Emily's Toys Fore Kids logoEmily's Toys Fore Kids

Golf Fore Kids · 2017–2024

Seven outings of golf, toys and Christmas mornings.

Before it was Emily's Toys Fore Kids, it was Golf Fore Kids: a charity golf outing and Christmas toy drive started by Emily's big brother, Alexander (AJ) Pace. Every toy went to kids in foster care and family programs around metro Detroit.

How it started

A kid with a golf bag and an idea.

Emily joined our family through foster care adoption in 2016. That made AJ think about the kids still waiting, especially at Christmas. He loved golf, so in 2017 he put the two together: bring a toy, play a round.

The first Golf Fore Kids outing was at Fox Creek Golf Course in Livonia. AJ ran it every year after that, with the family handling the rest: Dad on agency contacts and drop-offs, Mom on the website, invitations and flyers.

Who we've worked with

Partner agencies

  • Samaritas · foster care and family preservation programs, Detroit and Ann Arbor (2017–2022)
  • Homes for Black Children · Detroit (since 2019)
  • Safe Families for Children · a ministry of Brightmoor Christian Church (2018–2020)
  • Brightmoor Christian Church · Christmas Outreach in Highland Park (2021–2022)

Thank you to every golf course, family member, friend and donor who showed up, sent a toy or chipped in.

Year by year

  1. 2017

    1st outing · Oct 7 · Fox Creek Golf Course, Livonia

    The first Golf Fore Kids. Five days later, on Oct 12, AJ delivered a truckload of toys at Samaritas in Ann Arbor.

  2. 2018

    2nd outing · Fox Creek Golf Course

    Toys went to Safe Families for Children and Samaritas in Detroit. Safe Families honored AJ at its banquet that November.

  3. 2019

    3rd outing · Fox Creek Golf Course

    Bigger than the year before. Homes for Black Children joined as a partner, alongside Safe Families and Samaritas.

  4. 2020

    4th outing · Whispering Willows, Livonia

    The first Amazon wish list and a GoFundMe that raised $1,000. About ten big bags of toys went to each agency.

  5. 2021

    5th outing · Bushwood Golf Club, Northville

    A Par 3 Challenge, a new website and online giving. More than $1,600 raised, all of it turned into toys for Homes for Black Children, Brightmoor's Christmas Outreach and Samaritas.

  6. 2022

    6th outing · Bushwood Golf Club

    "AJ's 1000 Toys for Michigan Families." Three Christmas drop-offs: Brightmoor, Homes for Black Children and Samaritas.

  7. 2024

    7th outing · Bushwood Golf Club

    AJ's last outing before college, with a December drop-off at Homes for Black Children.

  8. 2026

    Emily takes the lead

    AJ headed to college and Emily doesn't golf, so she crossed out "Golf" and wrote in "Toys." See this year's drive →

Videos

2019 · AJ invites everyone to his toy drive: bring a toy, play a round.
2024 · Golf Fore Kids at Bushwood.

Photos

Donated toys piled up in the Fox Creek Golf Course pro shop at the first Golf Fore Kids outing
2017 · The first outing's toys at Fox Creek
AJ and Emily sitting with the toys from the first drive at Samaritas
2017 · AJ and Emily with the first drive's toys at Samaritas, Oct 12
A Samaritas staff member hugging AJ during the drop-off
2017 · Drop-off day at Samaritas in Ann Arbor
2018 Golf 4 Kids Toy Drive flyer, Fox Creek Golf Course
2018 · Second annual, Fox Creek
2018 Golf 4 Kidz Christmas Toy Drive for Foster Care flyer
2018 · Toy drive for foster care
AJ shaking hands with an agency staff member in a room of donated items
2018 · Toy donation
2019 Golf Fore Kids Charity Christmas Toy Drive invitation
2019 · Fox Creek invitation
Golf Fore Kids GoFundMe page showing $1,000 raised
2020 · $1,000 raised on GoFundMe
AJ next to a table piled with toys
2020 · Toys collected
AJ with two Brightmoor Christian Church staff and donated toys
2021 · Brightmoor Christmas Outreach
AJ and an agency staff member with bags of donated toys
2021 · Drop-off
6th annual Golf Fore Kids toy drive invitation
2022 · 6th annual invitation
Golf Fore Kids 6th golf tournament flyer, Bushwood GC
2022 · Bushwood flyer
The Golf Fore Kids toy table at Bushwood, piled with donated toys
2022 · The toy table at Bushwood
AJ at the Brightmoor Christmas Outreach toy drop-off
2022 · Brightmoor drop-off
AJ unloading toys at Homes for Black Children
2022 · Homes for Black Children drop-off
AJ at Samaritas in Detroit with donated toys
2022 · Samaritas drop-off
AJ and a staff member at the Homes for Black Children entrance
2024 · Homes for Black Children

Keep the tradition going

This year Emily is leading the drive. Buy a toy from the wish list or give to the toy fund, and it goes to kids served by our partner agencies.

Give this year