Phil Mickelson and Jim Justice to host Military Appreciation gala
The four-time major champion Phil Mickelson and the owner of Greenbrier Resort Jim Justice along with their wives have announced to host Birdies for the Brave from November 30 to December 1, 2012.
Mickelson and his wife, Amy Mickelson, started the charity program in 2003. They host the military appreciation gala and Pro-Am charity golf event every year.
The main purpose of organizing the event is to raise funds for the military organizations that help the military families. The wounded military personnel and their families get financial benefits from these organizations.
Homes For Our Troops is one of the beneficiaries of the Birdies for the Brave and it receives a huge amount of funds through Mickelson’s efforts every year.
The mission of the Homes For Our Troops is to build homes for the warriors who return from wars with serious injuries or disabilities.
Since its inception, Mickelson is donating $100 for each birdie and $500 for each eagle he scores on the PGA Tour every year.
According to the President and Founder of Homes For Our Troops, John Gonsalves, the military personnel make a huge contribution in keeping the United States safe.
Therefore, the organization aims to remember their sacrifices and make sure that they are not forgotten.
"We are honored that Phil is once again supporting our mission,” Gonsalves said. “Through his efforts and the support of many other great Americans, we have been able to help severely injured veterans across the country move into homes adapted to meet the
physical challenges they face every day as a result of life-altering injuries they suffered while serving our country".
Special Operations Warrior Foundation is another beneficiary of the Birdies for the Brave program. Till date, Mickelson and Amy have raised $250,000 for the charity organization.
"Family is everything to Amy and me," said Mickelson, "and this is our way of helping families in need stay together and grow strong even after the loss of a parent".
Mickelson also told that Birdies for the Brave basically gives a tribute to the men and women who sacrificed their lives for their nation. Therefore, it is now the nation’s duty to provide safety to their families and help them grow in their lives.
This year, he asked Justice to be a part of his program to which he responded positively. In fact, it brought tears in Justice’s eyes after he heard about the invitation.
He stated that he and his wife had a military background, as both had fathers serving in military. Therefore, it was an easy decision to make.
Meanwhile, Mickelson confirmed that the event will be held only this year and will not be a part of the schedule in 2013. However, he will keep on organizing such events in future too.
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