Stater Bros. Markets Executive Chairman Jack H. Brown and longtime friend and PGA and Champions Tour Pro Dave Stockton hosted the 9th Annual Stater Bros. Charities Dave Stockton Heroes Challenge. The event, after which Stater Bros. Charities donated more than $175,000, was held March 14 at the Redlands Country Club Golf Course in Redlands, California.

The event also brought together six Medal of Honor Recipients and 17 golf professionals, including Marine Corps veteran and World Golf Hall of Fame members Lee Trevino, Donna Caponi-Byrnes and Juli Inkster, in addition to Gary McCord, a Champions Tour professional and golf analyst with local ties.

The six Medal of Honor recipients in attendance were from the Vietnam era and included Harvey C. “Barney” Barnum Jr., Patrick H. Brady, Robert J. Modrzejewski, Robert M. Patterson, James A. Taylor and Jay R. Vargas.

The Medal of Honor is the highest award given by America for valor in action against an enemy force and is presented to its recipient by the President of the United States.

The tournament also honored first responders from the San Bernardino shooting last year, including San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan and the San Bernardino Police Department, as well as Sheriff and Coroner John McMahon and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Stater Bros. Charities donated funds to each department to expand their community outreach programs.

Stater Bros. Charities also made a donation to the Congressional Medal of Honor Scholarship Foundation.

“Doing the right thing for the right reason is the Stater way,” said Brown. “I’m a proud Navy veteran and Native Son of San Bernardino; my mother was the longest serving Reserve Officer for the San Bernardino Police Department, dedicating 60 years, and my father served as Chief Deputy Sheriff for San Bernardino County for 27 years. Honoring the heroism of our local law enforcement and the courage of our Medal of Honor recipients while raising money for our brave veterans is simply the right thing to do.”

Both Brown and Stockton were born and raised in San Bernardino, California, and have been residents of the Inland Empire. Because of their close ties to the community, Brown and Stockton say they feel a great desire to give back to the Inland Empire. Stater Bros. Charities and the Stater Bros. Charities Dave Stockton Heroes Challenge Golf Tournament meets their commitment to their hometown.

Stater Bros. operates 168 supermarkets, employing approximately 18,000 people. Since 2008, Stater Bros. and Stater Bros. Charities have contributed more than $85 million in food and funds to local Southern California communities. Stater Bros. Charities has provided funding to organizations and causes that benefit hunger relief, children’s well-being, education, health, and help for U.S. veterans.

Professional Golfers
Lee Trevino, Dave Stockton, John Cook, Brittany Lang, Chad Pfeifer, Don Boever, Don Pooley, Elena Robles, Gary McCord, Olin Browne, Mark Pfeil, D. A. Weibring, Juli Inkster, Morgan Pressel, Ron Stockton, Tom Pernice Jr. Dpnna Caponi-Burnes