Event includes golf, pickleball, and a celebration of our
veterans
WESTHAMPTON, N.Y., May 9, 2024
/PRNewswire/ --The Bob Woodruff Foundation is thrilled
to announce the third annual Veterans Classic will take place at
the Westhampton Country Club on Monday, May
20 beginning at 10:30 am. In
addition to the golf tournament, guests will have the opportunity
to participate in a pickleball clinic as part of the afternoon's
events. The Veterans Classic also includes brunch, dinner,
cocktails, and an awards ceremony. The Patriot Parachute
Team will jump in at 11:30 a.m.,
kicking off the day's events. Proceeds from the event benefit Bob
Woodruff Foundation's work in mental health for the military and
veteran community and their families. Additional information,
including registration details, can be found at
bobwoodrufffoundation.org/event/veterans-golf-classic.
"We're kicking off the summer in the best possible way, by
gathering on the greens to play golf with some of our favorite
people and veterans," said Anne Marie
Dougherty, CEO of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. "The Bob
Woodruff Foundation Veterans Golf Classic will raise awareness that
helps strengthen communities and support the health and well-being
of veterans and military families. We look forward to this event as
we remember and honor those who served while working to ensure that
our service members and vets—of today and tomorrow—have everything
they need to thrive."
The Patriot Parachute Team, a veteran-owned and operated
company, will return for an exciting skydiving performance. This
year, the pros will be joined by two guests that won the
opportunity to join the team at last year's event. The Patriot
Parachute Team performs around the nation to inspire the next
generation of patriots and raise awareness for veteran causes to
include transitioning from active duty to civilian.
"They say golf is a good walk spoiled," said Bob Woodruff, ABC correspondent and
Foundation co-founder. "I say our Veterans Golf Classic is a good
time to talk about one of the most important issues facing military
families: kids' mental health. In 2023, we committed $1 million in support of military children's
mental health. We met that goal and are continuing to support our
grant partners who bring clinical and therapeutic expertise to this
area."
Proceeds from this year's Veterans Classic will support mental
health initiatives for veterans, with a focus on military
children's mental health. Approximately 20% of veterans experience
mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD), severe depression, and anxiety. While the Veterans
Association (VA) provides quality care for veterans, only 60% of
veterans were eligible for VA care, with roughly half using their
benefits, as of 2016. The Bob Woodruff Foundation helps to bridge
the gap by funding programs that increase availability and access
to high-quality mental healthcare.
For military children, mental health is at a crisis point. Blue
Star Families' Military Family Lifestyle Survey found that 43% of
active-duty families rated at least one of their children's mental
health as "fair," "poor," or "very poor." To increase access to
quality care, the Bob Woodruff Foundation makes investments in
initiatives that provide mentorship opportunities to bolster
military-connected children's social support and emotional
wellbeing, train clinicians so they are better equipped to serve
children, and cover treatment costs that are ineligible for or not
fully covered by insurance.
Golf has also proven to be beneficial for mental health. This
physical activity can be effective in improving mild-moderate
depression, reducing anxiety, improving confidence, and boosting
self-esteem. Golf also offers an opportunity for socialization and
building community, something veterans can experience a major loss
of when transitioning out of the military.
Last year's Veterans Classic more than $400,000 to support the Foundation's mission to
ensure that our nation's veterans, service members, and their
families have stable and successful futures. Since 2006, the
Foundation has invested more than $159
million to help make sure they have successful futures. The
event takes place ahead of Memorial Day, the federal holiday
mourning the US military service members who have died while
serving in the United States Armed
Forces.
For the Veterans Classic, foursomes are $10,000. Hole sponsorships are available and
include signage recognition and two dinner tickets for $1,000 per hole. Individual playing spots are
available for $2,500, and those
players will be paired with a group. Caddies are included. For more
information, including registration, please contact Dave Woodruff at
dave.woodruff@bobwoodrufffoundation.org.
ABOUT THE BOB WOODRUFF FOUNDATION
The Bob Woodruff Foundation was founded in 2006 after reporter
Bob Woodruff was wounded by a
roadside bomb while covering the war in Iraq. Since then, the Bob Woodruff Foundation
has raised awareness about the tough challenges veterans and
military families are facing, and invested in solutions to help
support them in the next chapter of their lives. To date, the Bob
Woodruff Foundation has invested over $159
million to ensure that our nation's veterans, service
members, and their families — those who stood for us — have stable
and successful futures. Visit the Bob Woodruff Foundation for more
information.
Contact: Rachel Bosworth
377374@email4pr.com
631.220.1220
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SOURCE Bob Woodruff Foundation