Swing for Shelters in Honor of Boy Scout - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |

OMAHA (KPTM)- Golfers exchanged a day at the office for a chance to "Swing for Shelters."  It's a tournament in its fifth year, honoring Ben Petrozilka—who lost his life during a tornado at the Little Sioux Scout Ranch in 2008.

"It's awesome. I'm like awed that people still care," said Ben's mother, Arnell Petrozilka.

"Everybody here really buys into the cause in here because they really want to support the cause and that feels incredible," said Ben's uncle and event coordinator, John Nordmeyer.

The purpose of the tournament is to raise money for new storm shelters on camp grounds.  Some golfers as far as Denver, Colo. have traveled to show their support.

"Ultimately it's for the kids, the boy scouts and it's in honor of Ben and that's really what's most important," said Todd Schimirak, from Denver, who's been to every tournament.

Sure the golf tournament is good fun for charity.  But it's also a healing process for Ben's loved ones. 

"We do this because Ben was that important. Some people ask us sometimes, ‘how can you do this when you lost your son?' Well it was that important.  It was so important that he was here on this earth and I don't want to forget that," said Petrozilka.

"He was a giver.  And if he wasn't one of the scouts that passed away in the tornado, then he'd be front line helping somebody do something like this," said Nordmeyer.

Some fun in the sun is also used to create awareness.

"Most kids when they go camping for like a week, their parents aren't there.  So you have other people in charge making decisions about your child to keep them safe.  If there's shelters, the kids themselves will know exactly where to go to keep safe," said Petrozilka.

Even though tragedy struck Ben's family, they still enjoy a game of golf in his honor.

"This keeps him alive in regards to still doing something good," said Nordmeyer.

Doing good, one swing at a time.  100 percent of the profits made at the tournament go to new camp shelters.