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The Odyssey Golf Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides both the therapeutic and recreational benefits of golf to veterans, active military personnel, and children and adults with special needs.
Through the use of our golf course and professional staff, the Odyssey Golf Foundation provides free golf instruction, practice and education to participants.
The Odyssey Golf Foundation also works with other 501(c)(3) organizations in order to assist with their fundraising activities through the use of our facilities and services.
The Foundation offers veterans and active duty service members instructional golf, outings, and golf programs. We provide instructional golf to children and adults with special needs in collaboration with qualified partner organizations. We also offer fundraising programs for other non-profit organizations.
If any veteran, active duty military personnel or individual with a disability would like to participate in our golf or driving range programs, but cannot afford to do so, we offer special accommodations. Please contact Head PGA Professional Mike Hainline or Lisa Halikias at 708-429-7400 ext. 1 and ext. 7 to complete an Application for Subsidized Program Fees and we will process it expeditiously. Odyssey Charities is dedicated to making sure that veterans, active duty military personnel and individuals with disabilities can afford to play golf at the Odyssey Golf Foundation.
Odyssey Golf Foundation offers other 501(c)(3) charities the opportunity to use the golf course for their own fundraising efforts. The Foundation can arrange special discounted golf outings and driving range events for organizations’ participants. Free rounds of golf can be donated for use in their fundraising event auction.
> Download a Golf Outing Fundraising Charitable Discount Application
The journey leading to the Odyssey Golf Foundation was inspired by a desire to make golf available to more people. In 1990, the Halikias family established the Odyssey Country Club with the goal of making a private golf club experience available to the general public. Very active philanthropically, the Halikias family established a 501(c)(3) non-profit in late 2013 and gifted the course to the Odyssey Golf Foundation to serve veterans, active military personnel and children and adults with special needs.
The Odyssey Golf Foundation course is open to the public. Operated under the direction of Head PGA Professional. Mike Hainline, the Foundation is comprised of the golf course, driving range, practice facilities, golf academy and pro shop. The 18-hole course, designed by two-time U.S. Open winner Curtis Strange, provides challenging, championship play.
Every time you play, you support the mission. The Foundation programs are funded through revenue generated by greens fees, sponsorships, partnerships and the generous donations of individuals, groups and corporations.
“We also saw the golf course as a way for other charitable organizations to raise funds and promote their own important goals. Golf outings bring people together in a unique way. The special blend of camaraderie and competition that’s found on the golf course is exactly what many charitable organizations want to foster. Their members get to know each other much better. Plus, they raise a lot of money for their good causes.”
Lena Halikias, CEO of Lena Halikias, DDS