GOWRIE — Katelyn Johnson’s goals were relatively modest when she started her Swingin’ Fore Soldiers golf tournament fundraiser in 2019.

What the 2009 Prairie Valley graduate didn’t fully understand at first was just how much her hometown community — as well as people and businesses from across the region — would rally around the cause.

This year’s event, which took place earlier in June at the Gowrie Municipal Golf Course, raised a record $51,000 for Iowa military families.

Johnson is its founder, but the collective credit for the exponential growth of Swingin’ Fore Soldiers goes more to the citizens of Webster County and north-central Iowa.

-Photo by Julie Vinsand/The Gowrie News
Katelyn Johnson pauses for a quiet moment of reflection in front of an area addressing military suicide prevention during the Swingin’ Fore Soldiers event in Gowrie.

“I owe everything to my community for supporting this,” she said. “We cannot exist without you. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all who have shared this vision with me. Know you are truly saving and changing lives, and never forget, we are standing on the shoulders of the most courageous and selfless heroes that exist.”

Johnson initially wanted Swingin’ Fore Soldiers to be a support system for both veterans and troops actively serving in the United States Armed Forces.

“I love to help and give back and was thinking, ‘What is an area back home I could get the community involved?'” said Johnson, who now lives in West Des Moines. “My initial thought was the military. I don’t think we do enough for the military. I don’t think we give back enough.”

The inaugural tournament five years ago was a success, raising nearly $4,500. Both the interest in and popularity of Swingin’ Fore Soldiers — which now includes not just golf, but a live auction, raffles, games, other forms of entertainment and a number of ways to honor the military — has taken off in ways Johnson could have never imagined.

Today, there are 27 teams, more than 75 sponsors and countless volunteers from the area contributing to the cause.

“Our mission has been the same from day one: To support our military, veterans and their families by honoring the promise, dedication and sacrifices made to protect our freedoms and our future,” Johnson said. “That will never be blurred.”

The money is distributed in a variety of ways, addressing medical expenses, car and rent payments, utility bills, food and gas, emergency funding, the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight, care packages overseas, thank-you gifts, an annual holiday turkey and ham giveaway, adopting military families to help with Christmas gifts and meals, gifts at patching ceremonies, funeral expenses, and a number of other purposes.

Recently a new project — “Homebound for Heroes” — was also added, as Swingin’ Fore Soldiers aids in the ability to move veterans from one place to another.

“We give back 100 percent of the proceeds raised to active duty, reserves, veterans and Gold Star families across Iowa,” Johnson said. “It’s also my understanding that we are one of the only emergency-funded organizations in the state, meaning we get funds into our service members’ hands within hours of a phone call.”

Swingin’ Fore Soldiers has now distributed more than $110,000 for active duty, reserves, veterans and Gold-Star families since 2019. Johnson confirms anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 military members and their families have been impacted during that period of time.

Johnson is also passionate about prioritizing the mental health conversation.

“Every day, we lose over 22 service members to suicide,” Johnson said. “It’s raw, it’s real, and our organization directly impacts the ability to support these families and break down the barriers that it’s OK to ask for help and ultimately prevent the tragic loss of any of these amazing men and women.

“It doesn’t matter where you came from, what your past is or how much money you have in this lifetime … you are here because God has a plan and purpose. Everyone here has a family and friend that cares about them. Our organization is a phone call away for anyone, but especially the military families. It’s my goal to one day reduce that 22 to zero.”