Toby Keith's Ally House fundraiser raises $700K

"I knew we could make a difference with Ally's House, but it really is even bigger than I'd hoped," Keith said. "We've helped a ton of families...and we're proud that we have never had to turn away an Oklahoma family that needs help."

As in past years, many participants went home with some one-of-a-kind events on their calendars. The June 6-7 gathering brought 750 celebrities and guests together for golfing, music and a silent auction. Top auction items this year included dinner with Keith with 2 selling for $35,000 each. A Deadliest Catch package brought $27,500 for a chance to ride with Captain Sig and the Northwestern crew from the hit Discovery Channel crab fishing series.

Other top items include a cameo spot in an upcoming Keith music video that sold for $25,000, and tickets to a Las Vegas Keith performance with meet and greet passes, which went for $12,000. Autographed memorabilia at the auction included items from Tiger Woods, George Strait, Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, LeBron James, Carrie Underwood, Andre Agassi, Tony Stewart, Peyton Manning, Loretta Lynn, Troy Aikman, Nolan Ryan and Tom Hanks.

Attendee Steve Payne drove away in a brand new Ford Truck after winning a closest-to-the-pin contest.

All funds go directly to Ally's House, the Norman-based organization named for Allison Webb, the daughter of original Toby Keith band member Scott Webb. Ally died at age two after losing a battle with kidney cancer. "Ally fought her cancer about a year, and she wanted at least one parent with her all the time and Scott and Linda both work," Keith said, explaining the inspiration behind Ally's House. "A year is a long time juggle that kind of life and that's what happens time and again. Family needs vary from medical and pharmacy bills to rent and utility payments. They also have expenses for lodging, food, health insurance premiums or deductibles, and right now especially high fuel costs. Ally's House helps pay different bills based on what that family needs."