The legacy of Toby Keith lives on.
Sadly, the country legend passed away in February at the age of 62 after a lengthy battle with stomach cancer, but his foundation continues to do good for his home state of Oklahoma and the communities there.
The 20th anniversary of the Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic took place on May 31st through June 1st, and they set a new fundraising mark this year, raising over $3.1 million for The Toby Keith Foundation and OK Kids Korral through the opening gala and silent auction, as well as several large donations from attendees.
Keith previously called the foundation and his efforts there:
“My best gift I’ve ever given the world.”
The Toby Keith Foundation was started in 2006, and a huge portion of the foundation is the housing he offers for families with children receiving treatment in OKC. The OK Korral (similar to a Ronald McDonald house) provides places for families to stay without putting financial stress on them.
The website states:
“OK Kids Korral helps make life a little easier for children with cancer by providing a safe, convenient, and hopeful place for families to connect with each other and focus on the well-being of their child. OK Kids Korral provides daytime and overnight lodging for pediatric patients and their families.
The state of the art facilities at OK Kids Korral are designed to create a relaxing haven for the entire family.”
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. This is the thing that my siblings and I have discussed being kind of our purpose from this point forward.”
Toby and his friends have raised just shy of $20 million since its inception through his charitable efforts, and it’s amazing to see his children and loved ones continuing to carry on his legacy in this way.
