Tony Barlow Charity Games net largest donations for local charity

Tony Barlow's family watched from the stands as the Prairie Hill Elementary and Willowbrook Middle School district #133 staff took on students in fierce volleyball and basketball games, played for a good cause on Thursday, March 20, 2025.

Beyond the nets and baskets, these games now hold a deeper meaning.

Last year this event was renamed “The Tony Barlow Charity Games,” in loving memory.

“I started teaching in 1989, and at that time Tony Barlow was an eighth grader at Prairie Hill School,” said event organizer and retired teacher Mike Rhines said.

Tony Barlow graduated as an 8th grader from Prairie Hill School in 1990. This was back when the school was one building with a kindergarten through eighth grade, before Willowbrook Middle School was opened.

Tony was the student who came up with the idea for the charity game, asking his coach, Rich Gurnett, if his 8th grade basketball team could play a game against the teachers.

Rhines said, “Tony approached me in his 8th grade year, in 1989-1990, wanting to play the staff in a basketball game.”

Since then, the game has morphed to include the girls volleyball team, collecting donations for local charities.

Tragically, Tony was killed by a hit and run driver on McCurry Road in 1994, just a few months after graduating from Hononegah.

“The charity games are also an opportunity to collect non-perishable food items. Money that is made from the concession stand goes toward helping an area organization, a tradition that has continued for the past 36 years,” Rhines said.

This organization is DEFY-Domestic Abuse-Beloit Center. The program is part of Family Services of Southern Wisconsin, supported by the United Way Blackhawk Region.

Two of their staff members from DEFY, Angela Luton & Yesenia Jimenez stayed in support the entire evening.

Rhines gave special recognition to the Barlow family.

“Tonight we have Tony's dad, Sam, and mom, Bev, in addition to his sister, Amanda (who was in my first class in 1989) and Amanda's husband, Dominic, with their two sons, Sal and Sam.”

WMS choir members performed a beautiful and memorable rendition of the national anthem before the basketball games started, under the direction of Hayley Gotzsche.

Rhines expressed many thanks to those who came to work the concessions, collected cans, worked the score table, families, volunteers who worked as food collectors, supervised, and all who supported the event.

Taking on the task as referees were Marcie Ball, Mike Babicz, & Randy Steen.

Joe Grygiel, Trent Willey, and Rhines loaded the food boxes into Rhine's old Jeep the day after the games. “With the rear seats down, we filled the back up to the ceiling in addition to the front seat. Joe had to drive separately (with a couple of boxes in his own vehicle) to help me unload at the shelter,” Rhines said.

“In addition to the check that we delivered, I feel as though it was the largest collection of non-perishable food that we've ever assembled in the years we have hosted this event.”

Mrs. Werner & Mrs. Silecchia of the WMS Booster Club wrote a check for $1,026, which was also given to the abuse shelter.

WMS Boosters (Krista Silecchia & Amanda Werner) collected and added up what was made at the concession stand, which came to $850.

Rhines added, “My favorite quote from the day was when one of the ladies working at the shelter saw what we were going to unload for them and said, 'How long did it take you to collect all of this food?' I replied, 'Just yesterday afternoon.'”

She was shocked and added, “We had just sent out a request to the community yesterday that we were in need of food here at the shelter.”

Loud cheers were heard from the stands as two closely contested volleyball games came down to the final points - with bodies flying everywhere.

The basketball game was the tale of two halves. Quarters 1 & 2 went to the students, while quarters 3 & 4 went to the teachers. In the end, the student teams won both the volleyball and basketball games.

Adding to the fun, a raffle was held with lucky winners taking home a jersey.

The Barlow & Orlandi families were overwhelmed again by the outpouring of love shown to them.

Tony's sister Amanda reflected on this year’s event. “I really have no words to describe how it feels to have my brother remembered at the games that are named in his honor at Willowbrook. To know Mr. Rhines recognized Tony's role in starting the games 36 years ago, and then renaming it after my brother before he retired, means the world to my family and I. We cannot thank Mike, Cindy, and the entire Prairie Hill and Willowbrook community enough for contributing so much to this event and including our family at this special event.”

Orlando added, “I absolutely love DEFY. We are already looking forward to next year's games.”

“We enjoyed this event so much and are looking forward to many more years of the charity,” said Tony's mother, Bev. “We would like to thank everyone who has made this possible to honor our beautiful Tony, especially Mike Rhines.”