ST PETERSBURG, FL (PRWEB) March 29, 2013
Isla del Sol Yacht & Country Club (ISDYCC) hosted its second annual charity golf tournament to benefit the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (“SOWF”), a top-rated nonprofit organization that supports the military’s special operations forces and their families.
The field of forty foursomes was primarily made up of strong support from Isla del Sol club members. Also in the field were company-sponsored teams from the BB&T, General Dynamics, American Strategic Insurance and Manheim Auctions. The team of Jesse & Denise Javens and Bill & Karen Gonzalez placed first overall in this second annual tournament. Following the golf tournament, over 250 people enjoyed a full night’s activities emceed by Dick Crippen, Executive Director of Community Development for the Tampa Bay Rays. The event included numerous raffle prizes, over 60 silent auction items and six live auction items. Isla del Sol is very grateful to the local businesses, club suppliers and club members who donated to this cause. The total amount raised for the foundation was over $ 65,000. Steve Riordan, Chairman of the Tournament Committee, stated “The generosity of our membership never ceases to amaze me. Whether it’s their support for the needy through our annual ‘Play for Hunger’ event or this tournament, our members have always supported worthy causes with their time and money.”
The Special Operations Warrior Foundation provides full college educations to the surviving children of fallen Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations personnel. Logan Fitzpatrick, a graduate of the SOWF program, gave an emotional speech about SOWF and his father, Captain Charles Cooper, who was killed in action and subsequently awarded the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross for his service to our country. Logan stated, “As children we were contacted by the SOWF and they were able help us get through our difficult time, as well as introduce us to other children and families going through similar situations. If it wasn’t for people like you and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, the financial enormity of college may be out of reach for many families like my own. I just wanted to say thank you all so much for everything you do and to please keep doing it,” he explained.
“The greatest measure of respect that we can bestow upon a fallen hero is to make sure their family is never forgotten,” said John T. Carney Jr., SOWF President and retired Air Force Colonel. “It speaks volumes that the folks at Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club opened their hearts and extended a warm embrace to the families of fallen heroes. Their generosity will ensure the children of fallen special operations warrior receive a college education and the sacrifice of their fallen parent will never be forgotten.”
About Special Operations Warrior Foundation
Since 1980, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation’s programs have supported America’s Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations personnel. Their programs provide full college grants for the surviving children’s college educations and also provide immediate financial assistance to the families of severely wounded special operations warriors. For the past seven years, SOWF has received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, a leading non-profit watchdog group. For more information, visit http://www.specialops.org.
About Isla del Sol Yacht & Country Club
Isla del Sol Yacht & Country Club is a private, member-owned club nestled between the southern tip of St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach, just north of Tierra Verde. Isla del Sol, the official country club of the world famous Loews Don Cesar Resort, includes a par-71 championship golf course, a 75-slip marina, 9 Har-Tru tennis courts and world-class dining and events facility. For the past 21 years, the club has supported the St Petersburg Free Clinic and the Daystar Life Center through its “Play for Hunger” events each February raising over $ 1.4 million. For more information, visit http://www.isladelsolycc.com.
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