John Deere Classic to host Folds of Honor Friday
Thirteen Educational Scholarships to be Awarded to Illinois & Iowa Residents
The John Deere Classic will host its first Folds of Honor Friday on July 5th during the second round of the 53rd edition of the Quad Cities PGA Tour event.
The tournament’s longstanding Lowes Military Ticket program will allow complimentary admission for active, retired, veteran status military personnel and one guest.
Military ticketholders and First Responders are invited to view the tournament from the Patriots’ Outpost hospitality area overlooking the 18th green from 10 a.m. until the conclusion of play.
Among the highlights of the day will be the singing of the National Anthem on the No. 1 tee along with a flag raising, a special flyover and a ceremonial tee shot at TPC Deere Run, before the first tee time of the day, starting at 6:20 AM
In addition, Friday will be a Red, White & Blue Out in which fans are encouraged to outfit themselves in America’s patriotic colors. Folds of Honor pins and ribbons will be distributed at the main entry gate starting at 6 a.m. (quantities will be limited).
“The John Deere Classic is excited to partner with an organization like Folds of Honor whose mission is focused not only on honoring our military and first responders but in actively helping to improve their family members’ lives through education,” said John Deere Classic tournament director Andrew Lehman.
Thirteen scholarships will be awarded to Illinois and Iowa recipients.
“We are grateful to the John Deere Classic for celebrating Folds of Honor Friday, honoring service and helping bring the National Anthem to golf,” said Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, founder and CEO of Folds of Honor. “Through their inclusion in this initiative, local scholars will receive the gift of an education.”
Local companies also are helping to fund the scholarships. GreenState Credit Union and Modern Woodmen are presenting sponsors. Addition support is being provided by Smart Automotive, Cantrell’s Towing, Fred’s Towing, Crystal Group, Moline Regional Community Foundation, Iowa Healthcare and Pro Em National Event Services.
Folds of Honor’s on-site speaker will be Elizabeth “Liz” Brees whose father, a Navy Lieutenant pilot originally from Chicago, was killed in 2000 while in the Navy’s elite Test Pilot school. A recipient of the FOH scholarship, Brees plans to apply to medical school this year to pursue a career in maternal-fetal medicine.
Folds of Honor is a leading non-profit organization that provides educational scholarships for children of fallen or disabled American military service members and first responders.
Since its founding in 2007 by F-16 fighter pilot and PGA golf professional Lt. Colonel Dan Rooney, Folds of Honor has awarded more than 52,000 scholarships, totaling about $244 million in educational impact. In Illinois, FOH has awarded 1,468 scholarships and 282 in Iowa.
The John Deere Classic, which includes Birdies for Charity, is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization located in the John Deere Classic tournament offices at 15623 Coaltown Road, East Moline, Illinois. Since its founding in 1971, the tournament has helped raise more than $174 million for charity.
Last year’s champion Sepp Straka will defend his title July 3-7 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis. The tournament will offer an $8 million purse.