WELCOME OPERATION RISING STAR
Folds of Honor tournament hopes to raise funds for 27 military family scholarships
BY THOMAS FREESTONE , PGA Director of Golf Operations
Iam thrilled to tell you about a truly special tournament coming to the Ocean Course at Hokuala on Sunday , December 18 , called Operation Rising Star . As you know , Hokuala means “ rising
This charity event for the island of Kauai , which is sponsored by the Ocean Course as well as Timbers Kaua ’ i , will be attended by Lt . Col . Dan Rooney , Founder and CEO of Folds of Honor . Rooney is the only man who is both a United States Air Force jet fighter pilot and a Class A PGA Professional .
In 2007 , he conceived the non-profit Folds of Honor Foundation . Its singular mission , then as now , was to provide educational scholarships to the children
Kawena Hokuala | October-November 2022 and spouses of military members who were killed or disabled while in the service of their country . We ’ re so pleased to welcome Dan to this event – and on his birthday and wedding anniversary as well !
I met Dan Rooney when he was getting the foundation started about 15 years ago . Folds of Honor exists to honor individuals who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for this country ’ s freedom . It directly benefits families that fall short on the support they need after losing someone or having someone injured in the line of duty .
Once you learn their stories , it ’ s hard not to want to get involved .
We have a property goal of raising funds for 27 scholarships , which are $ 5,000 apiece . At $ 135,000 , it would be the largest donation from a golf outing in the state of Hawaii for the Folds of Honor . We ’ re hoping to change the lives of 27 families . Statewide , the organization has a goal of nearly doubling those numbers .
The focus in promoting the event isn ’ t necessarily about the money we ’ re trying to raise . Rather the focus revolves around the stories of the people and the lives we are trying to change for the better .
The Ocean Course at Hokuala will play host to the upcoming Folds of Honor golf tournament .