- April 4, 2025
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Rosedale Golf Classic co-founders Deb Kehoe and Kathi Skelton get together with Army Sgt. Aaron Cornelius, who was being honored April 2 at the 2025 event and who will receive an adaptive home from Homes for Our Troops.
Photo by Jay HeaterArmy Sgt. Aaron Cornelius addresses the crowd at the Rosedale Golf Classic on April 2.
Photo by Jay HeaterParrish's Joe and Vicky Cox, who are puppy raisers for Dogs, Inc., show off Keni, a retired guide dog, at the Rosedale Golf Classic April 2.
Photo by Jay HeaterGolfers Susan Popyer and Judy Diehl dressed for the occasion to support Homes for Our Troops during the Rosedale Golf Classic April 2.
Photo by Jay HeaterGen. Tom Landwermeyer, the president and CEO of Homes for Our Troops, calls the Rosedale community the most patriotic of any he has visited for an event to support his organization.
Photo by Jay HeaterFormer Rosedale Golf Classic honoree Bobby Withers, a U.S. Army captain who received an adaptive home in 2016, returned for the 2025 event.
Photo by Jay HeaterGen. Tom Landwermeyer, the president and CEO of Homes for Our Troops, thanks the participants at the Rosedale Golf Classic April 2 for their support.
Photo by Jay HeaterDarrin Simone represents the Elks' Riders, who participated in a brief parade on their motorcycles before the Rosedale Golf Classic to raise money for Homes for Our Troops. The Lakewood Ranch Elks have been longtime supporters of the event.
Photo by Jay HeaterRosedale Golf Classic co-founder Deb Kehoe gets a hug from 2023 honoree Christopher Blauvelt, a career solder, before the 2025 event on April 2.
Photo by Jay HeaterJackie Demerly, who hands out gifts to the golfers, has been a volunteer at the Rosedale Golf Classic to support Homes for Our Troops for more than 10 years.
Photo by Jay HeaterSarasota Military Academy students Pierce Mihailoff, Aiden O'Kon, Joey Miguel, and Zachary Jewell present the colors with honoree Army Sgt. Aaron Cornelius at the Rosedale Golf Classic April 2.
Photo by Jay HeaterArmy Sgt. Aaron Cornelius, who was blinded by an IED blast in Iraq in 2008, arrives during a brief parade before the 2025 Rosedale Golf Classic April 6. Dianne Travers of Homes for Our Troops drives the cart.
Photo by Jay HeaterBefore Tom Landwermeyer, a retired Army brigadier general, was to address the golfers at the Rosedale Golf Classic April 2, he wanted to compliment Deb Kehoe and Kathi Skelton, the founders of the event who have spearheaded the effort to raise over $1.5 million since 2013 for Homes for Our Troops.
Landwermeyer, the president and CEO of Homes for Our Troops, was able to inform Kehoe and Skelton, that in 2024 they raised more money — $430,008 — than any other fundraising group in the country that supports his organization.
The Rosedale effort, which never had been higher than No. 2 in the country, achieved its first No. 1 status, out-collecting the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 (Minnesota), which raised $342,415.
"Everyone who supports our mission touches our heart," Landwermeyer said. "And everyone who supports our mission knows who these two ladies are. And they all want to beat them.
"You won't find two bigger patriots than Kathy and Deb."
Homes for Our Troops has built 407 adaptive home for soldiers who were injured in service to their country. The 2025 Rosedale Golf Classic was honoring East County's Aaron Cornelius, an Army sergeant first class who was injured by an improvised explosive device on April 10, 2008. He suffered severe damage from shrapnel to his eyes, face and head, and is blind.
While Cornelius lives in East County, his adaptive home will be built in Lithia.
Cornelius is amazed by the work done by Kehoe, Skelton and all the tournament volunteers.
"They make wonderful things happen," he said. "It's all about making the veterans lives better. It's go ... go ... go."
He said his adaptive home will have an open floor plan with rails lining the walls to help him guide himself. He can use audible commands around much of the house to do tasks such as opening doors or turning on the sprinklers.
"This is going to be huge," said Cornelius, who is 56. "It has been very frustrating for me, and I have had anxiety and depression as I tried to figure out how to do things. But the technology is out there, and now I can be more independent. That in itself is huge."
