Commercial Integrator June 2021 - 46

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Ford AV Will Continue Memorial Golf Classic
for Cancer Research 'Forever'
The Ford Audio Video Memorial Golf Classic has raised more than $400,000 for cancer research since
it started in memory of a longtime employee in 2005. by D. Craig MacCormack
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY nothing good about
the death of a co-worker - let alone his
replacement - from such an insidious
disease as cancer, but Ford Audio Video
employees have turned a clear negative
into a positive, raising more than $400,000
to find a cure for the disease.
Ford AV, CI's 2018 Integrator of the
Year, started the Memorial Golf Classic in
2005, naming it in memory of bid division
manager David Schultz, who had died
from pancreatic cancer. They renamed the
tournament when Schultz's replacement,
Ed Knoll, died from cancer a few years ago.
The annual tournament rotates locations
every year and is held in conjunction with
Ford AV's national sales training and showcase.
All money raised in the Memorial Golf
Classic go to the University of Oklahoma's
cancer research hospital.
" When David died in 2005, we wanted
to do whatever we could to help, " says
David Allen, corporate VP at Ford Audio
Video. Because Allen was a golfer, he
was put in charge of organizing the initial
event, which featured vendors, employees,
customers at a summer outing in
Austin, Texas.
" It was a good event to not only raise
money, but also to remember David and all
of his contributions to our company and our
team, " says Allen. The tournament moved
to the fall when organizers realized it might
be too hot to attract big crowds in 100-degree
weather every year.
Allen says the death of Knoll ensured
the Memorial Golf Classic would go on
" forever. "
" In 2017, we were considering not
doing the tournament anymore, " says Allen.
" We weren't sure if we were helping
David's family. Ed was a real driver of keeping
it going. It's not like we were making
a huge dent, but at least we were doing
our part.
" At that point (when Knoll died), there
46
Commercial Integrator JUNE 2021
Ford Audio Video started their annual Memorial Golf Classic in memory of an employee
who had died in 2005. It's still going strong more than 15 years later.
was no question we were going to continue
doing this forever, " he says. The event has
attracted anywhere from about 60 to 120
golfers for a four-person scramble that
brings people together from a variety of
backgrounds, all of whom work with or for
Ford AV.
Why the Ford AV Memorial Golf
Classic Matters
Doctors from the University of Oklahoma
come most years to the tournament banquet
to talk about the progress being made
in fighting cancer and someday finding a
cure for it.
" Invariably, almost everyone has been
affected by cancer in one way or another, "
says Allen. " We just want to help as
much as we can. It's interesting to see the
progression that has been made in cancer
research and ability of them to develop
ways to fight cancer.
" When we can see the doctors' appreciation
of the contribution we offer the
school and the foundation and the progress
they're making, I know that it eventually
trickles down to other families. That research
that's happening is actually helping
other families, " he says.
Allen says it's important to keep the
memories of Schultz, Knoll and other Ford
AV employees who've died from cancer
alive through the Memorial Golf Classic.
" When you join Ford AV, you become
part of the Ford AV family, " he says. " We
try to treat each other like that. It's not just
the employees. It's the children and their
spouses too.
" When we lost both David and Ed, it was
a big shock to us personally. I remember
playing with Ed in the tournament every
year, so losing him to cancer was pretty
shocking and sad honestly. We felt like not
only Ford AV but the AV industry needed
to come together and do what we can to
help, " says Allen.
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Commercial Integrator June 2021

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