“When people ask what’s driven me all these years,
I always give the same answer.
It’s you.”
- Arnold Palmer
We believe
Making a positive change in the life of a child is one of the most significant things you can do.
Arnie's Army Marches On
It all began in the 1960’s when Arnold Palmer’s go for broke style of golf bolstered a legion of fans, coined by the press as Arnie’s Army, who lovingly bestowed the title of “The King” upon him not only because of his prowess on the course, but more importantly because of his unfailing sense of kindness and thoughtfulness.
Arnie’s Army is marching toward a better tomorrow by investing in the well-being and development of children & youth, supporting health & wellness initiatives and strengthening communities and the environment.
Our Causes
"When you're relaxed, the body can heal faster. It's the golf, stupid."
Zakki's Story
Stainless steel, plastic, nylon, titanium, cow parts, pig parts and cadaver sewn into my pericardium: my million-dollar heart after 12 surgeries.
My first memory is in the hospital. The light is bright, and I'm on my back, aware of being in this world. The image is fleeting, but there. I was only a few weeks old, and some people say this is impossible. But in my next memory I'm definitely 3. I'm with my mom going up the ramp to the doctor's office, and I have a horrible, sticky pain in my chest.
By age 5 I knew there was something wrong with the way I couldn't keep up with other kids, but I didn't know it was out of the ordinary to see a doctor four times a week. It didn't strike me as particularly odd to overhear arguments about how long you would live. It wasn't until I was 9 that my condition was truly explained to me.
I was born with a complex heart defect. When I was a month old, I suffered a stroke that wiped out half my brain. This is why I have such limited use of the left side of my body. There are severe deformities in my lungs, and my immune system is a joke. I'm not the first "blue baby" in my paternal lineage, but I'm the first to survive. I've never attended school. I've lived on the pioneer of surgery, and medical articles have been written about me.
When I was 15 I felt like giving up. Despite how hard I'd fought--enduring collective years in hospitals, swallowing umpteen medications a day, being told I couldn't play baseball and given a yo-yo, the very act of breathing--I'd reached a point where I was just tired of it all. Every little victory was followed by greater setbacks. I was ready to go.
Worse was life at home. My dad and mom were constantly fighting. The police had our address memorized, I'm sure. A visit to family court solved nothing, and I couldn't help but feel my medical issues were a root cause. Nothing's more stressful than being unable to run from a fight. My dad will tell you that my mom poisoned me against him, but the bottom line is, I haven't seen him in three years, and don't plan to.
What I was also getting really sick of, with so much time in the hospital, was cartoons. My cardiac therapist was a big golfer, and so we began watching a lot of Golf Channel. I got into it. I told my mom I wanted to visit a golf course before I died.
The first time I went to The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia, I was overweight and arrived in a stroller with an oxygen tank pushed by my mom. Coach Jeff showed me how to putt. And then I putted against the other kids, and it was about the happiest day of my life. This place wasn't the hospital, and it wasn't home.
At age 16 I had never left the sight or sound of my mom, except with trained personnel. It took some sweat for coach Jeff to convince my mom I would be OK with him on the course. We took a cart, and my mom almost freaked when we came back and she saw I was without my oxygen cannula.
"It's OK, Mom," I said. "I feel fine without it."
When I'm on the golf course life is almost perfect. I have a two-handed backswing and a one-handed through-swing because my left hand won't stay on the grip. But there are infinite ways to hit a golf ball pure, and I can make lots of bogeys, sometimes pars. In golf you have to let go of the past a little bit at a time and focus on what's next, which is something I'm pretty good at.
I've been treated at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children multiple times while on vacation. I had wonderful caring doctors and nurses and they took my complex medical history seriously and listened well. My life has been saved, repeatedly, away from home - thank you to Mr. Palmer!
The doctors can't believe my progress. I tell them not to overthink it. When you're relaxed, the body can heal faster. It's the golf, stupid.
Coach Jeff and my mom are now got married, but that's a whole other story. My life is like a reality show.
I will be in Florida for my birthday, after I finish an eight week module for golf classes at Keiser University College of Golf.
I'm hoping to get in a round.
Part of the story courtesy of Golf Digest, video courtesy of Golf Channel
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46 Children Are Diagnosed With Cancer Each Day In The United States.
Katie's Story
Katie Karp remembers the day when she was diagnosed with cancer very well. The diagnosis of osteosarcoma in her left leg was unexpected and quite a blow, but Katie was not going to let cancer win. She's a fighter. Through dozens of chemotherapy treatments and surgery that resulted in 11" of her thigh bone being removed, Katie persevered. Watch her amazing story and how she's used her experience with cancer to help children currently going through their own battle.
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We Believe investing in education is the foundation of a promising and bright future.
Jenni's Story
During the fall semester of her freshman year at St. Vincent's College Jenni had the director of the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve, Angela Belli, as a professor. Shortly after learning about the variety of education programs she began volunteering once a week, helping prepare crafts and take care of the animals. Jenni says, "I became passionate about teaching others about conserving our environment and animal habitats. Working at the Nature Reserve is such an incredible opportunity for me to reach out to children and their families about nature and teach them how important it is to protect the natural world around us. There is no greater reward than seeing the children have the chance to engage with nature and learn about the environment and its inhabitants."
Jenni has worked at the Nature Reserve for more than a year and most days consist of taking care of the animals and preparing for the various educational programs and craft projects that are done with families. She interacts daily with families that attend classes or hike at the reserve. Throughout the year she leads or assists with Nature Story Time, Tiny Wonder Time, various school programs, wetland programs, Fur and Feather Camp, Slime and Scales Camp, Bug Camp, Nature Discovery Hikes and many others. Jenni says, "The Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve has such a variety of engaging programs for all ages, and the programs are designed specifically to meet the needs of the different age groups. They provide an assortment of activities that are very enjoyable for children to participate in while simultaneously educating them in a way that is easy for them to learn and engage with the natural world."
Jenni's future plans are to focus on conservation of the environment and animal habitats, stating, "I have a wide span of career interests and they all revolve around nature education. I've enjoyed every second while educating others at the reserve, and I would love to continue on this path as a career."
Supporting Arnie's Army will help ensure that students like Jenni are able to work with children and families to help them understand, appreciate and help conserve wildlife and nature. Nature-based education can play a significant role in the life of a child with your support.
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Join Arnie’s Army
Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation provides financial support to institutions and organizations that help children, youth, families, the environment and the communities in which we live. Join Arnie’s Army and show your support to ensure a brighter and healthier future for all.
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