The 20th annual event raised over $1.6 million and established an endowment with $1.5 million
The 20th anniversary Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic set a new fundraising mark, established an even loftier goal, and was an emotional night for the 800-plus in attendance between May 31st and June 1st. Despite the absence of its namesake, the event showed continued commitment to The Toby Keith Foundation and OK Kids Korral – what the late music icon called “my best gift I’ve ever given the world” – in support of children and families dealing with critical illnesses.
As in prior years, the gathering comprised an opening gala and silent auction followed by a shotgun start golf tournament the next day. Among this year’s top-selling auction items were custom guitars featuring the logo from each year of the event – Year 20 sold twice for $90,000; two paintings by KWTV’s Robin Marsh sold for $125,000; two guitars painted by Johnny Smith sold for more than $100,000; a hand-drawn play by former OU head football coach Bob Stoops went for $35,000; and a VIP experience with baseball Hall of Famer Roger Clemens auctioned for $40,000.
As the night’s total grew, Keith’s former classmate Scott Fulkerson brought the crowd to its feet with a donation to push the auction total beyond $1 million. With 2024’s event surpassing $1.6 million, Toby and his friends have raised just shy of $20 million since its inception.
Newly established this year, The Toby Keith Foundation announced the goal of creating a $10 million endowment and received pledges of more than $1.5 million during the gala. Hosts Bob Stoops and Jim West welcomed Toby’s family and nine Korral families onstage during the event, which was headlined by the Eli Young Band – who were formerly signed to Keith’s Show Dog Nashville record label.
Regarding the foundation, OK Kids Korral, and the endowment, Toby’s daughter Krystal Keith told The Oklahoman, “Somebody has to carry the torch, somebody has to lead the charge in raising money and making sure that this foundation is able to continue to support the Korral. So, we’ve already started stepping into those roles in making sure that we are helping to build those relationships.” Referencing her sister Shelley and brother Stelen, she noted, “This is the thing that my siblings and I have discussed being kind of our purpose from this point forward.”
One of the most prolific self-directed creative forces in country’s modern era. Keith amassed 42 top 10 hits, 33 No. 1s, more than 44 million albums sold, 100 million BMI performances, and more than ten billion streams largely on the strength of his songwriting and producing. He was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame shortly before his passing in February. Among his many accomplishments, the New York-based all-genre Songwriters Hall of Fame (2015), the National Medal of Arts (2021), the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (2021), and BMI Icon (2022) were his most treasured.
