For more than 30 years, the Friends of Children’s Hospital Golf Tournament has brought together community leaders, families, and donors in support of Mississippi’s children. At the heart of it all is Dr. Bob Abney and the steadfast leadership of the Allen and VanDevender families.
Since 1993, the Friends of Children’s Hospital Golf Tournament has grown from a simple day on the course into one of Mississippi’s most impactful fundraising events for pediatric healthcare. Behind that transformation is a quiet but powerful force: Dr. Bob Abney.
Dr. Abney launched the tournament more than three decades ago with a vision of rallying community support for the state’s only children’s hospital. In the 32 years since, that vision has endured and evolved—raising more than $3.4 million and bringing together hundreds of golfers annually in a shared commitment to care for Mississippi’s sick and injured children.
What makes the tournament even more meaningful is its direct impact: proceeds support the Child Life Services program at Children’s of Mississippi—a service dedicated to helping children and families cope with the stress of hospitalization through play, education, and emotional support. From the beginning, this focus on child-centered care has set the event apart.
One of the most passionate champions of this mission was the late Sidney Allen, Sr., who co-chaired the tournament alongside Dr. Abney in its early years. Sidney Sr. believed deeply in the power of the Child Life program to bring comfort and a sense of normalcy to children during some of their hardest days. His advocacy helped shape the direction of the tournament and solidify its purpose—not just as a fundraiser, but as a meaningful investment in the emotional well-being of every child who walks through the hospital’s doors.
Today, Sidney’s son, Sidney Allen, Jr., carries that legacy forward as co-chair of the tournament, alongside William VanDevender, Jr. The Allen and VanDevender families have served alongside Dr. Abney on the tournament committee for decades, providing leadership, connections, and continuity that have helped the event flourish. Their involvement reflects a shared belief in the mission of Friends of Children’s Hospital and a deep commitment to honoring the families who rely on the state’s only children’s hospital.
We’re profoundly grateful to Dr. Abney and to the Allen and VanDevender families. Their passion and persistence have helped build a tradition that stands as a testament to what’s possible when community leaders rally around a cause that touches us all.
Their legacies are a reminder that while golf may bring us together, it’s the children—and their right to play, smile, and heal—that keep us coming back.
Historic photos from past Friends of Children’s Hospital Golf Tournaments, capturing the people, partnerships, and traditions that have sustained the event for more than 30 years.
The 32nd Annual Friends of Children’s Hospital Golf Tournament Presented by Comcast will bring together 400 golfers on Monday, October 27, 2025, across four courses—Annandale Golf Club, Canebrake Country Club, Country Club of Jackson, and Reunion Golf & Country Club. Proceeds benefit Child Life Services at Children’s of Mississippi. Register a team, become a sponsor, or learn more at friendsofch.org/golftournament or call 601-936-0034.
