August 7, 2007 – LAWFUEL – The Legal Newswire – In May 2007 Daniel Rooney, a military captain and F-16 fighter pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard who served two tours in Iraq, retained Loeb & Loeb LLP. Mr. Rooney utilized the firm’s services to form Fallen Heroes Foundation, an organization dedicated to fund raising and creating programs for the benefit of the families and children of the men and women who died or were seriously disabled while serving the United States in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
After Mr. Rooney’s last tour in Iraq, he had a very difficult time disengaging from the war and began to think of ways in which he could stay involved in the war effort. As a result, he decided that a positive way to contribute to society and stay involved in the war effort was to start the Fallen Heroes Foundation. Mr. Rooney recognized the need for this type of charitable fundraising due to the low death and disability benefits many families of fallen heroes receive.
“Dan explained his idea to me and I immediately referred him to the Tax Exempt Organizations Group at Loeb & Loeb,” said Martin Pollner a close friend of Rooney’s and a partner in Loeb & Loeb’s New York office. “We were able to provide him with the counsel and support he needed to make turn this vision into a reality and in turn help thousands of people.”
As a professional golfer, the core of Mr. Rooney’s idea was to channel his (and the nation’s) passion for golf with fundraising efforts. Fallen Heroes Foundation has created “Patriot Golf Day” to take place on September 1, 2007. On Patriot Golf Day, approximately 1500 golf courses from around the country will request an additional $1 for each green fee and donate these proceeds to the Fallen Heroes Foundation. Seeing as September 1, 2007 was so soon, Loeb & Loeb attorneys immediately incorporated Fallen Heroes Foundation, filed the application for the Foundation’s Federal tax-exempt status and registered the Foundation as a charity in 40 states soon thereafter.
“As an avid golfer I could think of no better way to see the Fallen Heroes Foundation attain an immediate level of success than to combine my two passions,” said Mr. Rooney. “The establishment of this foundation, and in turn Patriot Golf Day, has been due greatly to the sharp advice and insight I have received from Loeb & Loeb, they’ve played an integral part in seeing that this project comes to fruition.”
The PGA of America is a co-sponsor of Patriot Golf Day and Mr. Rooney recognized this as an opportunity to collaborate with another organization to make a larger impact. He contacted John D. Folsom, a Colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve who created his own non-profit organization dedicated to helping wounded soldiers, Wounded Warriors. Mr. Folsom wholeheartedly agreed to work with the Fallen Heroes Foundation on this great event and with assistance from Julie Samuels, an Associate in Loeb & Loeb’s Chicago office, the organizations were able to file trademark/service mark applications for Patriot Golf Day.
“It’s truly been an honor to help Mr. Rooney and Mr. Folsom create Patriot Golf Day,” said Eliot Green, a partner in Loeb & Loeb’s New York office who specializes in Tax-exempt organizations and provided legal counsel, along with Associate Laura Lavie, to Mr. Rooney and his foundation. Green added, “The concept is truly original and we have full confidence that this event will provide these families with the support they need.”
About Fallen Heroes Foundation: Fallen Heroes Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial and emotional support to the families of Fallen or injured American Servicemen and women, providing financial aid for educating the children and spouses of our Fallen or wounded soldiers, and forming synergistic alliances with fellow non-profits and government agencies that are providing assistance to our military families. For more information please visit: www.fallenheroesfoundation.org
About Wounded Warriors: Wounded Warriors mission is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured or killed during combat operations. The families of these casualties suffer in many ways: some financially, some psychologically. Wounded Warriors mitigates their trauma by allowing them to find peace and solace as a family once more in family-friendly resorts that we provide free of charge. The resort condominiums the organization own in Orlando, Florida and Galveston, Texas are quiet havens where war torn families can reunite and become stronger. For more information please visit: http://www.woundedwarriors.org/
About Loeb & Loeb LLP: Loeb & Loeb LLP is a multi-service national law firm with 275 attorneys focusing on select core industries and practice areas, rather than endeavoring to be all things to all clients, and is recognized as a leading law firm in the areas of securities offerings; mergers and acquisitions, litigation; entertainment and media law; finance; real estate; intellectual property; private equity; employment; advertising and promotions and tax and wealth services. The firm represents multi-national, Fortune 100 companies in the firm’s core practice areas, and serves as primary outside counsel to a multitude of mid-market clients. The firm also represents high tech start-ups and high net worth individuals and families. The firm has four domestic offices in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Nashville and an affiliation in Asia and Europe.
