By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com
NOBLESVILLE – The impact and memory of Tony Etchison continues to live on.
Both were felt at the fifth annual Tony Etchison Golf Outing, which took place Monday at Fox Prairie Golf Club in Noblesville. The field was full – in fact, it was more than full with 37 teams playing.
Chris Shaffer (left) and John Mahaney hit the ball of the tee during the golf outing. (Richie Hall)
“Normally, 36 is full, so that’s all great,” said Jody Roudebush, a member of the Tony Etchison Memorial Foundation board.
The golf outing raises money for several organizations that benefit Noblesville, the Hamilton Heights area and beyond. Both Roudebush and Tony’s wife Toby Etchison said that the outing will raise around $30,000 once both the fundraising and proceeds from a silent auction that took place during an after-golf dinner were factored in.
“We’ve got several donated foursomes from golf clubs around the community, so we’ll auction those off,” said Roudebush. The list of clubs includes Sagamore Golf Club, The Hawthorns, Fox Prairie and Woodland Country Club.
“Every year, it just gets better and obviously easier to do,” said Toby Etchison. She did admit that it’s “still very overwhelming how many people come to support Tony and everything that he does and what we’ve been able to do with the money.”
One of the main donations went to the Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville. The club is celebrating its 75th anniversary and the Etchison Foundation donated $7,500. Roudebush said the money will “help them serve the community even further for the next 75 years.” Other beneficiaries include the Noblesville Elks, Noblesville Youth Assistance and Hamilton Heights Youth Assistance.
“Both of those are great for both the communities that the Etchisons have lived in, and we’ll continue to support them and other causes that pique the interest of helping kids in the community,” said Roudebush.
Bill Shonk (left) and Sally Shonk White were among the participants. (Richie Hall)
Toby Etchison said the foundation has also made “a lot of quiet donations” to some smaller organizations. That includes Primelife Enrichment, a senior citizen’s center in Carmel; Ascent 121, a group which helps survivors of human trafficking and exploitation; Ben’s Ranch, which helps to empower young people struggling with mental and emotional health challenges; and Girls, Inc. of Greater Indianapolis, which helps “teach young women to empower themselves, be confident,” said Etchison.
A list of organizations impacted by the Etchison Foundation is available on its website, https://www.etch21.com/. Donations are also accepted throughout the year.
Roudebush also acknowledged the golf outing’s “great sponsorships” that have helped the organization for the past five years. That includes Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, Beaver Materials and Beck’s Hybrids.
There are several participants in the golf outing that loyally play each year. That includes Bill Shonk and his daughter Sally Shonk White, a Noblesville golf star who was part of several Millers state-qualifying teams and won the Mental Attitude Award in 2002.
White said there were “lots of good people here for a great cause,” and they were staying true to Tony Etchison’s words: “love everyone, be kind and make a difference.”
“All those things are things that we love to support,” said White.
Bill Shonk said he has “great memories of Tony” and is glad to support the foundation.
That makes everything worth it for the Etchison family, as they continue to honor Tony Etchison in ways that will have a positive impact on the community for years to come.
“Very appreciative of everyone that plays,” said Toby Etchison. “My family, all of our friends, our board, who does all this. It’s a lot of work, but it’s well worth it in the end.”
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