It has been a year of triumph and tragedy for Special Operations Forces, from the capture and elimination of Osama bin Laden to the recent crash of the CH-47 helicopter in Afghanistan this past August.

As the accomplishments are celebrated, K2 Solutions, Inc. (K2) respects the Special Ops’ sacrifices, with the ninth annual Special Operations Warrior Foundation Charity Golf Tournament. It will be held at Pinehurst Course No. 6 Oct. 28, and 100 percent of the funds raised will go to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

The Warrior Foundation provides college scholarship grants to the surviving children of Special Operations personnel who lost their lives in combat or training missions.

Much of this tournament’s success depends on the generous businesses and individuals who sponsor and donate to this charitable cause.  K2 is currently accepting offers of sponsorship and will begin accepting individual donations Oct. 1, with a goal of raising $100,000 for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. 

Scholarships provided by the Special Operations Warrior Foundation cover the full cost of a college education at post-secondary institutions across the nation, including state and community colleges, vocational-technical training and career institutes. 

In addition, the Warrior Foundation provides $2,000 to cover immediate financial needs for Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps Special Operations personnel severely wounded during service.

Sponsorship opportunities range from $1,000 to $10,000 and a variety of benefits come with the money spent to help our warriors and their families.

Associate Sponsors ($1,000) receive one free player spot and a hole sign for a business. Additional player spots are $85 per player, and golfers may form their own teams.

Bronze Sponsors ($2,500) receive two free player spots and a hole sign for your business. Silver Sponsors ($5,000) receive four free player spots and a hole sign as well as two rooms at Pinehurst Resort.

Gold Sponsors ($10,000) receive four player spots, a hole sign and special recognition as well as four rooms at the resort. In order to be recognized as a sponsor it is imperative to act early.

K2 is also taking donations for raffle prizes, which will be given away after the tournament.

For more information on becoming a sponsor or donating to the tournament, call Seana Pernice-Kowalczyk at (910) 692-6898 or email her at SPernice-Kowalczyk@k2si. com.

The Special Operations Warrior Foundation was founded in 1980 to provide a college education to every child who has lost a parent while serving in Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps Special Operations during an operational or training mission.

Nearly 70,000 military special operations and support personnel are stationed in units throughout the United States and overseas bases. Some of the largest concentrations of Special Operations Forces are at military bases at Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune.

(Information for this article was supplied by Kate Anderson, Publications Manager for K2Solutions. Inc.)