Toby Keith fundraiser brings in $709,000

The Associated Press
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ Toby Keith's annual fundraiser for families of children with cancer raised $709,000 this year.

The money goes to Ally's House, a charity started after original band member Scott Webb's 2-year-old daughter, Allison, died of kidney cancer in 2003. The charity provides for families' needs, such as prescriptions, rent or mortgage payments, utilities and gasoline and hopes to eventually build a center near an Oklahoma City hospital to provide lodging.

Five years of private concerts, auctions and golf tournaments have raised more than $2.3 million.

About 750 celebrities and guests attended the private concert, party and auction earlier this month. Two dinners with Keith sold for $35,000 apiece, and a chance to ride on the boat named Northwestern from Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" fetched $27,500.

The opportunity to be in one of the 46-year-old singer-songwriter's music videos brought in a donation of $25,000.

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On the Net:

www.allyshouse.net

Published 6/17/08 by


AP Entertainment News

Comments (2)

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  • It's time for me to start saving for next year!!!
    elsietee 6/5/09 Reply
  • Toby's music alone would draw pledges of mega-bucks... his music is the best and probably always will be. When an affliction hits so close to home you tend to feel compelled to support its cause if possible. Best wishes with future events too.
    Anonymous 5/2/09 Reply