Tilly’s, Inc. (NYSE: TLYS, “Tillys”) hosted their 18th Annual Charity Golf Tournament benefitting Tilly’s Life Center (“TLC”) on April 28, 2025, with a “Tillys Tailgate” theme. Elite action sports brands and industry members came together at Mission Viejo Country Club to support TLC’s youth empowerment program, raising over $130,000 to help teens cultivate a healthy identity, positive mindset, manage emotions, achieve goals, and navigate life’s challenges with confidence and resilience.
Participants embraced the theme with full tailgate energy, decked out in their favorite sports jerseys, while enjoying lively on-course activities, mini games, and fan-favorite game day eats. The festive, sports-themed atmosphere highlighted a collective commitment to supporting teens during one of the most critical periods of their development.
“Another tournament and another year we get to be the champions for our teens,” said Tilly Levine, Co-Founder of Tillys and Founder of Tilly’s Life Center. “It warms our hearts to see so many loyal supporters come out year after year, and to welcome new teammates into the TLC family. This growing community makes it possible for our teens to thrive.”
The day kicked off with check-in at Tillys All-Star Stadium, where golfers received swag bags from HydroJug and The North Face, and fueled up with breakfast and a putting contest before hitting the course.
On-course activations were sponsored by premier sponsors including Tillys, Billabong, Direct Edge, Ethika, J-Star Auto Group, Liquid Graphics, Oakley, Orange County Sports Commission, and RSM US LLP. Additional sponsors included DIFF Eyewear, Rainbow Sandals, Trove Brands/Owala, 10th Street Branding, Alliant Insurance Services, Ben’s Asphalt, DD Apparel, Emory Park, Heffernan Financial Services, Labeltex, Morgan Stanley – The Pepper Group, Reebok, Riot Society, Sandy Par, Supply Accessories, The Frome Family Foundation, The Key, The Printers Circle, US Bank Home Mortgage – James Theel, Vox DJs, and Wendy-Lou Accessories.
Fueling the day’s festivities were generous food and beverage sponsors including: 805, Archie’s Ice Cream, Bagels and Brew, Blowfish Tequila, Brewery X, Califino Tequila, Chronic Tacos, Dang Brother Pizza, Hammer Vodka, Haute Dawgz Sausages, High Ground Coffee, LAVA Craft Cocktails, Lupe’s Mexican Eatery, Orange County Brew Cart, Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, Santo Tequila, Sweetfin, and Tap Truck OC.
After the final putt dropped, guests gathered for an awards ceremony and post-game celebration. First-place honors in the first flight went to Tyler Mahon, Mike Filia, Mark Pilla, and David Gorsuch. Best Activation was awarded to Direct Edge, whose tailgate-themed hole featured beer pong, a “closest to the pin” golf and goal post challenge, and a mini stadium complete with cartoon cutouts of the Direct Edge and TLC teams.
In a heartfelt finale, TLC students took the stage to share personal testimonies about how the program has shaped their lives. Each student highlighted a social-emotional technique they learned through TLC, expressing gratitude to the donors and sponsors for their support and belief in youth potential. The day closed with a high-energy dance party, conga lines, celebration, and renewed hope for the future.
Tillys and TLC extend sincere gratitude to all the sponsors, individuals, and volunteers who made “Tillys Tailgate” a powerful success for our youth and their emotional wellbeing.
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About TLC
TLC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the youth mental health crisis by empowering teens with essential life and leadership skills through its transformative “I Am Me” emotional wellness curriculum. Informed by research and grounded in evidence-based frameworks such as those identified by CASEL, TLC partners with schools and community organizations to help adolescents navigate challenges such as peer pressures, anxiety, depression, bullying, substance abuse, and more. The program focuses on building emotional intelligence, resilience, and a positive mindset, while also equipping teens with healthy coping strategies. By fostering these skills, TLC empowers young people to make responsible decisions, build strong relationships, and succeed both personally and academically. Through a deep commitment to mental and emotional well-being, TLC sets youth on a path toward lifelong success, purpose, and self-worth. For more information on TLC, please visit www.tillyslifecenter.org and stay connected by following @tillyslifecenter and searching these hashtags #TillysLifeCenter #TLC.
About Tillys
Tillys is a leading destination specialty retailer of casual apparel, footwear, accessories and hardgoods for young men, young women, boys, and girls with an extensive selection of iconic global, emerging, and proprietary brands rooted in an active, outdoor, and social lifestyle. Tillys is headquartered in Irvine, California and currently operates 238 stores across 33 states, as well as its website, www.tillys.com.
Through its Round-Up-4-Change at the register campaign, Tillys provides its customers the opportunity to “round up” while completing a purchase with 100% of the proceeds going to TLC. From inception in October 2020 through April 2025, the Round-Up-4- Change Campaign has raised nearly $6.0 million for TLC. In addition, Tillys provides monthly financial and operational support to TLC, allowing it to expand the reach of its programs to more teens.
