02 Aug Golfers Tee Off in Memory of Dear Friend
Family, friends, and a good game of golf. These were just a few of the many things that brought joy to Tom Ackerman who passed away suddenly at the age of 60 of a heart attack in 2012. His wife Micki, daughters Kourtney and Kristin, and their families were left stunned and heartbroken. The day before his heart attack, Tom was at Acacia Country Club playing one of the best rounds of golf he had ever played. After a fun-filled day on the course, Tom went home and spent quality time with his favorite people, his family. That evening, Tom and his family said their goodnights not knowing Tom would suffer a fatal heart attack overnight.
In July of that year on Tom’s birthday, the family gathered to pay tribute and reminisce of their fondest memories together, shedding many tears and sharing a lingering sense of grief. That’s when Joe, Kourtney’s husband, had a light bulb moment. Rather than have Tom’s birthday be a day full of tears,why not do something to celebrate Tom’s memory. What better way to remember Tom than to invite friends and family to gather together once a year to share memories, laughs, and time on the greens? To match Tom’s charitable heart, the Ackerman family decided to make the outing a fundraiser. After a brief search, Micki and her family chose the Ronald McDonald of Cleveland to be the beneficiary of the annual event to help families in need.
We want to make a difference in Tom’s name. And we feel like giving back is the best way to do it.
Since the inaugural event in 2013, the Tom Ackerman Golf Outing has raised more than $25,000 for the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland. The funds raised from the outing have been used to sponsor room 219 at the House. Each time guests enter the room, they are greeted by the sign with Tom’s name. The Ronald McDonald House would like to thank the Ackerman family and friends for their support in helping keep families close and for creating such a fun and welcoming event that keeps Tom’s legacy alive.
The 6th Annual Tom Ackerman Golf Outing will be held at Fowler’s Mill on Friday, July 27, 2018. To learn more about the Tom Ackerman Golf Outing, visit the event’s Facebook page by clicking the button below.