Serving Veterans and First Responders: A Recap

It is with great pride that we hosted the inaugural Putts for Pearl golf tournament last year. We welcomed over 90 participants for a round of golf in beautiful weather and, more importantly, raised over $45,000 for the Pearl Cares Foundation. Thanks to the support of generous participants, we were able to make a difference in the lives of 17 community members through the funds specifically set aside for local veterans and first responders.

The Need

It probably comes as a surprise to no one that veterans and first responders are in lines of work that can be detrimental to mental and physical health. It is one of the primary reasons that we as a nation make such a point to care for those on the front lines and honor the sacrifices they make.

However, there are still gaps in this care and there are issues that are desperately in need of attention. According to Eastern Idaho Public Health, "Police and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty". The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs found that the suicide rate for Idaho was more than double the rate for the rest of the Western region.

We at the Pearl Cares Foundation would like to be part of the solution to these challenges.

Building a Pathway

One of the main initiatives of the Pearl Cares Foundation is the Pearl Pathways program. It provides 'pathways' for individuals to receive care who would not otherwise be able to receive it. As a result of the designated funds from Putts for Pearl 2025, we proudly established the Veterans & First Responders Pathway (VFRP).

The pathway connects veterans and first responders with care. We provide a combination of financial assistance and scheduling appointments with a dedicated provider in the program.

Each patient is assigned a provider and given six sessions of support. The Foundation pays session costs not covered by the patient's insurance. After successfully completing six sessions, the patient transitions out of the program and may continue care at Pearl Health Clinic.

The Stats

Since it began in 2025, the VFRP has already served 17 veterans and first responders in our community. Nine individuals completed the program, with seven of these transitioning into ongoing care at Pearl Health Clinic. Eight people are receiving care in the program currently.

Four providers participate in the program, and, across all 17 patients, there have been a total of 65 visits.

The program prioritizes patient success as well as cost effectiveness. The total cost to run the program has been $7,654.28. Of that, $4,135.03 was direct relief for patient fees not covered by insurance.

The Future

Through the success of the program, and through the generous support provided by the 2025 Putts for Pearl players and donors, the VFRP has become a permanent fixture of the Foundation. The program is highly scalable; through continued support from fundraisers like Putts for Pearl and donations, we hope to expand and reach more veterans and first responders across Eastern Idaho.

If this continued mission is something you believe in, one of the best ways you can help out is through donating. Another way you could participate is by joining us for the next Putts for Pearl golf tournament.