Golfing For Good: Kane Brown, RaeLynn, Jordan Davis & More Support Folds Of Honor At 3rd Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament
See photos from the 3rd Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament in support of Folds of Honor Tennessee.
Kane Brown, RaeLynn, Jordan Davis; Photos By Andrew Wendowski
Kane Brown, Jordan Davis, Michael Ray, RaeLynn, Jelly Roll, and more helped raised more than $265,000 in support of Folds of Honor Tennessee at the 3rd Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament on Monday, July 31. Folds Of Honor supports of the families fallen and injured service members and first responders.
The donation was raised during the 3rd annual Celebrity Golf Tournament, where a notable roster of celebrities, including Jelly Roll, Brown, Ray, Davis, RaeLynn, Cortland Finnegan, Derrick Mason, Melissa Joan Hart, Rex Ryan, Brendan McLoughlin, Danae Hays, John Crist, Jameson Rodgers, and others united to endorse Folds of Honor.
Ahead of the tournament, a few of the artists spoke with us about what it means to take part in the event.
Michael Ray has been a longtime supporter of Folds of Honor and says giving back to veterans is a “big passion” of his.
“Growing up in a family of first responders and veterans, it’s full circle for me. And being raised around it, it just makes sense. It’s a no-brainer for me,” Ray shared. “And so anytime when they call me, I always tell ’em, ‘just put it on the calendar before they even invite me.’ I love this event and we get to get teamed up with people that have the same passion for our veterans as we do.”
Kane Brown feels the same way.
“I’m a huge sports guy. I’m a huge military guy, so when you can combine both of them, I mean, why not be here? I have no excuse,” he said. “So I just appreciate everybody else for being out here in Nashville throwing it down.”
Jordan Davis, who is also an avid golfer, shared, “This is like our Saturday, the artists Mondays are our Saturdays, just to get off the road. And then to be able to get home, spent the day with the family yesterday, and then to get out here today and play golf for a great organization that means a lot to me… it’s amazing.”
The event was hosted at the esteemed Governors Club located in Brentwood, TN, which generously lent its pristine golf course for this meaningful day on the greens. The 26 teams that participated in the tournament played a pivotal role in setting a new record, as they collectively facilitated the granting of 53 scholarships to well-deserving individuals. This reflects Folds of Honor Tennessee’s continued commitment to offering meticulously designed opportunities for fundraising that remain unparalleled.
Jenner Kreifels, the executive director of Folds of Honor Tennessee, expressed her gratitude to those who participated following the event, stating, “Our aspiration is to organize the most enjoyable charity golf tournament in town! The presence of 26 teams at The Governors Club, all rallying behind the Folds of Honor mission, was a source of immense gratitude. A heartfelt thanks extends to our friends from the corporate, sports, and entertainment realms for joining forces to secure over 53 complete Folds of Honor scholarships!”
Matt Frauenshuh, president of Folds of Honor Tennessee, echoed this sentiment, saying, “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who played a role in making our 2023 Celebrity Golf Tournament an extraordinary triumph! A day filled with enjoyment on the golf course translated into numerous life-altering scholarships for our military and first responder families.”
The event itself featured a celebratory gathering post-golf, a combination of silent and live auctions, a captivating performance by Taylor Lee, and an address from the distinguished United States Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Lammey.
Folds Of Honor began with Lt Col Dan Rooney’s flight home from his second tour of duty in Iraq. An F-16 fighter pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, he became painfully aware of the realities families face when a loved one in uniform is fallen or disabled.
As his flight landed, the pilot announced they carried the remains of Corporal Brock Bucklin on board. Lt Col Rooney watched as Corporal Bucklin’s twin brother walked somberly alongside the flag-covered casket to meet his family on the tarmac. Among them was the deceased Corporal’s young son, Jacob.
Since that night, Lt Col Rooney has committed his life to rallying patriotic Americans and meeting sacrifice with hope through the Folds of Honor. Since 2007, we’ve provided life-changing scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military. And now, our mission expands to the families of America’s first responders. On our watch, those who protect our freedoms and our families will know they are not forgotten.
To donate or learn more about Folds Of Honor, visit the non-profit organization’s official website HERE.
See additional photos from the event below.
Written by
Lauren Jo Black
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.