Local Families Use Memorial Funds to Invest in Youth, Community

With the help of the Hamilton County Community Foundation, two families have turned their tragedies into something that benefits the community. And this summer, they’re inviting the public to get involved.

On June 6, Joe and Kathy Cox will host the second annual Abs Angels Legacy Golf Outing in memory of their 20-year-old daughter, Abigail, who was killed in a car accident in 2023. (Registration/information at abs-angels.com.)

On July 21, family and friends of Tony Etchison will host the fourth annual Tony Etchison Memorial Golf Outing and silent auction in memory of Etchison, 47, who died in a farming accident in 2019. (Registration/information at etch21.com.)

Proceeds for the two events will benefit the Abigail Cox Legacy Fund and the Tony Etchison Memorial Foundation, respectively. Both funds are overseen by the Hamilton County Community Foundation. Abigail’s fund provides a $5,000 annual scholarship to Purdue University as well as gifts to more than a dozen other organizations, and beneficiaries of Tony’s fund include $5,000 gifts to both the Noblesville Youth Assistance Program and the Hamilton Heights Youth Assistance Program.

“HCCF offers a variety of ways to remember and honor people in our fundholders’ lives, including naming their fund after a loved one, making a grant in honor/memory of an individual, or starting a memorial fund,” said HCCF Philanthropic Advisor Josie Frey. “We’re honored by the trust our fundholders have in us and it is incredibly meaningful to be a small part of their philanthropic journey.”

In 2024, the 10 Memorial Funds Hamilton County Community Foundation oversees distributed $814,796.28. HCCF offers eight kinds of funds for charitable giving. There is no minimum requirement to start a fund. For more information, visit Types of Funds.

Joe and Kathy Cox said Abigail’s fund allows them to stay involved in the things their daughter was close to, including Purdue University, Hamilton Southeastern High School Blue Crew, the Zeta Tau Alpha chapter at Purdue, and Young Life ministry.

“I like to hear the stories of what other young people are doing and being part of helping them do those things,” Joe said. “So, staying involved is big and hearing those stories is helpful to me.”

“People are thinking about her and talking about her and that’s good for us that she remains in people’s thoughts,” Kathy added.

Abigail was “spirited,” her parents said. Always commanded attention. Dimples, and a smile in her eyes. Just drew you in immediately. Full of spunk and passionate about anything she was involved in.

As she got older, Abigail became more involved in her faith, which became “an essential part of the person that she was,” her dad said. “I think what is unique and draws people to her story is that she was just a regular girl, and she still was involved in regular girl stuff, but she found a way to shine God’s light with anybody doing anything.”

The summer after her sophomore year of college, Abigail went off to intern at Christ-centered Kanakuk Kamp in Lampe, Mo. She was headed to Arkansas with others from the camp to do rappelling and rock climbing when a car crossed the center line and hit the car she was riding in.

“When we started planning a celebration of life ceremony, people were asking what they can do,” Joe said. “We looked around a little bit and asked some questions of a few folks and we landed on creating a legacy fund for her. We had talked about doing our own 501(C)(3), but we couldn’t get it pulled together quickly enough and we didn’t want to have to do all the administration that would be required. That’s how we came to HCCF.”

It took one phone call to establish the fund, which was accepting donations in a matter of days. Initial funding came from family, friends of family, and people in the community. The golf event, an annual walk and donations that have followed provide the funds that continue to let the Coxes keep Abigail’s memory alive.

“There’s nothing that makes (our situation) easy,” Kathy said. “I think what makes me most proud is that I continue to hear the impact that not only she had on people when she was here, but that she has on them now. I feel responsible to continue what she started. As a mom, especially, that’s my drive. How can I continue what she was doing? Because I don’t know, it just seems like that’s what we’re supposed to do.”

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Tony Etchison lived by three guiding principles: love everyone, be kind, make a difference.

“Tony was the most wonderful, loving, compassionate, empathetic person I’ve ever met,” his widow, Toby, said. “Always saw the good in people, always told the boys (J.P., Gus and Tillman) that you never know what somebody’s dealing with, so give a little love, give a little grace. Always thinking of the other person, never of himself. Never.”

The story his friends and family like to tell is about the time someone stole Tillman’s sneakers when he was in junior high school. The principal called and informed Tony that he’d found out who did it. Tony said: I’m not concerned about that. Does the child need shoes? Does the child need anything?

It turned out, the boy who stole the shoes just liked them and wanted him for himself.

“Tony just wanted to make sure that it was understood that kids make mistakes,” Toby said. “And it doesn’t define this child. And if there’s a need to be met, let us help with that.”

When Tony died, his friend Buddy Baker, a sports agent, wanted to start a memorial fund in his honor.

“We were going through all the emotions and thinking this might be a lot to take on,” Toby said. “But then we got a year underneath us and saw how big everything was getting and how much people wanted to do to honor Tony.”

“Why would you want to donate to the Tony Etchison Memorial Foundation?” family friend Jody Roudebush asked. “You’d want to because of what he tried to instill in everybody that he met, the fact that we’re still trying to do the things that he did by supporting the youth of our community. A lot of times we’re giving money, but we’re not really advertising it. And that, again, that’s kind of like how Tony worked. He just did it privately because it was the right thing to do.”

Today, the fund follows Tony’s guiding principles to give back to the community, kids, and families in need. Its recipients include Ascent 121, which provides trauma recovery services for teens, the Boys and Girls Club of Noblesville and various organizations that help single mothers.

“You start out with the best intentions and hope it does well,” Toby said. “But I am surprised at how this has continued even after five years, that it continues to get bigger and better and more and more people continue to want to be involved in it. It makes me very proud and happy, that’s for sure.”