SEAL–Naval Special Warfare Family Foundation event in Rancho Santa Fe raises over $1 million
Philanthropist Madeleine Pickens and The Del Mar Country Club have announced that more than $1 million was raised at the March 22 benefit to support the SEAL-Naval Special Warfare Family Foundation. The fundraiser — sponsored by TaylorMade, American Airlines, Bumble Bee Tuna, Wells Fargo Bank, The Pangaea Group of Morgan Stanley and others — attracted 135 golfers at the annual Scramble Golf Tournament, and 400 attendees at the spectacular evening gala.
The third annual event was organized by Pickens and co-chair Dominique Plewes to thank the Navy SEALs and their families for their military service and to honor fallen heroes.
The event featured comments from keynote speaker Robert S. Harward, Jr., Navy SEAL and former deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command; Dorothy Woods, whose husband, Ty Woods, a Navy SEAL, was killed during a terrorist attack in Benghazi in September 2012; Michael Thornton, retired Navy SEAL and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient; and Kimberly Dozier, author of “Breathing Fire.”
The event welcomed distinguished guests, including New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees; former San Diego Chargers linebacker Donnie Edwards; former boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard; professional golf coach Hank Haney; Johnny Walker, who guided and interpreted for U.S. Navy SEALs on various missions in Iraq and has written a new book “Code Name Johnny Walker”; James and Lauree Moffett, Jennifer Moores, Corky Mizer, Jenny Craig, actor Scott Elrod from “Lone Survivor,” and Jessica Sanchez of “American Idol,” who performed the national anthem.
The event also received generous support from John Matty, the Pamplemousse Grille and Chef Jeffrey Strauss, the San Diego Padres and the San Diego Chargers.
“We are very thankful for the extraordinary level of support that the San Diego community demonstrated through this event for our Navy SEALs, and their families,” said Pickens and Plewes. “The funds raised will go directly to support the critical programs that the foundation provides our brave warriors and their families. This financial support will strengthen the Naval Special Warfare community to maintain a resilient, sustainable, and healthy force during this era of frequent deployments.”
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