Valspar Championship continues the tradition of supporting our nation’s wounded veterans with a mortgage-free home presentation.
[Palm Harbor, Fla. – Apr 23, 2021] – A retired and decorated U.S. Military veteran, wounded in combat, will be honored for his service and sacrifice April 26, at 10 a.m. during the opening ceremonies of the Valspar Championship PGA TOUR golf tournament. The hero and his family were awarded a mortgage-free home through Military Warriors Support Foundation’s home donation program in Riverview, Fla., and the family will receive three years of family and financial mentorship.
Our hero is retired U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Christopher Mark McDuffie, a recipient of the Purple Heart for being wounded in action while supporting combat operations.
“At this year’s Valspar Championship, we are proud to be a part of this event where the PGA TOUR sponsors come together to support one of our nation’s combat-wounded heroes: Purple Heart recipient, retired U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Christopher Mark McDuffie. Congratulations on your three years of family and financial mentorship and welcome home,” said Tracy West, Tournament Director of the Valspar Championship.
The Valspar Championship is also stepping up to support the presentation to Staff Sergeant McDuffie by sponsoring the donation of Valspar paint products to the McDuffie family to assist them in their home repainting needs.
The mortgage-free home was donated by Wells Fargo to Military Warriors Support Foundation’s Homes4WoundedHeroes program. Since 2012, Wells Fargo has donated more than 400 homes valued at over $60 million to veterans in all 50 states. The family’s three-year mentoring program was made possible in partnership with Birdies for the Brave. The home is over 2,000 sq. ft with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The home, and mentorship, will help provide a cornerstone of support as the McDuffie family transitions from the military life to their new civilian life.
The presentation at the Valspar Championship is made possible in partnership with Birdies for the Brave.
Christopher Mark McDuffie (Mark) was born and raised in Geneva, Alabama and in 1997, he joined the United States Air Force during his junior year of high school. McDuffie served in the U.S. Armed Forces for 11 years and 9 months and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He served in many roles during his military service from a Special Investigation Craftsman (7S071) to an Aerospace Ground Equipment Journeyman (2A652) and a Postal Specialist (8M000). During his time in the Air Force, he was deployed twice to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and on March 2, 2007, he was wounded in combat. McDuffie is the recipient of the Purple Heart for being wounded while supporting combat operations, he was also awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal for his actions while under hostile fire. McDuffie medically retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2009.
Ken Eakes, Executive Director of Military Warriors Support Foundation, comments: “At Military Warriors Support Foundation, we’re proud to provide many programs that support our combat-wounded heroes…and at this year’s historic Valspar Championship we are especially honored to work with some amazing groups; collaborating with Wells Fargo, who’s donating the mortgage-free home; and in partnership with Birdies for the Brave whose involvement helps us provide our three-year mentoring program. Again, thank you Staff Sergeant McDuffie for your service and it’s an honor to serve you and your family.”
About PGA TOUR
By showcasing golf’s greatest players, the PGA TOUR engages, inspires and positively impacts our fans, partners and communities worldwide. The PGA TOUR, headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, co-sanctions more than 130 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, Mackenzie TourPGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR Series-China. Members on the PGA TOUR represent the world’s best players, hailing from 29 countries and territories (94 members are from outside the United States). Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to 212 countries and territories in 23 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations to maximize charitable giving. In 2019, tournaments across all Tours generated a record $204.3 million for local and national charitable organizations, bringing the all-time total to more than $3 billion.
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About the Valspar Championship
The Valspar Championship is Tampa Bay’s PGA TOUR event and a part of the annual FedExCup competition. The 2021 Valspar Championship will be held on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida from April 29-May 2, 2021. Paul Casey has won each of the last two tournaments. The tournament is nationally televised CBS Sports and Golf Channel; and is owned and operated by Copperhead Charities, Inc. The title sponsor for the tournament is Valspar Paint. For more information, visit www.valsparchampionship.com and follow @valsparchamp on Twitter.
About Copperhead Charities, Inc.
Copperhead Charities history of supporting charities through professional golf dates back to 1977, with funds generated exceeding $44 million. The 2021 Valspar Championship will be the 20th full-field PGA TOUR event sponsored by the Copperheads (General Chairman Jim Eisch, Vice Chairman Ronde Barber). Over 200 Tampa Bay area civic and business leaders are members of The Copperheads/CopperMugs. The tournament is managed by Pro Links Sports with Executive Director Hollis Cavner and Tournament Director Tracy West.
About Birdies for the Brave®
A joint effort by PGA TOUR, Inc., PGA TOUR Charities, Inc. and the TPC Network, Birdies for the Brave is a national military outreach initiative dedicated to honoring and showing appreciation to the courageous men and women of our U.S. Armed Forces and their families. Birdies for the Brave was originally created in 2004 by PGA TOUR player Phil Mickelson and his wife, Amy, in collaboration with Glenn Cohen, to raise funds for combat-injured troops. Thanks to their vision and the passionate support of PGA TOUR players, tournament fans, volunteers, TPC club members and corporate sponsors, Birdies for the Brave has grown exponentially across the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions and Web.com Tour and raised more than $19 million for military homefront groups that provide critical programs and services to meet the specialized needs of wounded heroes and military families. For more information, please visit www.birdiesforthebrave.org or follow them on Facebook.
About Military Warriors Support Foundation
Military Warriors Support Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity, founded by LTG. Leroy Sisco (Ret), in 2007. Their mission is to provide programs that facilitate a successful transition for our nation’s combat-wounded veterans, Gold Star Spouses, and their families. Their programs focus on housing and homeownership, recreational activities, transportation assistance and leadership development. Through their programs, they have awarded nearly 900 mortgage-free homes and payment-free vehicles to combat-wounded veterans and unmarried Gold Star Spouses. In addition to the home or vehicle, the families receive family and financial mentoring. Through the mentorship program, their families have paid off over $23 million in personal debt.
For more information, visit MilitaryWarriors.org and check them out on social media; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.