By Leonard Finkel
Arnold Palmer, known world-wide as golf’s greatest ambassador, will be honored for his dedication to the game and lifelong humanitarian efforts when 24 of the world’s greatest golfers compete in the Presidents Cup at Liberty National Golf Club, September 26-October 1. A World Golf Hall of Fame member, Palmer served as Captain for the victorious U.S. Team in the second Presidents Cup in 1996.
As part of the 2017 event, members of both teams, volunteers and staff – more than 1,500 people – will receive commemorative pins featuring a silhouette of Arnold Palmer. The silhouette is the new logo of Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation (AACF), the nonprofit organization created last year to continue the legacy of Palmer’s work toward creating a healthier world for children and their communities. Arnie’s Army, the movement ignited by Palmer’s admiring golf fans in the 1960s, grew to attract a legion of passionate followers and volunteers to his philanthropic work over the course of his long and successful career.
For decades, Arnold and Winnie Palmer gave generously of their time and resources to improve children’s health and well-being in their own communities, especially in Orlando where they helped create the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies. In Arnold’s hometown of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, they established the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve. Succeeding generations of the Palmer family will support the Foundation’s leadership to ensure that the nonprofit continues to be responsive to new needs and new generations of supporters.
“We are dedicated to elevating Arnold Palmer’s legacy by continuing the good work he started and working tirelessly, as he did, to improve children’s lives,” said Kevin Bingham, CEO, Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation. “Like Arnold Palmer, we are committed to giving generously of our resources and our efforts to help make a better world for generations to come.”
More information about Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation can be found on arniesarmy.org.
Leonard Finkel is the author of The Secrets to the Game of Golf & Life and former editor in chief of Golf Journeys Magazine. His work has been featured in almost 200 publications including Golf Magazine, Golf Digest, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Golf Illustrated, Golf Tips and Player Magazine. He has written more than a dozen cover stories for Golf Today Magazine. He has written extensively about golf and travel and has added poker to his writing repertoire. Finkel also works as a marketing and public relations consultant. His specialty niche is writing advertorial copy. Prior to his career in golf, Finkel owned a chain of retail stores and a consulting and import company based in Asia. He attended the University of Utah.