Tournament to raise funds for Tierney Center for Veteran Services, a comprehensive resource for O.C. veterans and their families
NEWPORT COAST, Calif. – June 11, 2018 – Goodwill of Orange County, O.C.’s largest nonprofit that helps people facing barriers secure purpose-filling jobs, will host its annual Goodwill Golf Invitational on Monday, June 11 at the renowned Pelican Hill Golf Club South Course in Newport Coast.
The Goodwill Invitational provides the community with an exclusive networking opportunity and the chance to contribute to critical programs designed to support local veterans and their families. Last year, Goodwill of Orange County raised nearly $170,000 at the tournament to support its veteran programs.
The proceeds from the event will directly support Goodwill’s Tierney Center for Veteran Services, a comprehensive resource connecting veterans and their families to services that enhance their lives. The Tierney Center, located in Tustin, offers a holistic, simple approach with no hoops to jump through and all services are provided to veterans at no cost. With hundreds of services, partners and resources in the community, the Tierney Center is the conduit to meet any and all veterans’ unique needs, including job placement, financial education, housing assistance and more.
Last year, the Tierney Center placed more than 280veterans into meaningful employment with a starting hourly wage of more than $24, up from $12 just a year prior.
The morning program will kick off with a special welcome from Ret. Army Col. Denton Knapp, a Bronze Star with Valor recipient and new director of the Tierney Center for Veteran Services. His 30-year military career included multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He also served at the U.S. Special Operations Command, where he led the joint development of future concepts and capabilities, and led the Army’s Center for the Army Profession and Ethic.
“The Tierney Center has helped thousands of Orange County veterans since it opened in 2016,” saidKnapp. “Supporting veterans and their families as they pave a path toward independence is a huge priority for Goodwill and our community. This tournament allows us to expand our job placement and training services and serve more deserving veterans in our community.”
After a day on the green, guests will return for dinner, a live auction, and an evening program. Guests will hear from veterans who have been positively impacted by the Tierney Center.
A new edition to this year’s evening fundraising program is an Opportunity Squares game. Attendees can pay $100 to select individual squares on a 120-square gift grid for the chance to win a special surprise prize. Thirty squares will uncover prizes varying from wine tastings to sports experiences.
This year’s Goodwill Golf Invitational includes an exclusive Spa Package for The Spa at Pelican Hill starting at $350. Guests of golfers participating in the tournament can relax, get pampered, enjoy the pool and hotel amenities, and then reunite for cocktails and dinner on the outdoor patio.
Golfer tickets are sold out, but tickets are still available for the dinner event at $100/ person.
For more information or to purchase a ticket to the evening program, please contact Amy Holtz at 714.547.6308 x 356 or email amyh@ocgoodwill.org.
About Goodwill of Orange County
Goodwill helps people who are facing barriers to find and keep jobs, which provides purpose, pride, and dignity. Founded on the belief that every person should have the opportunity to achieve the independence that work provides, Goodwill is most recognized for being the conduit where donated goods are sold in America’s favorite thrift stores to generate the revenue that provides the services to those who face employment challenges. Celebrating its 90th year in 2014, Goodwill of Orange County has supported hundreds of thousands of Orange County residents since its inception by creating and providing quality training and employment services to empower its program participants to be productive and independent. The nonprofit organization has dozens of programs that support this effort, including the Goodwill Rogers A. Severson Fitness & Technology Center, Orange County’s only facility specially designed for people suffering from chronic illnesses and physical disabilities; its global approach to serving veterans and their families, Goodwill of Orange County Tierney Center for Veteran Services, which helps former service members and their families find resources and services to meet and serve their unique needs, including housing, job placement, education, and wellness; and its Assistive Technology Exchange Center (ATEC), which provides access to more than 1,000 state-of-the-art technology devices for children and adults with disabilities. These are just a few of Goodwill of Orange County’s innovative programs that have served those facing barriers in Orange County for the past nine decades. In 2012, Goodwill was named one of Orange County’s Most Trusted Brands. To learn more about Goodwill of Orange County, visit ocgoodwill.org.
# # #
Media Contact: Emma Engelage, (949) 200-6111, eengelage@cornerstonecomms.com
