Fourth Annual SEAL–NSW Family Foundation Event at Del Mar Country Club Raises Over $1 Million

Philanthropist Madeleine Pickens, Co-Chair Dominique Plewes and The Del Mar Country Club have announced that more than $1 million was raised at the March 21 benefit event to support the SEAL-NSW Family Foundation.

This year’s fundraiser, sponsored by American Airlines, Bumble Bee Foods, Corky’s Pest Control, John Matty Co., NAMMO, Kimmelman Family Foundation, Pamplemousse Grille, Taylor Made, Adidas, Ashworth and Adams, Cymer, Wells Fargo Bank, and others, attracted 125 golfers at the annual Scramble Golf Tournament, and 360 attendees at the spectacular evening dinner gala.

This event recognized and thanked the Naval Special Warfare community and their families for their military service, and honored their fallen heroes.

For the second year in a row, the event’s opening morning ceremony featured bagpipers performing patriotic songs and a spectacular skydiving exhibition by Skydiving Innovations. Michael Thornton, Navy SEAL and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, kicked off the golf tournament with welcoming comments.

The evening gala dinner featured keynote speaker General Michael Hayden, a retired Air Force four-star general who served as both the Director of the CIA and the NSA, and guest speaker Curt Cronin, a combat decorated Special Operations Commander in the Navy SEALs, who is now co-founder and senior partner at Mastery Technologies.

The event welcomed distinguished guests including New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees; NFL Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk, professional golf coach Hank Haney and PGA golfer Dave Stockton, Jr.; and San Diego community and business leaders who joined in and donated items, including Jeffrey Strauss, The Pattisons from Scotland, Sandy Sandoval, James and Lauree Moffett, Jenny Craig, The Manoogians, Michelle Weinger and her family, former San Diego Charger Donnie Edwards and his wife Kathryn, Sugar Ray and Bernadette Leonard, Tricia and Jermaine Dye, Trevor and Tracy Hoffman, and John Matty. The event also received generous support from Pamplemousse Grille and Chef Jeffrey Strauss, Suja, Maserati, GSM Outdoors, Mercedes of Escondido, Cart Mart, Trident Manor Kennels, Yamaha, Hard Rock San Diego, John Matty Co., and a number of generous individual donors.

Extraordinary Live and Silent Auction items that drew top winning bids included a private dinner with Sugar Ray and Bernadette Leonard prepared by acclaimed Chef Jeffery Strauss, owner of Pamplemousse Grille; a Day of Golf with Football Legend Joe Montana; Del Mar Races Opening Day with Jenny Craig; an Escape to the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman; Napa Wine VIP Tours of the David Arthur Winery and Colgin Cellars; Golf and Visit to the New Orleans Saints Training Camp at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia; and exclusive high performance race car driving at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving in Phoenix, AZ.

"This year’s SEAL-NSW Family Foundation Golf Tournament and Dinner Gala was a huge success. Madeleine Pickens and Dominique Plewes were, as usual, outstanding hosts and their energy, generosity and dedication to our service members made for an exceptional day on the course and evening affair. We raised awareness and funds to help with our family-focused programs,” said William R. Fenick, Executive Director of the SEAL-NSW Family Foundation. “The SEAL-NSW Family Foundation prides itself on providing meaningful programs to ensure Naval Special Warfare families are resilient. We believe resilient families create stronger warriors, and in these uncertain times we want to do our part to ensure the Naval Special Warfare Family is ready. Madeline and Dominique's commitment to the SEAL-NSW Family Foundation make it all possible. I can’t thank them enough for all they do for our service members."

The Del Mar Country Club is one of the premier country clubs in Southern California. The club family is owned and managed by Madeleine Ann Pickens, a golf enthusiast, businesswoman and philanthropist. The daughter of renowned golf course architect, Bill Baker, she drew from her father's mentoring and her European influences to develop the golf course and its magnificent landscaping surrounding a 55,000-square-foot castle-like Clubhouse. The breathtaking property quickly turned into one of the finest country clubs in the country. Madeleine is currently developing Mustang Monument Eco-Resort and Preserve in Northeastern Nevada. For more information about both properties, visit: www.delmarcountryclub.com and www.mustangmonument.com.

About SEAL – Naval Special Warfare Family Foundation

The SEAL-NSW Family Foundation supports individual and family readiness through an array of programs specifically targeted to assist the Naval Special Warfare community in maintaining a resilient, sustainable, and healthy force in this era of persistent conflict and frequent deployments. With SEALs, their ability to stay fit and focused determines the success of every mission. Part of our job is to facilitate that focus by ensuring every SEAL knows his family is, and will be taken care of. Our motto is “Taking care of THEIR family while they protect OURS.” SEAL-NSWFF programs include Family Resiliency and Services, Children’s Special Needs Programs, Bereavement Support, Transition Assistance, Counter Deployment, Global Outreach, Emergency Assistance and Wounded Warriors. For more information and to donate online, visit www.sealnswff.org.