FOLDS OF HONOR Organizations, contractors team up and donate resources to build Folds of Honor’s new headquarters
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ourteen years ago, who is Folds of Honor’s as Lt. Col. Dan Rooney’s executive vice president of flight home from his operations and relationships. second tour of Iraq was “Dan decided to take action landing, he heard the to provide educational pilot announce that the support to the children and remains of a deceased spouses of military members military service member disabled or killed during were on board. He their service. It started with watched as the twin a grassroots effort, which Retired Col. Nick Nichols, brother of the fallen was a golf event, and has Executive Vice President corporal escorted the of Operations and grown from there.” Relationships, flag-draped coffin to To date, the organization Folds of Honor where family members has provided 29,000-plus had gathered. Among scholarships worth more them was the soldier’s young son. than $145 million. The son of the The somber occasion not only fallen service member on Rooney’s moved Rooney deeply, but was the flight home was the first recipient. catalyst to his commitment to take Funding comes from various avenues, care of those directly affected. Within including memorials and tributes, a few months, the F-16 fighter pilot online and mail-in donations, and in the Oklahoma Air National Guard events put on by the organization. had put the process in motion to There are also donations from found Folds of Honor, of which he monthly “Squadron” pledges of $13. is now CEO. That amount was chosen because it signifies the number of times an “It would have been very easy to American flag is folded at a fallen say, ‘I’m sorry,’ and move on,” said retired Air Force Col. Nick Nichols, service member’s burial.
Being built with donated equipment, labor, time and money, Fold of Honor’s new headquarters will give it significantly more space. The organization provides scholarships to spouses and children of military members disabled or killed during service.
Excited to be involved Last year, Folds of Honor broke ground on a new, larger headquarters just steps away from its original building, which was constructed about 10 years ago. Both buildings are located on the campus of The Patriot Golf Club in Owasso, Okla., near Tulsa. Folds of Honor also has cottages at the golf club, which are rented out, providing additional funding. “Every year we have been blessed to grow in revenue, allowing us to increase the number of scholarships we are able to grant,” stated Nichols. “Our goal is to continue that trend. However, with growth comes the need for additional staff to meet our commitments, and we eventually ran out of space. The new facility will have 10 times more square footage with greater amenities than we currently have, and there are plans to turn that original building into another cottage.” The new building is expected to be completed in early 2022. Just like the construction of the original headquarters, nearly all of the design work, labor, time and materials are being donated by local contractors — some of whom were involved in the first. The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Oklahoma coordinated the efforts on both projects. “After hearing Lt. Col. Rooney speak about his vision for Folds of Honor, we decided to help with the original, and when they contacted us about the new building there was no hesitation to be involved again,” stated John Smaligo, president and CEO of ABC of Oklahoma. “The same Discover more at KirbySmithConnection.com
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