The Tommy Ellis Memorial Foundation
Welcome to our foundation's website! We are grateful for your support in continuing Tommy's legacy. Together, we can make a difference and honor his memory through our commitment to our mission. Thank you for being a vital part of this journey us.
Our Mission
The Tommy Ellis Memorial Foundation is dedicated to celebrating & continuing the legacy of a man who embodied loyalty, dedication and hard work and who made a profound impact on every life he touched. Inspired by his belief of tough-love and the power of blue collar grit. We aim to empower individuals to realize their potential and embrace the remarkable presence, we committed to using our resources to fund, support and develop programs that build character, foster opportunities and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most.
Meet the Board
Together as a close-knit group of family and friends, we carry forward Tommy's vision and passion for helping others. Each of us is actively involved in our community, lending a hand to those in need. As proud parents of athletes, we’ve all been touched by Tommy's positive influence in our lives. We stand united in our mission to make a difference for those around.
Stephanie Ellis
President/Treasurer
Co-Founder
Ernie Ellis
Board Member
Maria Bartholetti
Board Member
John Holefelder
Vice President
Co-Founder
Jan Bellace
Board Member
Chris Tate
Board Member
Tasha Holefelder
Secretary
Co-Founder
BJ Barlow
Board Member
Nick Nawn
Board Member
Honoring
Thomas Andrew Ellis
12/15/1980 - 7/1/2024
Click below to learn more about Tommy and his legacy
1st Annual Tommy Ellis Memorial Foundation Golf Tournament.
Click below for event video - Thank you Jimmy Pro for your amazing footage
​The event was held on Monday June 16tht at Rock Manor Golf Course in Wilmington, DE
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We had a SOLD OUT event, thank you to everyone who volunteered, donated, sponsored and golfed.
Congratulations to our 1st Place Winners: Local 10
Annual Forever A Vanguard Tournament
July 26th, 2026 we hosted the 2nd Annual Forever A Vanguard Wrestling Tournament at Sun Valley High School in Aston, PA We had over 150 wrestlers registered and hosted two sessions, one for our youth division (K through 8th) and one for our high school division (incoming 9th through 12th). A huge thank you to all of the volunteers and the board for helping to make this event a great success. We had a lot of great wrestling that happened and we hope everyone enjoyed the day as much as we all did. ​We were also so thankful to have Greg Payne from FOX29 News and Kendell from Gift of Life in attendance to do a follow up story on Tom and his Gift of Life to others.
We Love Our Sponsors
Click on the logo and go visit their websites
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Tommy Ellis Memorial Foundation
2025 Grit Award Winners
This award recognizes a student athlete who exemplifies relentless determination, perseverance, and mental toughness. It honors the athletes who pushes through adversity, works tirelessly to improve, and inspires teammates through unwavering effort and resilience
All three of the above award winners; Danny, Brandon & Max are all seniors and all received a $500 check to go towards their next chapter whether it is college, military or workforce. We wish them well and continued success on and off the mat. This was made possible because of the continued support shown by our community through our fundraising events. Thank you!
