20 Military Veterans with Disabilities Named PGA HOPE Ambassadors
November 11, 2019 by PGA
PGA REACH, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America, has announced that 20 military Veterans have been named PGA HOPE Ambassadors in celebration of Veterans Day and the 3rd Annual PGA National Day of HOPE.
PGA National Day of HOPE has two goals: Celebrate our nation’s heroes; and raise awareness and support for PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), the signature military program for PGA REACH. PGA HOPE is a national program that introduces golf to military Veterans to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being.
PGA HOPE helps Veterans assimilate back into their communities through the social interaction the game of golf provides, and is offered at no cost to Veterans. Led by PGA Professionals, there are currently more than 90 PGA HOPE programs, helping approximately 2,500 Veterans annually.
The 20 Veterans were named PGA HOPE Ambassadors following the completion of a specialized training program during the Inaugural PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week, which was conducted in October, at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. The four-day program included advanced golf instruction and wellness training.
Each participating Veteran received a specially designed golf and wellness tool kit that included golf training tips, exercises and other recommendations for healthy living. Each new PGA HOPE Ambassador will now represent their respective PGA of America Section and support their fellow Veterans in communities across the country during PGA HOPE clinics and training programs.
20 New PGA HOPE Ambassadors:
| Veteran | Section | Branch |
| Josh Swindle | Carolinas | U.S. Army |
| Eric Schuster | Central NY | U.S. Army |
| Bill Wiegand | Gateway | U.S. Air Force |
| William Caywood | Indiana | U.S. Army |
| Janus Persaud | Metropolitan | U.S. Marines |
| Matt Underwood | Middle Atlantic | U.S. Navy |
| Daniel Brazzell | Midwest | U.S. Marines |
| David Karl | Nebraska | U.S. Air Force |
| Chris Solivan | New Jersey | U.S. Marines |
| Douglas Jackson | North Florida | U.S. Marines |
| Will Stockholm | Northern California | U.S. Marines |
| Randy Shack | Northern Texas | U.S. Army |
| Sean Sanders | Philadelphia | U.S. Army |
| Mary Anderson-Kokell | South Florida | U.S. Army |
| Burton Jones | Southern Ohio | U.S. Air Force |
| Casey Dorrell | Southwest | U.S. Army |
| Clark Harrison | Tennessee | U.S. Army |
| Dennis McClure | Tri-State | U.S. Army |
| Nick Martone | Western NY | U.S. Marines |
| Joseph Robinson | Colorado | U.S. Army |
Key responsibilities for the new PGA HOPE Ambassadors include:
- Attend PGA HOPE programming, graduations and PGA HOPE fundraising events.
- Actively discuss and advocate for the PGA HOPE program; recruit Veterans in their home community; educate interested individuals about PGA HOPE.
- Commit to a personal health and wellness regimen.
- Commit to positively represent the PGA HOPE program and empower other Veterans to embrace healthier, more positive choices.
“We congratulate each of these 20 heroes on their successful completion of PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week,” said PGA REACH Senior Director Ryan Cannon. “Their commitment to protecting our freedoms and helping others provides inspiration to us all.”
On Sunday, Nov. 17, to further support PGA National Day of HOPE, “CBS Sunday Morning” is scheduled to highlight the golf journey of Renee Powell, PGA/LPGA, the PGA Head Professional at Clearview Golf Club, in East Canton, Ohio—site of the groundbreaking Clearview HOPE program. Powell, a member of the PGA of America Hall of Fame and Board of Directors, and the second woman of color to compete on the LPGA Tour, hosts the first-ever PGA HOPE program specifically for women Veterans. Six of these Veterans participating in the program experienced the opportunity of a lifetime last summer, as they traveled to Scotland in July to spend a week in St. Andrews.
For more information on PGA National Day of HOPE and/or to make a donation, please click here.
