TISD Foundation Changes Golf Tournament to Gil Hitt Endowment

TYLER — The Tyler ISD Foundation Board of Directors has decided to suspend any plans for a golf tournament during this year’s plan of work. Historically, the Board hosted the Gil Hitt Memorial Golf Tournament, in memory of the former school board president and local business leader. The tournament has been held almost 20 years and honored Gil Hitt for about a dozen years. “Our plan is to create a permanent endowment named the Gil Hitt Memorial Leadership Fund. This fund will exist in perpetuity — no donations will ever be spent,” stated Larry Goddard, executive director of the Foundation. “The interest earned will be given annually for a classroom teacher grant—long after we are all gone, there will be a teacher assisted in the name of Gil Hitt.”

The golf tournament had been in mid-June and was held last year in early November on a trial basis. No golf tourney will be held as planned on Monday, November 5th. “This will be a fitting tribute for a fine man. Classroom teachers and principals need discretionary funding. And this decision will guarantee that Gil Hitt’s life will be remembered forever,” said Goddard. “Last year’s golf tournament netted $1711.11. Given the rising costs of staff and volunteer time and fees for country clubs, this is the best decision. We are not cancelling the tourney idea but as one director said, ‘Let’s let it rest and if we see good reason to bring it back, it will be stronger than ever.’”

A 5K/10K run is being planned for February and possibly a formal gala in the spring. “It seems there is a golf tourney every weekend and more of the tourneys are having problems finding underwriters and the teams’ costs are a ‘push.’ We started this fundraising tourney almost 20 years ago and had such success—we see two or three golf tournaments a week for some nonprofit in our area,” said Goddard. “The field is full and we need an innovative plan of action for finding resources for Tyler ISD to inspire learning, enrich teaching, and enhancing opportunities for District students, teachers, staff and their families.”

Questions can be directed to [email protected] and donations may be mailed to: Tyler ISD Foundation, 315 N. Broadway, Suite 401, Tyler, Texas 75702 designated for the Gil Hitt Memorial Leadership Endowment.