Our Story
Shelby’s Story
It is with heavy hearts that we let you know that Shelby passed away peacefully at home on January 9, 2022. The Shelby Foundation plans to keep Shelby’s legacy alive by continuing to rise funds for non-profits that provide programs and services to individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities.
Shelby Elizabeth Hickman was born in January 1998. She had an unbalanced chromosome translocation between chromosomes 7 & 9. There is no documented name for her condition. From the beginning, her doctors said “Wait and See.”
Shelby was non-verbal, non- ambulatory, had a severe hearing loss, and had a developmental age of 12 to 24 months. She was a social child with a contagious smile and a sweet spirit. She was an inspiration to all who knew her.
Shelby struggled with mobility, finally learning to commando crawl around age 4. She could walk with assistance. The education program at Harris-Hillman Special Education School helped Shelby learn to explore her environment, develop her motor skills and increase her communication skills.
The Shelby Hickman Golf Scramble & Auction
The golf tournament and auction was started in 2006 as a community service project for Old Hickory Country Club members. In 2007, Brandywine Women’s Club joined with OHCC to expand the fund raising effort. Since 2006, proceeds from The Shelby have provided funds to build two playgrounds, a large shade structure, a physical therapy room, purchase adaptive music equipment and adaptive bikes, add a new Snoozelen (multi-sensory room) to the school building, enclose the in-ground trampoline area, fund a teacher’s salary to be in charge of the new program areas just to name a few accomplishments. The 2020 golf tournament benefitted Friends Life Community as they continued virtual programming during the pandemic. The 2021 golf tournament benefitted Empower Me Center and the 2022 golf scramble will also benefit Empower Me Center as the organization expandsto provide more sports and recreation opportunities for children and young adults with intellectual and physical disabilities.