Does PING Donate Golf Clubs to Wounded Veterans? PING Helps Vets

Recently I received a forwarded email from a friend. It looked just like so many other emails that I receive . . . you know the ones that I’m talking about - the ones that usually can be found on Snopes.com as being an urban legend. It looked like so many other emails that sounded too good to be true, an exaggerated tale.

This particular tale spoke of a man playing a round of golf with a man he later found to be a wounded veteran. It detailed how the young veteran named Ben Woods had received the golf clubs he was using from PING; and Mr. Woods was struggling to learn how to play the game of golf. Mr. Woods further shared that he had received the custom-made golf clubs and golf lessons as part of his rehabilitation program paid for by Phoenix-based PING, a well-known golf equipment company and a manufacturer of golf clubs. The email further stated that Mr. Woods was determined to learn “to play golf well enough to deserve the gift” PING had so generously provided. Sound too good to be true . . . well . . . I had to check it out!

When I looked on Snopes.com and TruthOrFiction.com, the basis for this story turned out to be totally true and not an urban legend at all. PING does in fact donate approximately 50 full sets of golf clubs yearly to the Wounded Warrior program. Additionally, all active and retired military personnel receive discounts and rebates from PING.

What makes this story so amazing is the fact that PING does not use their generosity as a marketing ploy at all. In fact, PING does not go out of its way to let anyone know of this generosity.

In addition to providing a custom-fitting set of clubs, in many cases PING has also provided free golf instruction. The Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, created in 2003 has been supported by PING since sometime in 2007.

To honor and empower wounded warriors is the mission of the Wounded Warrior and Disabled Sports project. Their mission is further enhanced by their core values: fun, integrity, loyalty, innovation and service. (FILIS) The Wounded Warrior Program (WWP) helps soldiers who are dealing with spinal cord injuries, visual impairments, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), severe nerve and muscle damage, and amputations “rebuild their lives through sports.”

The WWP was set up to help veterans who were severely injured while fighting in the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. The program is not limited to golf, but encompasses anything from rock-climbing to golf to snow skiing.

A spokesman for PING indicated that what PING was able to do for these courageous soldiers was really insignificant to what the veterans had done for our country and, therefore, for their company. He indicated that the Armed Services had gone to great trials to protect our liberties, and the very least that we could do would be to give something back to these authentic American heroes. The sentiment could not have been expressed any better than that!

I find it wonderful that a company, any company, is so willing to give back to those who have served. I applaud PING for their generosity toward these soldiers. Ping did indeed give the soldiers free golf club sets, and so much more. They gave back dignity and hope, and a chance for a new life. Bravo!

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Copyright © 2011 Cindy Murdoch (homesteadbound)

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