Baseball season is back and to mark the occasion, Budweiser will brandish its patriotic cap. The popular American beer company will support the Folds of Honor Foundation by donating $100 for each and every home run batters hit this year. In addition, from June 6 through July 10, Budweiser will also donate a portion of its sales to the foundation; the present goal is to raise as much as $2 million during the month-long period.
According to its website, the Folds of Honor Foundation “provides post-secondary educational scholarships to the spouses and children of service members disabled or killed as a result of their military service to our great nation. Our unique scholarships can be applied to schooling now or held by Folds of Honor on behalf of young children until needed at the time of enrollment.”
The foundation is the brain-child of Major Dan Rooney, a decorated former F-16 pilot from the Oklahoma Air National Guard, who served three combat tours in Iraq. He started the charity in 2007 to honor the men, women and families that sacrifice so much – including their own lives – to serve the United States. A PGA Professional and USGA member, Rooney is also an avid golfer that has raised over $8 million in donations through Folds of Honor’s Patriot Golf Day.
In addition to raising money for Folds of Honor, Budweiser will debut a new TV ad in May that pays tribute to American military men and women. It will also introduce patriotic beer cans in stores this summer.
Meanwhile, Hall of Fame slugger Dave Winfield has teamed up with Budweiser to promote the $100-per-homerun donation program; he joins the company aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid on the Hudson River today as they announce the new initiative.
Winfield, a former Yankee who hit 465 home runs throughout his career, said in a press release, “In baseball, we often identify the heroes of the game as the players who can go deep, but real heroes are those who show their deep commitment to their country. Each time a player hits a home run this season, we all will have a chance to join Budweiser in honoring America’s true heroes and their families.”
Baseball fans can also help America’s heroes and their families by texting HERO to 80888, which will provide for a $5 donation to Folds of Honor.
For more information on Major Rooney and Folds of Honor, visit http://www.foldsofhonor.org/.
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