AUGUST 31, 2021
Birthdays were always a special day to Ty. He loved this day because it meant two things. One was ALL the attention at Nanny and Pawpaw’s and the other being ALL the cookie-cake he wanted. So, in Ty’s honor we proclaim today to be a SPECIAL day at The Ty Foundation. We honored our favorite blue-eyed baby boy by shining his light and spreading his love in our community.
There is no doubt that Ty is guiding us as we shine his light. We can only imagine he is smiling down on beaming with pride. This birthday the Ty Foundation stayed committed to honoring his legacy by supporting a school that loved, disciplined, encouraged, shaped his mind, strengthened his spirit, and created the foundation that Ty used to become a remarkable athlete. Ty was always one that enjoyed giving gifts more than getting them. He was happiest watching his family members open their gifts. So, in Ty fashion it is an honor to buy 40 new uniforms for The Perdido Football team. We want to encourage each of these boys to use these uniforms to be a light for Ty’s legacy. We hope this legacy gift motivates them to become the hardest workers in the classroom, on the field, and in the game of life. We pray these boys remember Ty each time they take the field and show up with the same effort, determination, and grit Ty exemplified every time he played a game.
· Pictured- Mr. Phillip Stewart- Perdido School Principal
· Coach Vincent Coley P.E. Teacher/ Perdido Football Team Coach.
Baldwin County High School
Ty would have been a senior this year. Ty would have loved an entire year dedicated to being the center of attention! Therefore, The Ty Foundation donated to the 2022 Senior Class in honor of Ty and his classmates that left this Earth too early.
Another special place to Ty at BCHS was the Tiger Den. Since his passing teachers have shared with his family his love for this special place on campus. When Ty would get out of class early you could find him here talking with the students or playing basketball with them during P.E. Our donation In honor of Ty’s beloved teach Mrs. Melanie Childress to The Tiger Den will allow Ty to still have a special place in this room that was so special to him.
· Pictured: Mrs. Melanie Childress- Intervention Teacher at Baldwin County High School
· Canyon Odom- Ty Foundation Member
· Harlee Boeschen- Ty’s beloved friend.
McKenzie Bryant- Senior Class President
Delta Elementary
The community of Delta will always hold a special place in the hearts The Ty Foundation. We wanted to honor of The Crossroads and White House Fire Department by donating to Delta Elementary School. These men and women were first on the scene the night Ty tragically left us. These rescue workers were there for hours and never left our side and they stood alongside us comforting us during the darkest night of our lives. These men and women are unsung heroes who volunteer their time to help others in need while risking their own lives every day. Thank you for your service and you will forever have a place in our hearts.
· Pictured: Canyon Odom- Ty Foundation Member
· Keri Shofner- Delta Elementary Principal.
Birthdays were always a special day to Ty. He loved this day because it meant two things. One was ALL the attention at Nanny and Pawpaw’s and the other being ALL the cookie-cake he wanted. So, in Ty’s honor we proclaim today to be a SPECIAL day at The Ty Foundation. We honored our favorite blue-eyed baby boy by shining his light and spreading his love in our community.
There is no doubt that Ty is guiding us as we shine his light. We can only imagine he is smiling down on beaming with pride. This birthday the Ty Foundation stayed committed to honoring his legacy by supporting a school that loved, disciplined, encouraged, shaped his mind, strengthened his spirit, and created the foundation that Ty used to become a remarkable athlete. Ty was always one that enjoyed giving gifts more than getting them. He was happiest watching his family members open their gifts. So, in Ty fashion it is an honor to buy 40 new uniforms for The Perdido Football team. We want to encourage each of these boys to use these uniforms to be a light for Ty’s legacy. We hope this legacy gift motivates them to become the hardest workers in the classroom, on the field, and in the game of life. We pray these boys remember Ty each time they take the field and show up with the same effort, determination, and grit Ty exemplified every time he played a game.
· Pictured- Mr. Phillip Stewart- Perdido School Principal
· Coach Vincent Coley P.E. Teacher/ Perdido Football Team Coach.
Baldwin County High School
Ty would have been a senior this year. Ty would have loved an entire year dedicated to being the center of attention! Therefore, The Ty Foundation donated to the 2022 Senior Class in honor of Ty and his classmates that left this Earth too early.
