A Driving Passion for Supporting Veterans: Booz Allen and the Salute Military Golf Association

Nearly four out of five (78.2%) veterans live with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress, according to the Annual Warrior Survey by the Wounded Warrior Project.  
 
The Salute Military Golf Association (SMGA) harnesses the power of golf to improve the quality of life for veterans who have been wounded or injured in post 9/11 military operations, including those with Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) and/or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). As a 10-year community partner, Booz Allen has helped the SMGA Wounded Veteran Golf Tournament grow to multiple locations nationwide and raise over $800,000 for SMGA.

A natural partnership

In 2009, two Booz Allen associates invited a speaker from SMGA to a client event on PTS. The two organizations quickly recognized their shared values. 

“Booz Allen’s team of nationwide volunteers has gone above and beyond to ensure SMGA can provide our wounded veterans the opportunity to grow stronger through golf,” said Rich Crowe, Booz Allen executive vice president and chairperson of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan tournament.  “Across the country, these volunteers exemplify Booz Allen’s commitment to fusing connections in our communities through collective ingenuity and passionate service.”

Furthermore, he added, “Our clients have a vested interest in the well-being of our country’s veterans and many of the projects we work on help to ensure the safety and survivability of future soldiers.”

Organic growth, powered by volunteers

This powerful collaboration soon spread nationwide. Booz Allen now hosts SMGA tournaments in 13 locations, administered entirely through dozens of firm volunteers and one community impact grant. 

“In 2018, our team of nationwide volunteers turned a $20,000 Booz Allen community impact grant into a $132,980 contribution to SMGA by hosting 13 events across the country,” said Crowe. “With a 565% return on investment from a single community partnership grant, no other community partnership project compares with the efficiency, performance, or actual rate of return of this annual event.”

Among participants in SMGA events: 

• 92% said that SMGA helped improve mobility, range of motion, flexibility, and/or level of pain
• 93% found that participation helped with their PTS
• 93% found that participation helped improve family life or other relationships 

Joining forces, paying it forward

The annual tournaments deliver invaluable returns for those involved as well. 

“Organizing the SMGA tournament was a great opportunity for me to not only support an amazing cause, but to expand my leadership skills,” said Booz Allen Lead Associate Cheryl Wolfe, a former site lead. “I asked volunteers to champion different aspects of the tournament, and developing that team led to a true group effort.”

Lead Associate K.C. Schuring joined Booz Allen in 2012 after recovering from near-fatal injuries in Iraq and over two dozen surgeries. He has been involved with SMGA’s program since his local office in Troy, Michigan hosted its first tournament. 

“I immediately volunteered to assist with this event because of what SMGA had done for me several years before,” he said. “Now I could return the favor.”

Learn more about the SMGA Wounded Veteran Golf Tournament and how Booz Allen supports veterans and military families.

Originally published in the 3BL Media newsroom.

Image credit: Salute Military Golf Association