Home Base Home Base Florida Donor Spotlight – August 2025
The Power of Connection: US Amateur Tour Raises Money and Exposure through the Love of Golf
Brigadier General (Ret) Edward Dyer has been connecting people to the Home Base Florida mission since he retired to Naples, Florida in 2016. He enjoys telling the Home Base story so that more Veterans and Military Families can get the help they need. As the Florida Senior Advisor and Leadership Council Chair, he is passionate about using his connections to bring in the resources necessary to see the programs expand throughout the state.
“I spent my life taking care of soldiers and their families,” said General Dyer. “My work with Home Base Florida is just an extension of that. We started a model here in Southwest Florida and now its expanding to other parts of the state, and that model is now being used all over the country. That is something I’m really proud of.”
Like many other retirees in Florida, General Dyer loves golf. Golf is extremely popular for retirees due its physical, mental and social benefits. Florida has the most golf courses in the United States because you can play year-round and that attracts both professional and recreational players. As a result, golf tournaments have been one of Home Base Florida’s great sources of fundraising and “friendraising” because it is the perfect place to connect, share life experiences and introduce the mission in a casual, inviting, fun atmosphere.
Naturally, when General Dyer began playing in the US Amateur Tour, a nationwide amateur tour that has 9,000 members and hosts one day local tournaments and two-day regional major championships, he seized the opportunity to wear his Home Base golf shirt and find ways to discuss the mission on and off the course.
“There are a lot of Veterans who play on the tour. You just never know who you might touch,” said General Dyer. “Someone in my foursome a few years ago asked me about my shirt. After the round, one of the players approached me privately and was in tears. His son was on the verge of ending his life. I made some calls and was able to get him into the intensive clinical program in Boston. His son is doing great now. That made this work very personal for me.”
When General Dyer learned that each US Amateur Tour major championship has a 50/50 raffle with 50% going to a charity, he asked the Southeast US Regional Tour Director Mike Rich if he would consider Home Base Florida as one of the benefiting charities. After doing some research, Mike enthusiastically agreed to have Home Base Florida benefit from all 12 major championships he manages in 2025.
“We prefer giving back to organizations with local touch points and being a part of something where we can make an impact,” said Mike. “Knowing our donation can help and support Veterans who are experiencing a rough patch get access to the professional care they need is invaluable to me. Several tour members have indicated that their family or friends have benefited from Home Base services making the donation even more special.”
Many people don’t ask for help. Creating a safe space through the love of golf to share stories of hope and help is proving to be a powerful and effective way to connect with those in need and those who have the means to support it.
When General Dyer was given a few minutes to discuss Home Base and the 50/50 raffle before the shotgun start of one of the tour’s tournaments, the true power of connection through the game golf was a on full display.
“On the way back to my cart, I got stopped by three players who said either they, or a family member needed help,” said General Dyer. “Then two other players came up and gave me a $200 donation and another player that I was paired with the day before came to me and said he really appreciated what we were doing for Veterans and mailed us a check for $10K as soon as he got home from the tournament! It was a great way to end the season.”
The US Amateur Tour donation totaled nearly $20,000 this year and because of its overwhelming success, Mike has extended the support to have the Southeast US tournaments benefit Home Base Florida in 2026 as well.
“I hope this continued support brings recognition and awareness to all that Home Base Florida offers at no cost so more Veterans can get help,” said Mike.
“This story reinforces my faith in the American people – that they appreciate our Veterans and the Military and that they will help if they can,” added General Dyer. “The need will never go away.”