This week on Minnesota Military Radio, we are recorded live from the 17th Annual Minnesota Military Family Foundation Golf Classic at Bunker Hills Golf Course. The Minnesota Military Family Foundation continues its mission of providing timely financial assistance to currently serving Minnesota military personnel and their families—active duty, National Guard, and Reserve—who face a financial crisis not covered by existing state or federal programs.
Guests:
- Neil Freeman – Group Manager, BOB FM
- Tom Lyons – VP and founding golf chair, Minnesota Military Family Foundation
- Bill Popp – Founder and Chairman, Minnesota Military Family Foundation
- Tim McElroy – 3M Military Support Network and MMFF Board Member
- Mark Copman – Senior VP of New Ventures Group, 3M
- Don Kerr – Retired Colonel (MNNG), former Executive Director of the Department of Military Affairs and MMFF Board Member
- Ed Suarez – Shoot for the Troops
- Chuck Haas – Hugo Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Network
Co-hosted with Chaplain (COL, Retired) Buddy Winn.
Since its founding in 2004, the Foundation has awarded more than 2,700 grants totaling $7.5 million. It defines a military family financial crisis as a situation requiring a year or more of strict financial discipline to resolve, bringing anxiety, marital strain, and uncertainty into the home. By quickly bridging that gap, the Foundation helps service members stay focused on the mission and return home safely while showing families that their sacrifices are recognized and supported by the community.
As a 100% volunteer organization with extremely low overhead, nearly every donated dollar goes directly to grants. The annual Golf Classic is a key fundraising event that makes this work possible. The episode also highlights long-standing partnerships, including support from BOB FM, the 3M Military Support Network (a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon company), Shooting for the Troops, and the Hugo Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Network.
