IN THE PRESS
COWBOY CHANNEL | NCHA Military Cutting Challenge Creates an Outlet for the Military Community to Heal
AUTHOR: COWBOY CHANNEL
JUNE 05, 2024
A year ago, NCHA Executive Director Jay Winborn started the Military Cutting Challenge as a way for those who previously served in the military to heal using equine therapy.
This exciting three-day challenge starts with every challenger being paired with a well-known cutting horse trainer. Each day riders gain knowledge and confidence in order to showcase their skills on competition day.
“I took a green beret riding the other day, introducing him to cutting and we were talking on the way home and he’s like it was exhilarating, it was terrifying, at any moment you could be gone, you could be gone and off of that horse, and I was like it kind of reminds us of combat,” Executive Director of the Special Forces Foundation Ignacio Garza said.
Hosting this event has not only helped numerous special operations men to heal, but it has also given many of them a love for the cutting horse world. Multiple participants from last year have gone on to buy a cutting horse and compete on their own.
This event will be held and open to public viewing on Aug. 3, 2024 at the Will Rodgers Memorial Center in Fort Worth.
WJAC | ‘Johnstown Barstool Open’ raises funds for special forces with mini-golf in downtown pubs
AUTHOR: WJAC Staff
JUNE 28, 2024
CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — The inaugural “Johnstown Barstool Open” held Thursday night saw teams of two playing mini-golf at nine downtown bars to raise funds for a nonprofit aiding U.S. Special Forces members and their families.
Each participating bar featured a custom hole and drink specials for participants.
The event, which drew 100 participants, was organized as a fundraiser for the Special Forces Foundation. The nonprofit provides support to Green Berets and their families, as well as Gold Star families — those who have lost loved ones while serving in the military.
“It’s great seeing the community come out and have fun while raising money for an organization like this,” said event organizer Katie Matzke. “It’s also fun to see the bars showing their unique styles and making these holes special. It’s a blast.”
The event featured awards for the best-dressed team and the team with the lowest score.
FOX 8 | Special Forces Foundation
AUTHOR: FOX 21
APRIL 18, 2024
Katie Matzke, Digital Engagement Manager with Special Forces Foundation, joins KC O’Day to talk about some fun events the organization has planned in the Johnstown region.
WJAC | Charity golf outing, mini-golf bar crawl coming to Johnstown
AUTHOR: Sean Eiler
APRIL 16, 2024
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WJAC) — A charity golf outing, and mini-golf bar crawl, is coming to Johnstown to raise money for military members and their families.
The “Special Operations Cup” is a modified-scramble style golf tournament, with proceeds going toward the Special Forces Foundation, a non profit that supports green berets and their families, as well as Gold Star families, which are families that lost a loved one while serving in the military.
The Special Operations Cup will be held Friday, June 28th at Sunnehanna Country Club in suburban Johnstown. Registration starts at 11:30 AM, with a shotgun start to the tournament at 1:30 PM. The evening is capped off with dinner, a silent auction and awards beginning at 6:00 PM.
Katie Matzke, the organizer of the outing, is a Johnstown native who currently lives in Colorado with her husband, Chris Matzke, who is an active green beret. When asked why she decided to bring the charity outing back home to Johnstown, she said, “I know the patriotism that we have here, and there’s a great amount of veterans here. Like, why not bring this foundation here so people can learn more about it, support it, and if there’s green beret’s here in town that need help, they can get help through us as well.”
While you’ll find a lot of similar themes at most golf-outings, the Special Operations Cup will get started in a unique way.
“And it’s kind of cool, we call it the ‘Special Operations Cup,’ and we bring in Green Beret’s to parachute from the sky, and they’ll be parachuting down onto hole one here at Sunnehanna, so it’s very cool, very exclusive,” said Matzke.
In addition to the golf outing, Matzke is holding a mini-golf bar crawl around downtown Johnstown, called the “Johnstown Barstool Open,” which will be held on June 27th.
“We’re going to start that at 1st Summit Arena, and then I will give you a score card and kind of tell you where to go, and there’s going to be nine different bars, all with putt-putt holes for you to go through, and you’re going to drink and golf your way through downtown,” said Matzke.
Proceeds from both events will support the Special Forces Foundation.
The deadline to register for the Special Operations Cup is June 1st. You can sign up, here.
To register for the Johnstown Barstool Open, click here.
FOX 21 | Special Forces Foundation to Host Ladies’ Night
AUTHOR: Julie Baker
SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Special Forces Foundation is hosting a night of networking for women of Southern Colorado on October 21 at Black Hat Distillery.
The foundation serves members of the Special Forces and their family members. The Masquerade Themed night will feature appetizers, drinks, and the opportunity to network.
Currently, sponsors are needed. Please reach out to the Special Forces Foundation if you’d like to aid via email at info@specialforcesfoundation.org
FOX 21 | Special Forces Foundation
AUTHOR: FOX21
SEPTEMBER 7, 2023
Trusted. Transparent. Mission-Driven.
Special Forces Foundation is proud to be recognized by GuideStar, the world’s most comprehensive source of nonprofit information. This seal represents our ongoing commitment to financial integrity, operational transparency, and measurable impact.