The 15th Annual “Eagles Under the Oaks” golf tournament sponsored by Keesler Federal Credit Union raised a record $133,000 to support the Combat Wounded Veterans of South Mississippi (CWVSM) organizers announced Thursday.
Keesler Federal has raised funds to support the organization since its inception in 2011, said CWVSM founder Donna Anderson, a former case worker with the Air Force.
“I began by just asking people for donations to help wounded soldiers who could no longer serve in the active military,” Anderson said. “I met with Keesler Federal early on and they embraced the mission. They supported us in the beginning, and ever since.”
CWVSM helps servicemen and women who have sustained physical or psychological disabilities and are now longer able to pursue their career in the military. The organization provides and connects these wounded veterans to services to assist them in the transition from military to civilian life.
“The sacrifices our wounded veterans have made for our freedom is staggering, and humbling for all of us,” said Lawrence Dupont, Keesler Federal Senior VP and Chief Risk Officer. “We all need to do everything we can to honor those sacrifices.”
The annual “Eagles Under the Oaks” tournaments have now raised more than $600,000 for CWVSM since the inaugural event in 2011 generated $13,000, which at that time was considered a huge success, said Susan Peyret, Keesler Federal Senior VP and Chief Financial Officer.
“Together today, we raised $133,000 for the Combat Wounded Veterans of South Mississippi because of the incredible corporate citizens in our region who don’t hesitate to step up to support our veterans,” Peyret said, noting that 100 percent of the tournament proceeds go directly to the veterans support organization. “This event keeps getting bigger every year which shows that a lot of people feel the same way.”
Of the more than $600,000 raised for CWVSM since 2011, more than $350,000 of that amount has been raised in just the last three years.
Top sponsors at this year’s event included Velera, Allied Solutions, RJ Young/Verdaka, Confluent, Open Lending, Route 66 Extended Warranty, SWBC, Trustage, WithClutch. Pinnacle Financial, Stiffel, Alkami, Ports America, and Beau Rivage Resort and Casino.
About Keesler Federal
Established in 1947 in Biloxi, Keesler Federal is the largest credit union headquartered in Mississippi, with more than 380,000 members and $5 billion in assets. Named by Newsweek in 2025 as one of the best credit unions in America for the third consecutive year, the not-for-profit cooperative more than 50 branches in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the UK. Keesler Federal membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school within its service areas. For more information, visit KFCU.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and YouTube.
Contact:
T. Bradley Keith, Director of Public Relations & Communications
TBradley.Keith@kfcu.org (228) 701-1347 – direct; (225) 364-5804 – cell