchase not only helps this veteran-owned business, but it also helps veterans across the country connect with needed services through Tee It Up for the Troops. Shop today and show your appreciation for American heroes.

SHOP NOW HERE!