Colorado PGA Helps Repay Veteran’s Service

Adam Cassidy receives a house from the PGA Reach and Military Warriors at Colorado Golf Club
Sgt. Adam Cassidy (U.S. Army-Ret.) was surprised with a paid mortgage on his family’s home on Monday at the Colorado Golf Club, in partnership with the PGA REACH and Military Warriors.

On June 27, more than 100 amateurs and PGA Professionals came to Colorado Golf Club in Parker to play in the Colorado PGA REACH Invitational, the largest fundraising event of the year for the 501(c)(3) foundation of the Colorado PGA.

PGA REACH supports programs aligned with the organization’s three key pillars: Youth Development, Diversity and Inclusion and Military Personnel Support.

It was the third pillar that took center stage at Monday’s tournament.


Adam Cassidy, above, hits a tee shot Monday at Colorado Golf Club.

Among the participants was Sgt. Adam Cassidy (U.S. Army-Ret.). Prior to the shotgun start, Colorado PGA Executive Director Eddie Ainsworth and Dave Lieske, the director of business development for Military Warrior Support Foundation, honored Sgt. Cassidy as the hero of the day.

Deployed from Fort Carson, the Ohio native served 15 months in Iraq, where his unit helped to remove IEDs from roads using an armored Buffalo vehicle. Cassidy sustained numerous injuries when his convoy was hit by 15 IEDs, RPGs and small weapons fire. Compounding his physical injuries, Cassidy lost six friends in his unit and experienced survivor’s guilt.

“I was in a very terrible state of mind for a long, long time, but this program changed my life,” Cassidy said, referring to the Military Warrior Support Foundation.

Adam Cassidy receives a house from the PGA Reach and Military Warriors at Colorado Golf Club

Given the severity of his injuries, the veteran three years ago qualified to receive a three-bedroom home in Norwood (33 miles northwest of Telluride), which he shares with his fiancée, Kayla, and two young daughters.

After the round, in a surprise announcement, Cassidy learned that the San Antonio-based Military Warriors, in concert with PGA REACH, would pay off the mortgage on that home.

“When I was given the home I was taken aback,” Cassidy said through tears upon getting the news. “I never thought it was going to happen. In a word it was exhilarating.”

Cassidy’s family will also receive three years of family and financial mentoring.

Over the last five years, the Military Warrior Support Foundation has awarded more than 700 mortgage-free homes to combat-wounded veterans and surviving spouses.

“Through PGA REACH and PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), golf is used as a rehabilitation tool for our veterans,”  says the Colorado PGA’s Ainsworth. “You would not believe some of the stories we have heard on how golf has made such a positive impact on our veterans recovery from their wounds, whether physical or psychological.  It’s pretty moving when you hear how golf has even saved some of our veterans lives. Colorado PGA REACH provides this program at no cost to our veterans to help make a positive difference in their lives, and now along with our partnership with the Military Warriors Support Foundation, where we have partnered to be able to give a soldier like Adam a mortgage-free home.  It is such an honor for us to be able to support our veterans in such a tangible way.”

Dave Lieske (left) awards Adam Cassidy (right) with a house from the PGA Reach and Military Warriors at Colorado Golf Club
Dave Lieske (left) awards Adam Cassidy (right) with a house from the PGA REACH and Military Warriors at Colorado Golf Club

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