Another special place to Ty at BCHS was the Tiger Den. Since his passing teachers have shared with his family his love for this special place on campus. When Ty would get out of class early you could find him here talking with the students or playing basketball with them during P.E. Our donation In honor of Ty’s beloved teach Mrs. Melanie Childress to The Tiger Den will allow Ty to still have a special place in this room that was so special to him.
· Pictured: Mrs. Melanie Childress- Intervention Teacher at Baldwin County High School
· Canyon Odom- Ty Foundation Member
· Harlee Boeschen- Ty’s beloved friend.
McKenzie Bryant- Senior Class President
Delta Elementary
The community of Delta will always hold a special place in the hearts The Ty Foundation. We wanted to honor of The Crossroads and White House Fire Department by donating to Delta Elementary School. These men and women were first on the scene the night Ty tragically left us. These rescue workers were there for hours and never left our side and they stood alongside us comforting us during the darkest night of our lives. These men and women are unsung heroes who volunteer their time to help others in need while risking their own lives every day. Thank you for your service and you will forever have a place in our hearts.
· Pictured: Canyon Odom- Ty Foundation Member
· Keri Shofner- Delta Elementary Principal.
THE TY FOUNDATION HAS DELIVERED ALMOST 800 BOOKS TO LOCAL SCHOOLS.
ANNUAL TOY DRIVE
The Light of the City received an early Christmas delivery of toys thanks to the family and friends of Ty Drinkard and Blayne Shackelford. The two families joined forces to sponsor the second annual Toy Drive in memory of Ty and Blayne who were involved in a fatal car crash in June 2020. The toy drive was supported by several local groups including Baldwin County High School, BCHS Baseball Team, Escambia Academy and the Alabama Junior Rodeo Association, as well as countless individuals. Among those who donated was Ty’s 10-year old cousin Harper Hicks who saved her money all year long and then spent all $230 to purchase gifts for the toy drive. The families and friends also sponsored a raffle to raise funds, netting more than $3,600 which was used to purchase additional toys and gifts during a huge shopping spree involving a lot of volunteers and shopping carts. In addition to supporting Light of the City, the families will make a big delivery to the Baldwin County Child Advocacy Center (CARE House) later this week. The boys’ moms – Daphne Stamps and Elizabeth Koziol – said giving back to the community is a way to honor their sons and spread love “since we can’t give them our love on earth.” LOTC Director Barbara Brown was on hand to receive the delivery from the families including Daphne Stamps, Elizabeth Koziol and Jordyn Shackelford. She said the donations were a huge blessing and will be distributed to participants in the LOTC afterschool tutoring program. Light of the City meets on the campus of the Douglasville School of Arts & Recreation and also offers a free day camp during the summer months. Daphne Stamps said the families of Ty and Blayne have been blessed by the outpouring of love they have felt. “Our community has come together in the tragic loss of Ty and Blayne and has allowed their bright light to shine through them onto others,” she said. Elizabeth Koziol echoed that sentiment. “The support we have received from our community, families, friends and local schools and organizations this year has been unbelievable. I believe this shows just how much our boys are missed and how very much they will always be loved by all who knew them,” Koziol said. “We are very grateful to be able to give back to others and continue to ‘shine the light’ of Blayne and Ty.” #shinethelight
ARIEL DIXON
Saraland High School
A couple of weeks ago, Daphne Stamps and Elizabeth Shackelford were asked to speak at the Saraland High School prom assembly on the importance of making good decisions. While there they met Ariel Dixon, a senior.
Ariel told them about the club she just started called S.A.D.D (Students Against Drunk Driving). It is a club at Saraland High School to provide a sense of belonging to students and it provides them with the resources they need to make positive decisions. It focuses not only on drunk driving, but distracted driving will also be focused on so students can successfully confront the risks and pressures that they are faced with everyday.
The Ty Foundation made a visit to the school today and Danyell Hicks and Daphne Stamps presented the check to SADD for $500
Thank you Ariel Dixon for taking the
initiative to make a difference.
DONATION AND WALL BALL
On behalf of the families of Ty Drinkard and Blayne Shackelford, we would like to thank Hoil Boutwell, owner of HB Masonry, for donating his time and skills towards the construction of the new wall ball at the city league baseball fields. We would also like to thank The City of Bay Minette, North Baldwin Utilities and the Bay Minette Youth Baseball league for the donation of the supplies. Ty and Blayne grew up playing city league baseball. We are grateful to have so many memories of them here at the park. We are blessed by these community members. Thank you for honoring our son’s legacies. We hope it brings much joy to the children of our wonderful city