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Sponsor Highlight
We are pleased to have AVI Systems as this month's sponsor highlight. AVI Systems has not only been a supporter of the Tee it up for the Troops flagship golf event for many years; they have also been a supporter of our Reunion Event and a donor to our new office space.
In December 2012, after a meeting with TIUFTT Founder JB Ball and Chaplain (Colonel) John Morris of the MN National Guard, AVI Systems hired Specialist E4 Jared Murray as an Installation Technician. Jared is currently in the National Guard and served 3 years in the US Army. During those 3 years, Jared was deployed to Afghanistan for 12 months. Since accepting his new position with AVI, Jared has received new deployment orders and will be deployed again in April.
In keeping with their commitment to employing Military Men and Women AVI has since hired Brian Seely to replace Jared. Brian is a United States Marine Veteran with 8 years of service. He recently reached the end of Active Service on January 13 2013 with a Honorable Discharge.
We are so very grateful for AVI's commitment to our Military men and women and their continued support of Tee it up for the Troops assisting us in fulfilling our mission to honor, respect, remember and support all those who have served in the armed forces for this great nation.
Click here to learn more about our sponsor.
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If you are able, please consider a donation to help support our mission to honor, respect, remember and support all those who have served in our Armed Forces for this great nation.
Thank you in advance for your support! |
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TIUFTT Chapter Websites
California If you are interested in starting a TIUFTT Chapter in your area please contact our national office. |
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Greetings!
Spring is in the air! Well sort of...
For those of us located in the upper Midwest, Spring appears to only be a figment of our imagination as we woke up to snow flying once again in the never-ending winter of 2013. In just a few weeks we will all be back out on courses, from coast-to-coast, enjoying the game of golf thanks to the incredible men and women who have fought, and sacrificed so much, to give us the freedom to do so!
Much is happening with Tee it up for the Troops and we continue to be grateful for your friendship and partnership. Respecting, honoring, remembering and supporting the men and women who have served our country, and their families, is something we must continue to give our focus and attention. The needs of our military men and women and our veterans continue to grow each and every day.
We are excited to launch our new video that brings together a few of our veterans, our supporters and members of our organization, to paint a picture of what we are all about as an organization. If you haven't had a chance to watch the video, please take a few moments and do so by clicking the following:
 | | Tee it up for the Troops "Join us" |
Please share the video with your friends and colleagues to introduce them to our organization and have them join our efforts. We continue to look for opportunities to support our events and grow across the country, and appreciate anything you can do to spread the good word.
As we approach Easter, I love the new hope and new life it represents. New life is good life, and good life is good news. May this Spring be a season of new beginnings for you, and your loved ones, and may God bless you as we celebrate new hope and new life this Easter.
We are so grateful for you and that you are a part of the Tee it up for the Troops family!
Blessings,
Paul Anderson
President & CEO
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Army Veteran joins Tee it up for the Troops as
Event Coordinator
Patrick Nelson officially joined Tee it up for the Troops as Event Coordinator on March 6. For the past two years Patrick has served on the Greater Mankato Tee it up for the Troops Event Committee. He has been a frequent speaker at Tee it up for the Troops events as well as other venues, sharing his story of service to our country and speaking on behalf of veterans.
"Patrick Nelson brings a wealth of experience, talent, and passion to our national team," said Paul Anderson, President & CEO of Tee it up for the Troops. "He will be a tremendous asset and resource and to our existing partners across the country, as well as those communities who are interested in hosting a Tee it up for the Troops event."
Originally from Dawson, Minnesota, Patrick joined the Minnesota National Guard while he was a junior in high school. For him, it was the quickest way to put on the uniform.
Patrick graduated from Dawson-Boyd High School in 2001 and started school at Ridgewater College in Willmar, MN in August of that year. It was only a few weeks later that the attacks of 9/11 occurred. Realizing that the National Guard would not be the first ones called up, he dropped out of college and joined the active Army. He served almost seven years in the Army as a paratrooper where he was an artilleryman by trade. Patrick was stationed the majority of his time with the historic 173rd Airborne Brigade, splitting his time between Vicenza, Italy and Bamberg, Germany. He deployed three times for a total of 39 months in support of the Global War on Terrorism - 12 months in Iraq from March 2003 to March 2004; 12 months in Afghanistan from March 2005 to March 2006; and 15 months again in Afghanistan from May 2007 to August 2008.
On June 8, 2005, Patrick was wounded by a 107mm rocket while conduc ting a helicopter resupply mission at his small Forward Operating Base (FOB) on the Pakistani border. Two soldiers were killed and seven others were wounded in the attack. Patrick was medevaced from the area to receive treatment. To this day he still has a few pieces of the shrapnel in his back.
Patrick was allowed to return to his FOB a few weeks after being wounded but was not allowed to conduct any missions while he recovered. It was during this time when he began taking online college classes and between both Afghanistan deployments, he was able to finish two years of college.
Patrick was honorably discharged from the Army in December of 2008. He immediately started school at Minnesota State University-Mankato in January 2009 where he double majored in History and Sport Management and finished his Bachelor's Degree in May 2011.
Patrick then attended graduate school at MSU-Mankato where he received a Master's Degree in Sport Management in July 2012.
Patrick started a website when he got out of the Army, www.realcombatlife.com, which is a place for military veterans to share their experiences through writing. He started the site to share his stories but it became so successful that he grew it to help other veterans. In March of 2010, he was awarded one of the first ever Pepsi Refresh Project grants to help his project.
Patrick's honors include being named the first-ever NFL-Pat Tillman Military Scholar in November 2010, a Horatio Alger Military Scholar, and the 2012 MSU-Mankato Sport Management Student of the Year.
Patrick's military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, and 3 Army Commendation Medals.
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HEIDI COLLINS TAKES HOME THE HARDWARE
Minneapolis, Minnesota - On Friday, February 22, Tee it up for the Troops Board Member and Fox 9 News Anchor, Heidi Collins did the "Ta ngo for the Troops" through Dancing with the Twin Cities Celebrities.
Her charity of choice was Tee it up for the Troops and not only did she perform well, she knocked 'em dead! Heidi not only won the overall dance competition with three perfect scores of "10" from each of the judges, but she also won the overall charity competition to raise the most money for her cause. In total, Heidi helped raise more than $25,000 for Tee it up for the Troops.
Thank you for everyone who helped support Heidi, and the event, and made it such a great success. Most of all thank you to our very own "Ginger Rogers" (Heidi) for putting in the time and energy to raise this money for our Troops and their families.
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PINNACLE PEAK RECAP
Scottsdale, Arizona - On Wednesday, February 27, Pinnacle Peak Country Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, hosted their annual Tee it up for the Troops event. Once again this year it was a tremendous event to honor and support our men and women in our military, our veterans and their families.
The General Manager of Pinnacle Peak Country Club, Brian Straight, and his staff put on a wonderful event that is strongly supported by their Club membership (the event was sold out
 a month in advance with many of the members participating). The
Greater Southwest Chapter of the CMAA (Club Manager's Association of America) is also a tremendous supporter of Tee it up for the Troops, and this tournament, as many of the local Club Managers come together to volunteer their time and resources to ensure the event's success.
Thank you  to everyone involved with the Pinnacle Peak event for your generosity and support of our American Heroes!
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