Folds of Honor, a foundation that provides academic scholarships to the families of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders, announced that it had distributed nearly 10,000 educational scholarships valued at about $50 million for the 2024-25 academic year. Since its founding in 2007, Folds has provided nearly 62,000 scholarships for about $290 million. A total of 91 percent of all funds raised go directly to scholarships.
And while the awards set an all-time single-year record, the need remains great. Approximately 7,000 qualified applicants did not receive full funding due to limited resources.
“I want to thank patriots nationwide for helping us provide about 10,000 academic scholarships to families who have sacrificed so much for our communities and country,” said Lt Col Dan Rooney, founder and CEO of Folds of Honor. “Along with the financial awards, this shows children and spouses that their loved ones have not been forgotten,” Rooney added. “Our goal each year is to provide scholarships to every qualified individual. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, but our work is far from done.”
The foundation also experienced a record-breaking year for applications with a 46 percent increase from 2023-24.
Among the students served this academic year, 45 percent are minorities and 57 percent are female. Several of the leading states where students accepted scholarships are Texas, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Virginia.
The milestones were reached through a combination of individual donors, corporate partners, numerous golf initiatives, including the new Folds of Honor Friday at select PGA TOUR-wide tournaments, other fundraising events, and the unwavering support of the 36 local Folds of Honor chapters across the country. Chapters also saw a significant growth with three added in 2024 in Boston, Wisconsin and Iowa.
“The commitment from individuals and corporate partners has never wavered and has only grown stronger,” Rooney said. “They see what we accomplish, how our recipients flourish and how their inclusion makes a life- changing difference.
“Every day our nationwide chapters advance the Folds’ mission, hold events, and energize their local communities. They are an integral part of our success. We have a dedicated team that is committed to assisting those that need and deserve our help.”
For more information, to join the mission or to donate, visit www.foldsofhonor.org.
