FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 11, 2025
Contact: Kristine Kavanagh
(773) 620-9037
[email protected]
ON VETERANS DAY, JAMES M. SWEENEY GOLF CLASSIC ANNOUNCES $1.2 MILLION RAISED FOR SEAL FAMILY FOUNDATION
Event’s impact celebrated with special tribute video honoring Navy SEAL families and veterans
COUNTRYSIDE, IL (November 11, 2025) – In honor of Veterans Day, the James M. Sweeney Golf Classic proudly announces that its 2025 event raised $1.2 million for the SEAL Family Foundation, strengthening its ongoing commitment to supporting the families of Navy SEALs.
Although the event took place this summer at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club on August 18, 2025, the announcement is being made today, accompanied by the release of a special tribute video recognizing the sacrifices of Navy SEALs, veterans, and their families.
The 2025 Sweeney Golf Classic brought together over 650 golfers, nearly 700 dinner guests, and more than 380 sponsors and donors, uniting in a shared mission to honor and assist those who serve our country. Since its transformation in 2016, the Golf Classic has contributed over $7.5 million to the SEAL Family Foundation—nearly half of that raised in just the past three years.
“There’s no more fitting day than Veterans Day to share the results of this year’s Golf Classic,” said James M. Sweeney, President-Business Manager of IUOE Local 150. “This event is about more than golf—it’s about gratitude. The funds we raise go directly to the families who bear the weight of service, reminding them that their sacrifices are seen, honored, and supported.”
The SEAL Family Foundation provides vital support to the spouses and children of Navy SEALs, offering scholarships, counseling, and emergency aid. These programs help strengthen the foundation of the Naval Special Warfare community while SEALs serve around the world.
The SEAL Family Foundation’s (SFF) Executive Director, Cindy Axelson, along with representatives Craig Cassell, SFF Board Member, Captain Mike Argo, SFF Board Member, and John Galt, SFF Board Member, were present to highlight the event’s impact. They were joined by Gold Star Surviving Spouses, former Navy SEALs, and retired SEAL Captain Brad Geary, which further underscored the community’s appreciation and support for the SEAL families.
“The Local 150 Operating Engineers Union has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the SEAL Family Foundation. Their generosity directly strengthens the families of our active-duty Navy SEALs and our Gold Star families — helping them not just endure the hardships of service, but truly thrive. We are deeply grateful to Jim Sweeney and the Local 150 community for their unwavering commitment to stand with us in this mission,” stated SEAL Family Foundation’s (SFF) Executive Director, Cindy Axelson.
The 2025 event also marked the 20th anniversary of Operation Red Wings, honoring the legacy of LT Michael P. Murphy, Danny Dietz, Matthew Axelson, and Marcus Luttrell. Their courage and sacrifice continue to inspire the Foundation’s mission and the Sweeney Golf Classic’s ongoing dedication to those who serve.
The tribute video released today highlights the participants, SEAL family members, and event organizers, celebrating the community that stands behind America’s special operations forces.
The James M. Sweeney Golf Classic will return next year on Monday, August 17, 2026, once again at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, with all proceeds benefiting the SEAL Family Foundation.
About Operation Red Wings:
On June 28, 2005, a Navy SEAL team of four—LT Michael P. Murphy, Danny Dietz, Matthew Axelson, and Marcus Luttrell—was on a reconnaissance mission in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush when they were compromised by local nationals who alerted the Taliban. Despite being outnumbered and outmaneuvered, the SEALs engaged in a fierce firefight. Murphy, despite being gravely wounded, heroically exposed himself to enemy fire to call for help, ultimately leading to the rescue of the sole survivor, Luttrell. An MH-47 Chinook helicopter dispatched for extraction was shot down, killing all 16 aboard, marking the deadliest single-day loss for U.S. forces since Operation Enduring Freedom began and the largest for Naval Special Warfare since World War II. Luttrell, severely injured, managed to escape with the help of local villagers before being rescued on July 2.
The sacrifices and bravery of the SEALs on that day are solemnly remembered by the Naval Special Warfare community.
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ABOUT THE SEAL FAMILY FOUNDATION: Founded in 2008, the SEAL Family Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization that raises funds and awareness for special programs in direct support of the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) families on a local, national and global scale. More than 90 percent of all funding supports direct services, and remaining funds directly support program administration and Foundation operations.