Annual Golf Outing honors one, benefits many

For the past 16 years, City Carton Recycling and the Ockenfels Family Foundation have held a golf outing in tribute to a family member who died of childhood cancer.

Kathy Ockenfels, affectionately referred to as Kathy O, was the co-chair of the golf outing in 2010. “Our golf outing is in tribute to Debbie Ockenfels, a member of the Ockenfels family, who died of cancer at the age of 17,” she said.

The outing sells out every year, in both the number of people participating and the vendors present.

“I think everybody that comes [to the golf outing] has had some experience with cancer. The disease itself it a horrifying thing that we have to figure out how to cure,” Kathy O said.

In addition to honoring Debbie’s memory, the Ockenfels Family Foundation donates all of the proceeds from the annual event to the American Cancer Society and Children’s Cancer Connection.

“Because [these organizations] directly affect children within our regional area, it becomes very important to us,” Kathy O said. “City Carton Recycling and the Ockenfels Family Foundation are very committed to helping local charities.”

Director of Donor Relations at Children’s Cancer Connection, Tiffany Spinner is honored to partner with the Ockenfels Family Foundation. “They run one of the best golf outings in the state and they have made such an impact on our organization,” Tiffany said.

After the 2009 outing, the Ockenfels Family Foundation donated over $47,000 to Children’s Cancer Connection. The long-time partnership has allowed the Ockenfels to give close to $150,000 to help children and families affected by childhood cancer.
Kathy O believes that donating to Children’s Cancer Connection is a way her family can directly help those suffering from cancer. “Children’s Cancer Connection, being in Des Moines and serving children within Iowa, is just a perfect fit.”