NAWILIWILI — The weather cooperated on Sunday when the Ocean Course Hokuala golf club hosted the second Operation: Rising Star — the translation for “Hokuala — Folds of Honor golf tournament for more than 35 teams.
“We are humbled to continue our support for Folds of Honor,” said Timbers Kaua‘i General Manager Chris Gampon. “The scholarships provided make a difference in the lives of so many worthy Hawai‘i recipients. It is our privilege to play a part in such a valuable cause.”
Gampon was part of the more than 150 golfers playing to raise funds for the 49 scholarship applicants from Hawai‘i for 2023-24. The value of the scholarships is $223,000, and the goal of Folds of Honor is that no applicants are turned away.
Folds of Honor is a nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, stationed at Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service Detachment at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, to provide life-changing educational scholarships for spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military, and first responders. Proceeds from the Sunday golf tournament go directly to the Folds of Honor scholarship recipients from Hawai‘i.
“Sometimes, we golf just because it’s a good cause,” said local golfer Tyson Moises. “We participated in a tournament last week because it was for a good cause.”
Adding to the revenue generated by the foursome teams, Operation: Rising Star also hosted a helicopter ball drop and a silent auction that took place at the post-golf dinner at Hualani’s, which is Timbers Kaua‘i’s premier oceanfront restaurant, to honor Folds of Honor sponsors and tournament participants.
Rooney said during last year’s inaugural tournament that was held in wind and rain, there were 13 qualified applicants who were turned away for lack of funds. The inaugural tournament at the Ocean Course raised nearly $125,000 that equates to 23 scholarships.
“Our priority this year is those 13 people who were dropped,” Rooney said. “We need to make it up to them. And, we have 49 other applicants that need our help.”
Since its start in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded more than 51,000 educational scholarships with an impact of more than $240 million in 50 states.
For those who missed the second Operation: Rising Star Folds of Honor golf, contributions are still being accepted online at www.foldsofhonor.org.
