In honor of legendary coach dick tomey
Supporting scholarships and programming for underserved youth and communities in Arizona and Hawaii.
contribute todayImpact of the Dick tomey legacy fund
Positive Coaching Alliance and the Dick Tomey Legacy Fund believe that all youth can benefit from a positive, sports culture that develops social and emotional skills, molds character, and prepares them for competition and life.
Making a difference
The Dick Tomey Legacy Fund has been established through
Positive Coaching Alliance (501c3) for those wishing to make a contribution. 100% of funds will go directly to providing scholarships and programming for underserved youth in Arizona, Hawaii, and the San Francisco Bay Area that cannot afford PCA programming.
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a history of the
dick tomey legacy fund
ESTABLISHED IN 2019
BY THE TOMEY FAMILY
The Dick Tomey Legacy Fund was established by The Tomey Family through The Positive Coaching Alliance in May of 2019 to carry on the Legacy of Coach Tomey in the locations where he was a Head Coach (Hawaii, Arizona). Coach Tomey exemplified the power that a coach can have in transforming the lives of young people, and the valuable life lessons that sports can teach.
WORKING TO EXPAND THE IMPACT & REACH NATIONWIDE
To date, the Fund has raised more than $500,000 to support PCA programming and scholarships in under-resourced schools and youth sports organizations throughout Arizona and Hawaii. Due to the incredible success and generosity of supporters to this Legacy Fund, PCA is working to expand its impact and reach nationwide.
In FY25, the Dick Tomey Legacy Fund will expand to support PCA’s national efforts to bring a positive youth sports experience to all children, while still maintaining its dedicated focus in Arizona and Hawaii, where it all began.
A letter from the Tomey Family
DICK TOMEY TAUGHT US ALL SO MUCH
Known for his big heart, generous spirit, instinctive kindness, love and respect for people of all walks, and the ease with which he forgave himself and others and moved on with life without resentments—taught all of us so much.
He was a man who discovered his mission in life, embraced it, enjoyed it, and accomplished amazing things. When speaking of football, he often said, “Football is not complicated. People are.” He was always, first and foremost, a people person. On the football field he was a tough as nails coach, who loved fierce competition and the thrill of team-building. He loved his players, every single one of them, but he was hard on them. He constantly raised the bar.
When it came to football, Dick Tomey had an eye for undiscovered ability, an eye for raw potential, an eye for leadership—and a deep regard for guys who walked on, who sacrificed to play the game simply because they loved it. He was never afraid to be the underdog coach, with the underdog team… in fact, he was partial to taking his underdog team(s) in to play the moneyed power schools… and his teams won their share of those games.
Off the field, Dick was a natural leader, a natural teacher. His gift of oratory was legendary. Nearly everyone who knew him can quote Dick Tomey on some subject. Words were his most powerful tool (even his profanity was eloquent). When he spoke, he made listeners out of non-listeners, believers out of non-believers. He lifted, he challenged, he inspired.
Dick Tomey never aspired to fame or fortune. As a young man he dreamed of coaching junior high football. His long career included its share of hard knocks and frustrations, but he insisted, “I wouldn’t change a thing.” It was his selflessness and dedication to the common good that always propelled him forward.
As a family we rarely talk about how many games Dick Tomey won—we talk about how many hearts he won… including all of ours.
-The Tomey Family
He was a man who discovered his mission in life, embraced it, enjoyed it, and accomplished amazing things. When speaking of football, he often said, “Football is not complicated. People are.” He was always, first and foremost, a people person. On the football field he was a tough as nails coach, who loved fierce competition and the thrill of team-building. He loved his players, every single one of them, but he was hard on them. He constantly raised the bar.
When it came to football, Dick Tomey had an eye for undiscovered ability, an eye for raw potential, an eye for leadership—and a deep regard for guys who walked on, who sacrificed to play the game simply because they loved it. He was never afraid to be the underdog coach, with the underdog team… in fact, he was partial to taking his underdog team(s) in to play the moneyed power schools… and his teams won their share of those games.
Off the field, Dick was a natural leader, a natural teacher. His gift of oratory was legendary. Nearly everyone who knew him can quote Dick Tomey on some subject. Words were his most powerful tool (even his profanity was eloquent). When he spoke, he made listeners out of non-listeners, believers out of non-believers. He lifted, he challenged, he inspired.
Dick Tomey never aspired to fame or fortune. As a young man he dreamed of coaching junior high football. His long career included its share of hard knocks and frustrations, but he insisted, “I wouldn’t change a thing.” It was his selflessness and dedication to the common good that always propelled him forward.
As a family we rarely talk about how many games Dick Tomey won—we talk about how many hearts he won… including all of ours.
-The Tomey Family
dick tomey was one of a kind
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