White House Names Birdies for the Brave a Finalist in Community Challenge

January 31, 2012

By PGA TOUR Staff

Click here to cast your vote for Birdies for the Brave in the White House's Joining Forces Community Challenge

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla.—Birdies for the Brave, a national military outreach initiative proudly supported by the PGA TOUR, has been recognized as one of 20 finalists in the White House’s Joining Forces Community Challenge, an effort—led by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden—that recognizes citizens and organizations with a demonstrated, genuine and deep desire to be of service to military families.

The Joining Forces Community Challenge was established as part of Joining Forces, a national initiative launched by Obama and Biden in April 2011 aimed at mobilizing all sectors of society to give military members and their families opportunities and support.  As one of the finalists selected from among more than 300 entries nationwide, Birdies for the Brave is currently being profiled on challenge.gov, where the public will have the opportunity to vote for its favorite for the Joining Forces Community Challenge People’s Choice Award. Each user can vote on each submission once every 24 hours. To vote for Birdies for the Brave, click here. 

The White House will announce a winner Feb. 24. Winners’ profiles will be featured at Champions of Change, the administration’s website where extraordinary community efforts in the areas of innovation and education are celebrated.

“We are extremely honored that Birdies for the Brave has been recognized alongside so many worthy organizations for its efforts to honor and show appreciation to the courageous men and women of our U.S. Armed Forces and their families for their service and sacrifice,” said David Pillsbury, president of PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties and executive vice president, Championship Management. “We applaud the efforts of the First Lady and Dr. Biden for their leadership in supporting military families through Joining Forces and would like to thank TOUR players, sponsors, partners and TPC members for embracing this monumental national initiative.”

Birdies for the Brave was originally created in 2005 by PGA TOUR player Phil Mickelson and his wife, Amy, to support combat-wounded veterans. In 2006, the PGA TOUR adopted the program and expanded it to include a wide variety of military-outreach efforts, including:

• Complimentary admission for military members and their families during most PGA TOUR events
• Military Appreciation Day celebrations
• Integration opportunities for wounded warriors
• Care-package assembly stations
• Complimentary military hospitality chalets—Patriots’ Outposts—during TOUR tournaments
• Rehabilitative golf programs for wounded warriors
• Morale-boosting events for military members and their families
• Operation Shower, group baby showers for military moms-to-be whose spouses are deployed or seriously injured
• Birdies for the Brave fundraising events conducted at the PGA TOUR’s TPC clubs nationwide, an effort that has raised more than $7 million during the past six years for 10 military home-front groups endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense which are supported by TOUR players