Mission
The Partner Force Charity Match is an event that seeks to honor Special Forces teams (ODAs) who have lost a brother (or brothers) in combat. Through this event, we aim to come alongside them to acknowledge the loss of their brother(s) in arms and provide them with the opportunity to be a central part of an event held in memory of their fallen teammate(s).
We will partner with members of the ODA to help make the event specific to their team and the loss(es) they have shared. We will also partner with sponsors and donors to raise funds for various nonprofits which serve the Special Forces Community. Each year, we work with the ODA in raising funds for a 501(c)(3) of their choosing.
Backstory
The PFCM began in 2020 with the intent of bringing awareness to non-profits that serve the Special Forces community and raising money to help these non-profits with their mission. The first match was held in memory of SSG Mark DeAlencar. This one was very personal for us, as Mark was the teammate of one of the founders for this event at the time of his death.
We decided early on that we wanted as many of Mark’s former teammates to participate in the match as possible - from the opening ceremony to competing. At the end of the event we all knew it had been the right call, though we had no idea at the time just how significant that detail would prove to be in the long run.
During our second year, we followed a very similar format with one exception: our honoree’s teammates were unable to attend. We were, however, able to get in touch with one of the teammates and invited him. He was unable to be present for the actual event, but did get to come and participate in the set up the day before the match.
Several of us in attendance that day spent some time talking with him. There were many tears shed and stories told. By the end of it, he came and told us how much he appreciated the opportunity to be part of this - even if it was in a small way. What he didn’t realize (and we didn’t realize until the next day) is that the role he played was far from being small.
It was pivotal.
The discussions we had with him and amongst ourselves really brought to light that the focus of this event needed to shift. The purpose had been there from the start, but we now see it clearly.
Remember. Honor.