Golf Tournament Raises Funds for Local Military Charities

Every Veterans Day for the past decade, Scott and Ann McEvoy and their co-founder Matt Quinn have put on a golf tournament at Franklin Country Club. And every year, a charity of their choice receives 100% of the proceeds raised that day. This past Veterans Day, the USO was that charity.

The idea for the event came about through a mutual friend who wanted to help raise funds for local military organizations. The McEvoys are deeply invested in the military community because their son-in-law Maj. Mark Milligan is an active-duty officer in the U.S. Army. As longtime members of the Franklin Country Club, it made sense to create a golf tournament in support of a good cause. Over the event’s 10-year span, they have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various charities.

“It’s not something we’re forced to do. We want to do it,” stated Scott.

New England Advisory Board Member Dan Ferris speaks at the Franklin Country Club golf tournament

The event is more than just hitting a golf ball from a tee. It is a culmination of a community coming together, from vendors who donate time, prizes and catering to the players who have participated in the event every year. In addition, the McEvoys invite guest speakers associated with the charities to give participants a tangible tie to what their money is going toward.

The golf tournament has been and continues to be something the community looks forward to each year. This year’s 144 spots sold out within two weeks. Rain or shine, everyone comes out to play a round of golf, get their shot at the coveted first- and last-place prizes, and show their support for service members. One of Scott and Ann’s favorite memories is watching all their participants finish the game in freezing and sleeting conditions. They, like the military members they were raising money for, would not quit.

The McEvoys’ son-in-law Mark tries to make the event each year but has missed a few while deployed. Mark started his military career at Florida Southern College’s Army ROTC program. He began as a combat engineer and currently works in acquisitions. Over his nearly 14 years of service to his nation, Mark has deployed to stations around the country and world. Currently, he is stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska.

Maj. Mark Milligan receives a special USO delivery with his wife, daughter and in-laws in attendance.

The USO took matters into its own hands to ensure Mark knew his community was thinking about him during this year’s event. As participants came to the first tee, they were presented with an opportunity to send Mark a message by inscribing it on a USO flag. The flag then made its way to Alaska to be presented to Mark. As luck would have it, his in-laws were visiting him at the time of the presentation. Mark’s family gathered at the USO Alaska center to watch him receive a small affirmation of his commitment to his country and his soldiers in the form of a USO flag.

“We are huge supporters of USO,” said Ann. “We’ve seen them work in such incredible ways both overseas and locally.”

Thanks to the generosity of the golfers and McEvoys, the USO received upwards of $50,000.

The McEvoys and their partners look to continue making an impact through their golf tournament for years to come.