CBM held a fundraising golf tournament earlier this summer at American Dunes golf course in Grand Haven to raise money for this great cause. American Dunes is committed to honoring the service of fallen military members and assisting their families. The American Dunes golf course is a national treasure where you can play “Your Most Heroic Round of Golf.” Folds of Honor has awarded over 44,000 scholarships worth $200 million to the dependents of military service members killed or disabled in combat. The scholarship award winners recognized at the event were students at Central Michigan University, Aquinas College, and the University of Michigan. Folds of Honor has provided over $3.5 million in scholarship awards to students in military families across Michigan.
Jae Evans (CEO - Isabella Bank), Douglas Ouellette (Market President - Mercantile Bank), Paul Davis, and David Thomas (Podium Risk Management), awarded scholarships to deserving recipients from their local communities at the ceremony. Joining the CBM were Ben Leslie, Chief Impact Officer from Folds of Honor, DIFS Director Anita Fox, and representatives from the Department of Insurance and Financial Services, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Director Zaneta Adams. The keynote presentation was delivered by Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II.
“Mike Tierney and the staff at the CBM put together a great event, and we could not be more pleased with the result. Twenty scholarships awarded in the state of Michigan to such deserving students is a great achievement,” shared Ben Leslie. “The lasting impact of this event will be felt for years to come as the awareness of what Folds of Honor does, one person at a time, cannot be understated.”
“Community bankers from across the state of Michigan went all in to support Folds of Honor as they, in turn, honor the sacrifice of military families by educating their legacies,” said Tierney. “Folds of Honor has provided 44,000 scholarships to U.S. military families equaling over $200 million of critical support. Folds of Honor was founded by Lt. Col. Dan Rooney based upon his service to our country as a decorated F-16 combat fighter pilot and his inspirational experience on a commercial flight carrying a fallen soldier to Grand Rapids, Michigan. We are the land of the free because we are the home of the brave service members, who in many cases, made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us and our communities. We are delighted to be able to provide over $100,000 in scholarships to Michigan military families through Folds of Honor – and the scholarship recipients make us all very proud to help support this noble mission.”
About Folds of Honor
Folds of Honor is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of military members who have fallen or been disabled while serving in the United States armed forces. Beginning in 2022, Folds of Honor expanded its mission to include first responders. To learn more about Folds of Honor, visit FoldsofHonor.org.
About Community Bankers of Michigan
The Community Bankers of Michigan is a 250-member trade association serving community banks, and their financial services partners, throughout Michigan. With headquarters in East Lansing, Michigan, the Community Bankers of Michigan is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and its membership through effective advocacy, professional education programs, and high-quality products and services. For more information visit www.cbofm.org. One Mission. Community Banks.