Dedicated to honoring those who make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, Folds of Honor is dedicated to uniting Americans and using their platform to educate their legacy. Providing life-changing educational scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military service members and first responders, Folds of Honor’s impact far exceeds financial support—it changes the trajectory of lives, opens doors to new possibilities, and carries forward the legacy of service and sacrifice.
Founded in 2007, Folds of Honor was inspired by a life-changing moment experienced by Lt Col. Dan Rooney, an F-16 fighter pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard and a PGA golf professional. Returning home from his second deployment to Iraq, Rooney witnessed the solemn return of a fallen American service member. He watched as the hero’s twin brother walked alongside the flag-draped casket to meet grieving family members on the tarmac, including the service member’s young son. Since that moment, Lt Col. Dan Rooney has been committed to rallying patriotic Americans and meeting sacrifice with hope through Folds of Honor. What began as a single mission has since grown into a nationwide movement, with chapters across the country working to support military and first responder families in their own communities. Among those helping lead that effort is Lisa Norris, Vice President of the Executive Board of Directors for Folds of Honor Tennessee, who has played an instrumental role in shaping the Tennessee chapter into what it is today.
“Folds of Honor, the national organization, is still based out of Oklahoma, but we have multiple chapters around the United States. I was actually one of the founders of the Tennessee chapter,” Norris explains. “There are five of us that started it back in January 2020; Lee Brice is a huge supporter of Folds of Honor, so he did some virtual concerts for us that very first initial year. This is our sixth year now, and it’s been really great to see how the crowds have grown the momentum behind it.”
Over the past two decades, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 73,000 scholarships totaling over $340 million in all fifty states. Their educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school, and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program.
“We provide life-changing educational scholarships to the children and spouses of American fallen or disabled military service members and first responders,” Norris explains. “Our mission is to honor their sacrifice, and educate their legacy, and unite Americans around all those who serve.”
For the past six years, Folds of Honor Tennessee has helped kick off the first night of CMA Fest week in Nashville by hosting their annual Rock ‘N Jock* Celebrity Softball tournament.
Sponsored by Black Rifle Coffee Company, this year's event brought together more than 9,000 fans at Nashville’s First Horizon Park and raised a record-breaking $710,308 to provide educational scholarships for the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military service members and first responders. The all-star evening included celebrities, athletes, first responders and veterans—all in a friendly competition to support Folds of Honor’s mission. Team Military, led by captain Riley Green, took home the win. In addition to the softball tournament, Folds of Honor is gearing up to host the Annual Freedom Invitational next month at The Governor’s Club. The event is set to take place on Monday, August 24th, and will feature a group of top-tier talent.
“Governor's Club has been a really great partner of ours,” Norris shares. “We actually have Scott Bailey, the Head PGA Golf Professional at Governor's Club on our board... he's amazing at putting together golf tournaments, and we're so thankful that so many people come out and support us.”
With America celebrating its 250th anniversary this month, Norris shares that they are more proud than ever to represent the red, white, and blue. As Folds of Honor continues to grow its impact, the organization remains committed to honoring their legacy by investing in the lives and futures of their families.
“The folded flag is a constant reminder of those who pay the ultimate price for freedom. I think it inspires us to educate their loved ones and give support,” she shares. “It's been fun to see how much Folds of Honor has grown through the years.“
For more information on Folds of Honor Tennessee and ways to be connected, visit their website or follow them on socials.
@foldsofhonortn
tennessee.foldsofhonor.org
*ROCK ‘N JOCK is a trademark of Viacom International Inc. Used under license.
“The folded flag is a constant reminder of those who pay the ultimate price for freedom. I think it inspires us to educate their loved ones and give support. It's been fun to see how much Folds of Honor has grown through the years.“