The fifth annual Toby Keith & Friends Celebrity Golf Classic raised a record-setting $709,000 for Ally's House, a local nonprofit that helps children with cancer and their families. The total bested last year's $500,000, pushing the 5-year total past $2.3 million.

"I knew we could make a difference with Ally's House, but it really is even bigger than I'd hoped," Keith said. "We've helped a ton of families...and we're proud that we have never had to turn away an Oklahoma family that needs help."

As in past years, many participants went home with some one-of-a-kind events on their calendars. The June 6-7 gathering brought 750 celebrities and guests together for golfing, music and a silent auction. Top auction items this year included dinner with Keith with 2 selling for $35,000 each. A Deadliest Catch package brought $27,500 for a chance to ride with Captain Sig and the Northwestern crew from the hit Discovery Channel crab fishing series.

Other top items include a cameo spot in an upcoming Keith music video that sold for $25,000, and tickets to a Las Vegas Keith performance with meet and greet passes, which went for $12,000. Autographed memorabilia at the auction included items from Tiger Woods, George Strait, Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, LeBron James, Carrie Underwood, Andre Agassi, Tony Stewart, Peyton Manning, Loretta Lynn, Troy Aikman, Nolan Ryan and Tom Hanks.

All funds go directly to Ally's House, the Norman-based organization named for Allison Webb, the daughter of original Toby Keith band member Scott Webb. Ally died at age two after losing a battle with kidney cancer. "Ally fought her cancer about a year, and she wanted at least one parent with her all the time and Scott and Linda both work," Keith said, explaining the inspiration behind Ally's House.

Labels: Toby Keith