KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan golf team will be teaming up with Folds of Honor in a "Birdies for Captain" campaign throughout the 2021-22 tournament season.

Folds of Honor provides scholarships and other assistance for spouses and children of soldiers killed or disabled in service to the United States. Folds of Honor is a charitable partner of the Women's Golf Coaches Association and the Golf Coaches Association of America.

Western Michigan will be sponsoring the family of U.S. Army Captain Drew Russell, who was killed-in-action in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan on Oct. 8, 2011. Captain Russell was a WMU alum, graduating in 2008 with a degree in criminal justice. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in Armor through WMU's ROTC program, where he was designated a Distinguished Military Student. For his actions and service he was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

"We are so excited to be participating in the Folds of Honor for our 2021-2022 season," said head coach Kim Moore. "Adding our "Birdies for Captain" campaign will be just another way for our players to really add an additional level of meaning to those Birdies and Eagles we already strive to get. Representing a WMU alum, U.S Army Captain Drew Russell, by carrying a bag with his name on it in his honor, will be extremely humbling for our players. It will be an honor for us to not only be representing Western Michigan when we compete, but now representing Captain Russell and his family this season."

The Broncos will be raising money by receiving pledges and single donations for every birdie/eagle the team gets throughout the 2021-22 tournament season. Along with the pledges, a golfer from the team will be carrying a golf bag that has the name Army Captain Drew E. Russell for every tournament round this season. At the end of the season the team will auction off the bag and the proceeds, along with all the money raised, will go to Folds of Honor in memory of Captain Russell.

For more information and to pledge/donate, please contact WMU head coach Kim Moore at Kimberly.moore@wmich.edu.