KAMAN AND THE TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP TO HOST OPERATION BIRDIES ON THE 17TH HOLE THROUGHOUT TOURNAMENT WEEK
All Funds Will Go to Local Military Charities
HARTFORD, Conn., June 26, 2015 – The Travelers Championship is pleased to announce a new program at the tournament this year as part of its efforts to recognize the military. Operation Birdies presented by Kaman will take place on the 17th hole at TPC River Highlands Thursday through Sunday. Each birdie made by a PGA TOUR professional during competition rounds will generate a minimum of a $100 donation to the Birdies for the Brave Homefront Groups across the local Connecticut market. Fans will be able to keep track of the number of birdies made by PGA TOUR professionals with a sign adjacent to the 17th tee box that will update throughout the competition.
“The team at Kaman helped us to launch Operation Birdies as a great way for us to say thanks to the men and women who have served this country,” said Travelers Championship Tournament Director Nathan Grube. “We feel this is an incredible opportunity to combine the excitement of the PGA TOUR’s best golfers and the ability to generate meaningful funds for military charities.”
This is the second year that Kaman has sponsored a Military Appreciation program at the Travelers Championship. As one of the major military contractors for helicopter parts, Kaman wants to give back to those who have served and their families.
“We are proud to partner with the Travelers Championship to support Operation Birdies,” said Chairman, President and CEO of Kaman, Neal Keating. “We have supported our men and women in uniform since our company’s founding 70 years ago. Operation Birdies is a great way to generate funds for the charities of this region that support our brave men and women, and we are proud to sponsor the effort.”
All the funds generated from Operation Birdies will be distributed to eight local homefront charities. These include: Navy Seal Foundation; Operation Homefront; Military Warriors Support Foundation; Green Beret Foundation; United Through Reading; K9s for Warriors; Operation Shower; and Disabled Sports USA.
The Travelers Championship continues its support of U.S. Armed Forces with Military Appreciation presented by Saint Francis Care. The tournament also provides complimentary admission to all active, reserved, and retired military service members and their dependents. U.S. veterans and their dependents can purchase a discounted ticket for $20, with 50% donated back to Birdies for the Brave, a national PGA TOUR military charity.
In addition, the tournament will once again feature the Patriots’ Outpost, a complimentary hospitality venue that will offer free food and beverage, Wednesday through Sunday for all active, reserve and retired military service members, and U.S. veterans. The venue will be fully climate-controlled thanks to the support of our sponsors.
Operation Birdies is one of the many special events throughout tournament week at the Travelers Championship. Tickets for the 2015 tournament are on sale now at TravelersChampionship.com. This year’s Travelers Championship field includes top players such as Bubba Watson, Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els, Hunter Mahan, and reigning champion Kevin Streelman. The Travelers Championship will be held June 22 – 28 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn.
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About the Travelers Championship
As the first PGA TOUR event of the season in the Northeast, the Travelers Championship is one of the region’s premier sporting events. The tournament proudly supports the PGA TOUR’s Tradition of Giving Back by donating 100 percent of net proceeds to charities. Travelers, a leading provider of property casualty insurance for home, auto, and business, is the Official Property Casualty Insurance Provider of the PGA TOUR and became the tournament’s title sponsor in 2007. The company has been doing business in the community for more than 150 years and has been a corporate sponsor of this event each year since its inception in 1952. Complete details are available on www.TravelersChampionship.com.
About Kaman
Kaman Corporation (NYSE:KAMN), which was founded in 1945 by aviation pioneer Charles H. Kaman is headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Kaman conducts business in the aerospace and distribution markets. The Company is a leading distributor of industrial parts, and operates more than 250 customer service centers and five distribution centers across the United States and Puerto Rico. Kaman offers more than four million items including bearings, mechanical power transmission, electrical, material handling, motion control, fluid power, automation and MRO supplies to customers in virtually every industry. Kaman also provides engineering, design and support for automation, electrical, linear, hydraulic and pneumatic systems as well as belting and rubber fabrication, customized mechanical services, hose assemblies, repair, fluid analysis and motor management. Additionally, the company produces and/or markets widely used proprietary aircraft bearings and components; complex metallic and composite aerostructures for commercial, military and general aviation fixed and rotary wing aircraft; aerostructure engineering design analysis and FAA certification services; safe and arm solutions for missile and bomb systems for the U.S. and allied militaries; subcontract helicopter work; and support for the company’s SH-2G Super Seasprite maritime helicopters and K-MAX medium-to-heavy lift helicopters. More information is available at www.kaman.com.
