Over 20 years ago, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors created the Illinois High School Activities Foundation (IHSAF) as a means to raise funds for academic scholarships and leadership programs for high school students in Illinois.
The IHSAF’s main fundraiser is an annual golf outing held in Bloomington that draws a mixture of high school administrators, coaches, IHSA partners, officials and other individuals who work with and support high school students in Illinois.
Known as the Illinois High School Association Foundation Golf Outing since its inception, the IHSA Board voted to rename the event to honor outgoing IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman (right), who will retire in January, 2016.
“We started this golf outing 20 years ago to help kickstart funding efforts for our academic recognition programs, and it has certainly been a success,” said Hickman. “I never expected something like this (naming the tournament after him), but am very appreciative and humbled by it.”
In making the surprise announcement at the IHSA Board of Directors Meeting on June 15, 2015, East Peoria High School Principal and IHSA Board Vice-President Chuck Nagel read the following recommendation, which was approved by the Board:
“Since its founding on August 30, 1993, over $1.5 million dollars have been donated to the Illinois High School Activities Foundation by individuals or corporations that understand the impact that athletic and activity-based programs have on high school students.
The IHSAF Golf Outing alone has generated a quarter of a million dollars.
During its time, the Foundation has supported numerous leadership and scholarship programs for high school students across Illinois.
Current IHSA Executive Director Dr. Marty Hickman, along with the support of the IHSA Board of Directors, helped start the IHSAF Golf Outing in 1996.
Therefore, on this 20th anniversary year of the IHSAF Golf Outing, it seems only fitting that the event be named to honor Dr. Marty Hickman. And so, I would like to make the following recommendation that the IHSAF Golf Outing be renamed the Dr. Marty Hickman IHSAF Golf Outing.”