About the foundation
Foundation Overview
Our mission is twofold. First, we are here to support local military families during times of hardship. Second, the foundation exists to help educate and encourage youth to explore a career in aviation. We accomplish both of these mission objectives by providing flight training scholarships, aviation education grants, and emergency monetary relief for military families in need.
Major Rick “GUNS” Garin
Major Richard Charles “GUNS” Garin (Rick) was a loving, dedicated, and accomplished person who made the world a better place wherever he went. He was an incredible husband, father, brother, son, friend, and pilot. This organization was founded to honor his life and to inspire other young aspiring pilots to follow in his footsteps. The members of our board see the importance of preserving his memory through the efforts of the Foundation.
PROGRAMS & EVENTS
Veteran Family Relief and Assistance
We believe every veteran is unique and should be cared for that way. With an average response time of less than 24 hours, and more than 300 veterans helped to-date, we mobilize aid quickly and effectively to our service members and their families when they need it most.
Are you a veteran with a current need?
Click the button below to apply for aid:
Aviation Education and Scholarships
Our partnership with E3 Aviation allows us to educate and empower future aviators by providing exclusive access to thousands of hours of educational aviation content through the E3 platform at no cost for students. We also partner with the Academy of Aviation to award scholarships to students in flight school.
Annual Golf Tournament Featuring Michael Thompson
The Annual Guns Garin Memorial Golf Tournament is hosted by PGA Tour Player Michael Thompson and benefits veterans and their families around the country. Check for updates about this year’s tournament.
Veteran Mental Health Initiative
Guns Garin Memorial Foundation is committed to standing with our veterans on a daily basis. 1 in 3 veterans is actively dealing with a known mental health issue, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and TBI.
GGMF is to committed help providing in-person and group therapy for veterans in need of assistance with their mental health.
ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS MAKE AN EVEN BIGGER IMPACT AND SUPPORT EVEN MORE VETERANS
Corporate, Event, and Church Partnerships that reach more veterans and create more impact.
100%
OF DONATIONS GO TO VETERANS*
87K
DONATED TO VETERANS IN 2023
350+
VETERAN FAMILIES AIDED SINCE 2020
Types of Partnerships
EVENT SPONSORSHIPS
Sponsor a Guns Garin event and publicly show your support for our military
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS
Make a monthly pledge, a one time donation or run an employee action campaign
CHURCH PARTNERS
Make supporting our veterans part of your missions program and tell your congregation you stand with our military
SPONSORS & PARTNERS
PGA TOUR PARTNERSHIP:
MICHAEL THOMPSON
We are also grateful to Michael Thompson for his generous support of our foundation.
Michael Thompson is an 11 year veteran member of the PGA Tour. He has won the 2020 3M Open, the 2013 Honda Classic, and placed 2nd at the 2012 U.S. Open. Michael is a graduate of the University of Alabama and has been a consummate professional volunteer ever since attaining the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America in his youth.
Michael is committed to helping veterans and their families in partnership with our foundation.
