For 14 years the Toby Wells Foundation has sponsored one of the signature charity events at Maderas Golf Club, with more than $2 million raised for funds to help underprivileged children and neglected animals in San Diego County.
Not bad for an event organized by two women who don’t play golf.
“It’s kind of ironic, but it’s worked out really well,” said Adrienne Wells, who along with her sister, April West, coordinate the tournament in Poway each year. “(A golf tournament) just proved to be a natural fit.”
The tournament began after the sisters established the Toby Wells Foundation and were seeking ways to raise funds and awareness for causes to honor the memory of their brother, who died at 28 in May 2000 from medical complications after being paralyzed in a swimming accident.
“Our family was in the construction equipment industry,” Wells said about Contractors Equipment Company, a business her brother helped run until the family sold it in 1999. “A lot of our supporters were construction workers who really enjoyed golf.”
With the sisters living just a mile from Maderas, the course was a natural choice.
“It’s been a great partnership,” Wells said of the cooperation and planning that goes into most golf charity events.
In the early days of the foundation, volunteers partnered with local nonprofits to achieve its mission in the community. In 2009, those efforts gained a home when the family purchased a 300-acre ranch in Ramona and dubbed it Blue Apple Ranch, which is populated by horses, goats, steers and chickens that were rescued from neglect or abuse. The animals are cared for by underprivileged and disabled children and provide an education about animal awareness and compassion. Through a partnership with the YMCA the horses are also present at an equestrian and horse camp each summer.
The twin causes of welfare for animals and children were championed by Toby Wells, who was known for rescuing dogs from the animal shelter. His legacy and spirit now live on through the foundation.
“The ranch is meant to be here for generations to come,” Wells said. “This is how we wanted to memorialize our brother, by doing good works in the community.”
Those efforts continue to evolve, largely on the strength of funds raised by the golf tournament.
“We’ve had about an 87 percent retention rate of golfers and sponsors,” Wells said. “It’s been a blessing to our family and it has allowed us to expand our reach. Our support base is local; those that benefit are all local. We are truly a grassroots organization in San Diego. … One of the most unique things about the Toby Wells Foundation is that, although we’re a private family foundation, we’ve grown into more of a community foundation.”
Among other efforts for the foundation, it partners with the foster care program at San Pasqual Academy to provide 18-week internships.
“Research shows that foster kids who have a work experience prior to age 18 are three times more likely to find gainful employment,” Wells said.
The family also funds the Toby Wells YMCA in Kearney Mesa, through which it serves unprivileged children and military families.
“Funds from the golf tournament are directly benefitting children,” Wells said of the event that takes four to five months of preparation by the family.
But tasks such as accumulating auction items and the like are a labor of love because of the good causes.
“And it all comes from San Diego, like the Padres and the Chargers,” West said. “And Maderas donates back too. Every bit helps.”
In all, nearly $14 million has been raised for the Toby Wells Foundation through a variety of endeavors.
“We’ve done runway fashion shows and partnered with the YMCA to do concerts with Kenny Loggins and Little Richard,” West said, “but the golf tournament has really proved a good fit for us.”
To learn more about the foundation or contribute, visit tobywells.com. Questions can be directed to Adrienne@tobywells.org.
