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A garage in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, is not exactly where you'd expect a multimillion-dollar charitable empire to begin. For Rooney — the only person in America to hold the dual distinction of F-16 fighter pilot and PGA professional — that folded flag became his north star.

From Garage to Glory: How Folds of Honor Transforms Lives Through the Power of Golf originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

A garage in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, is not exactly where you'd expect a multimillion-dollar charitable empire to begin. But in 2007, Lt. Col. Dan Rooney and his wife, Jacqy, did precisely that — launching Folds of Honor with nothing more than conviction and a folded flag.

That flag matters. Every military and first responder family knows its weight. Thirteen precise folds. Each one deliberate. Each one sacred.

When families receive that triangle of cloth, it carries the promise that sacrifice won't be forgotten. For Rooney — the only person in America to hold the dual distinction of F-16 fighter pilot and PGA professional — that folded flag became his north star.

Eighteen years later? Nearly 62,000 scholarships. Two hundred ninety million dollars distributed. A movement that's rewriting what's possible when Americans decide to act.

Golf's Unlikely Romance with Military Service

Lt. Col. Dan Rooney with his dad, Dr. John Rooney.

Here's what most people don't know about Rooney: Golf shaped every pivotal moment of his life. The course where he learned to swing with his father. The fairway conversation that introduced him to his first fighter pilot. The university golf team, where he met Jacqy. Even his partnership with the PGA, which would eventually give rise to Patriot Golf Days.

"Just about every good thing in my life has come from the game of golf," Rooney says. It's not hyperbole — it's arithmetic.

The proof? July 19, 2006. Grand Haven Golf Club in Michigan. Dr. John Rooney's course. Sixty-seven golfers (chosen because 6+7=13, matching the folds in Old Glory). Eight thousand dollars raised. The first domino in what would become an unstoppable cascade.

Dr. Rooney, who died this past April, loved telling the story of that perfect Michigan morning. Weather couldn't have been better. Golf was solid. But the real magic happened afterward, when more people claimed to have played in that historic tournament than actually did. "I must have had over 200 people tell me they played in that event," he'd chuckle. Good lies, told by good people who wished they'd been part of something special from day one.

Robert Vance was actually there. Gentex executive. Part of the winning foursome who shot 14-under-par. Still carries his Nike duffel from year two — original Folds of Honor logo and all. He understands what many miss: You don't recognize history while you're living it. Only later does that small community tournament reveal itself as the spark that lit a national wildfire.

The Phone Call That Changed Everything

Some moments hinge on pure luck. Like when Dan Rooney called PGA President Brian Whitcomb in 2007 with a wild idea: What if golfers donated just one extra dollar during Labor Day weekend to fund military scholarships?

Whitcomb seldom answered his phone. Pure chance that he picked up. Instant yes.

Joe Steranka, former PGA CEO, still shakes his head at what happened next. Whitcomb's flight was canceled. Instead of missing the event, he rented a car and drove through the night — no clubs, no luggage, arriving at Grand Haven at 7 a.m. Dr. Rooney met him in the parking lot.

One magical day. Total commitment. The birth of what would become Patriot Golf Days.

First year at Southern Hills: $1.3 million. Eighteen years later: $106 million raised. More than 21,000 scholarships funded. More than 200,000 rounds of golf played for purpose.

The Brutal Math of Need

Folds of Honor just posted record numbers for 2024-25: 10,000 scholarships, $50 million distributed — a Charity Navigator four-star rating. Ninety-one percent of every dollar reaches students directly.

Here's the gut punch: 7,000 qualified applicants received only partial funding. Not because they weren't worthy — because resources ran dry.

There are already 20,000 applications for next year. That's 20% more than last year.

The need isn't just growing — it's accelerating. Military and first responder families don't get to pause their dreams while the world catches up with funding. Those kids need college now. Those spouses need career training today.

Corporate America Steps Up

Jack Nicklaus understood immediately. When Rooney approached him about redesigning Grand Haven into American Dunes, the Golden Bear saw past golf architecture to something deeper: American obligation.

"Being asked by Colonel Rooney to be a part of the concept and execution of American Dunes was a great honor and privilege. As an American, I could not be more proud of what American Dunes has become, and the life-changing impact it has had on the families of our military and first responders."
Jack Nicklaus

Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, left, and Jack Nicklaus at American Dunes opening.

Corporate partnerships followed. Titleist, E-Z-GO, Bushnell, Puma/Volition, and Troon to Invited, Kemper, Foresight, Ahead, GolfNow, Good Good Golf and so many more — companies that discovered something powerful: aligning with Folds of Honor doesn't just feel good, it drives business. Customers respect brands that respect service.

John Sapiente learned this firsthand. As CEO of Volition America, he bought a foursome in 2013 just to play with Craig Stadler. Ended up witnessing something he calls "the marriage between golf and the military." Now he has 11 patriotic brand partners, including Gary Woodland, who wore Puma's Volition America collection to win the 2019 U.S. Open.

"Being part of Volition America helps a company infuse inspiration, a cause and goodwill into a brand," Sapiente explains. Good business. Better purpose.

Heroes Among Us

Consider Rocky Sickmann. Twenty-two years old. Twenty-eight days into his embassy assignment in Tehran. Nov. 4, 1979 — the day that changed everything. Hostage for 444 days. Tied to a chair for the first month. Allowed outside for exactly seven days total.

After his Marine discharge, Sickmann spent 34 years with Anheuser-Busch before joining Folds of Honor as senior vice president of Budweiser accounts. Why? To honor the eight service members who died trying to rescue him and his fellow hostages.

Men like Sickmann don't join causes — they embody them. When he speaks at Folds events, rooms go silent. His story carries weight that no marketing budget could buy.

Innovation Meets Tradition

Folds of Honor Friday represents the organization's newest evolution. A partnership with the PGA Tour. The national anthem at golf events. Red, white and blue encouraged. About 50 select events this year and likely more next year.

It's a simple concept with a profound impact. Golf has always honored service — now it's systematic about it.

The foundation operates through 38 chapters nationwide, supporting more than 500 third-party golf events. Grassroots infrastructure that ensures national reach with local heart. The kind of network that can't be manufactured — only grown through authentic connection.

The Path Forward

Rooney stays focused on fundamentals. Golf's philanthropic DNA. Relationships forged over 18 holes. The reality that 62,000 students represent just the beginning.

"Without golf, no way does Folds of Honor help nearly 62,000 students and growing," he reflects. "There is no sport more philanthropic than golf, and the success of Folds is a shining example."

The math supports his confidence. The momentum validates his strategy. But the real power lies in what started that day at Grand Haven: Americans uniting around shared values.

Liz Brees Folds of Honor Scholarship Recipient.

Your Turn to Act

This isn't a feel-good story — it's a call to action. Twenty-two thousand applications are pending. Seven thousand qualified students went unfunded last year. The gap between need and resources widens daily.

Options are everywhere. Direct donations at foldsofhonor.org. Patriot Golf Days participation over Memorial Day weekend. Local tournament organization. Corporate partnerships. Chapter volunteering.

Every dollar counts. Every round matters. Every conversation spreads awareness.

The folded flag that started this journey represents loss transformed into hope. Tragedy converted to opportunity. Sacrifice honored through action.

That garage in Broken Arrow sparked something extraordinary. Sixty-seven golfers in Michigan proved what's possible. Thousands of volunteers nationwide demonstrate what Americans do best: Take care of our own.