Happy Gilmore has been named winner of the 2022 Pepsi Little People’s John Howerton “Spirit of Giving” Award.
The 16-year-old lad from Bloomfield, IN, embodies the giving spirit. He is the son of Kim Ellett and Terry Gilmore, and played in his 11th Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships this year.
In 2020, the beginning of Covid, he donated free meals to any child that didn’t have food at their lunchtime, giving away some 65 meals the first year and 80 the second. He also donated Birthday Boxes, containing everything needed for a birthday party, to children who didn’t have a party.
“He is always buying school supplies for any child that needs them,” said his Mother, Kim. “He notices anybody in his class that is short and makes sure they have what they need.”
Tournament Director Nan Ryan with “Spirit of Giving” award winner Happy Gilmore.
During the last eight years, Happy has donated toiletry supplies that he and his family and friends have collected, to homeless shelters, school nurse offices and local missions.
In 2022, Happy donated toys that he collected to Susie’s Place, a medical shelter for children who have been sexually assaulted or abused, and to IU Health at Bloomington Hospital emergency room.
In August of 2021, Happy participated in the Wheeler Mission 100-hole Challenge, and played all 100 holes, raising money for the mission. He plans to play in it again this August.
“All Happy does is worry about others, making sure that they are Happy (no pun intended), and have what they need,” said his Mom. “I am very honored to be this guy’s Mom”, she continued. “He doesn’t raise tens of thousands of dollars, but the little things he does make me so proud of him.”
Congratulations, Happy, on your selection as the 2022 winner of the “Spirit of Giving” Award!
This Award was established 12 years ago in memory of John Howerton, a Little People’s Board member, who passed away unexpectedly in March 2011. John was a great ambassador for Little People’s, establishing many friendships with players and parents.
Past winners of the John Howerton “Spirit of Giving” Award include Claire Hodges, Maggie Ambrose, Zach Hoskins, Tripp Kinney, Hannah Berman, Alex Heard, Jack Hilgenberg and Sophia Macias.
ABOUT PEPSI LITTLE PEOPLE’S
The Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships is an international junior golf competition for boys and girls ages 3 through 18. The 50th annual tournament will be held June 19-21, 2023, at Westview Golf Course and the KC Par-3 course in Quincy, Illinois USA. Competition is held in seven age divisions for boys and seven age divisions for girls. Players in Little People’s can try to qualify for various other major junior tournaments, and be ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard, GolfWeek/Sagarin and Global Junior Golf Rankings. More information is available at www.littlepeoplesgolf.com, or contact Nan Ryan, Tournament Director, at jrgolfer@littlepeoplesgolf.com, or phone or text 217-257-5718.
