Golfers can support programs that assist homeless teens

Headquartered in Park Ridge, The Harbour is licensed as a Child Welfare Agency, and provides assistance to teens facing homelessness in the suburban Chicago area.

"Fore! The Harbour" will take place at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 31, at The Grove Country Club. It's the second of what's planned to become an annual fundraiser for The Harbour.

Participants will enjoy a day of golf with The Harbour at the private golf course in Long Grove. "Fore! The Harbour" is a shotgun scramble outing, and all funds raised will benefit The Harbour's emergency and transitional housing programs and supportive services to homeless youth in the North and Northwest suburbs.

The $200 entry fee includes a day of golf, lunch, goody bags and awards reception. Hole contests, including Beat the Pro, Bubba's Drive, Closest to the Pin and Longest Putt; will be available throughout the course.

Foursomes and individuals can purchase tickets by calling (847) 297-8540 or visiting www.theharbour.org. Sponsorship information is also available at the website.

The Grove Country Club is at 3217 Stayton Lane, Long Grove.

"Getting to play on a private golf course is the cherry on top of an already great golf outing," said Rosie Paparella, Harbour development coordinator. "Golfers of all levels will have a great time playing in Fore! The Harbour. All sorts of games and activities will entertain everyone all day long."

Here's what else Paparella had to say about the event:

Q: Can you give us a general overview of what The Harbour does?

A: The Harbour provides emergency shelter and transitional housing to homeless youth in the North and Northwest suburbs of Chicago.

Q: How long has The Harbour been active? How was the organization founded?

A: On a cold December night in 1968, a teenage girl was locked out of her Wilmette family home after she disclosed to a school social worker that her father had sexually abused her. Although she wasn't guilty of a crime, police took her to a detention center for juvenile offenders. Local citizens were outraged that this young girl could be victimized twice - once by her own father, and once by the system that should have protected her. To provide a safe alternative for youth in crisis, The Harbour was incorporated in 1971 and began providing emergency shelter in 1975.

Q: How does your charity help people?

A: We provide emergency shelter and transitional housing to homeless youth throughout the Chicago suburbs. We offer three programs to youth: emergency shelter for immediate refuge while trying to reconcile whatever the problem is at home; transitional housing to help homeless youth get on their feet, this includes life skills training, starting a savings account and finding apartments; and a pregnant and parenting program that helps young mothers find stable housing, provide for their children and learn how to build strong, positive relationships.

For more information on each program, visit theharbour.org/programs.html.

Q: Tell us the story of someone who was helped by The Harbour.

A: (Names and minor details changed to protect clients' privacy) As far back as Alayna's memories go, she remembers her father entering her room night after night to sexually abuse her. Alayna and her family had moved to the United States only recently, and she knew little English. Isolated and traumatized in a foreign country, Alayna ran away from her family and turned to Evanston Hospital to cope with her suicidal thoughts.

Even after leaving the hospital and coming to our Emergency Shelter, Alayna's emotional scars were still raw. Night terrors haunted her regularly, and she desperately wanted to reconcile with her family despite the trauma they had caused. With an ultimatum from her mother - to drop all charges she made against her father in order to come home - Alayna decided to move into The Harbour's transitional housing.

In transitional housing, Alayna participated in vocational training through a collaborating agency and was placed in an administrative position at a local health clinic. Today, she is living independently and has a promising career ahead of her. Although her past will always be part of her, it no longer threatens her safety or future success.

Q What was the golf event like last year?

A: Last year was the first annual Harbour golf outing. It was a smaller outing with 10 foursomes and was held at the Grove Country Club in Long Grove. We were able to raise just under $10,000. For our first golf outing, it was a successful event.

Q: What do you see as the draw of the event?

A: Our outing is on a private course; if you want to play at The Grove you need to be a member, so playing in our outing is a good way to see this beautiful course. We want everyone to leave with something, goody bags, raffles and trophies are all at our event. And the top foursome will get commemorated on the Leverone Cup (our tournament trophy).

Q: Is there anything new or different about this year's event compared to last year's?

A: We have a few more on-course games and more sponsors this year. Goody bags will be added to this year's event as well.

Q: How many people attended last year?

A: We had approximately 50 lunch guests and golfers.

Q: How many people do you expect this year and how much are you expecting to raise?

A: We would like at least one sponsor on each hole, 18 foursomes and would like to raise $15,000

Q: How can people who are unable to attend the event help out?

A: Donations are always accepted and volunteer opportunities are available throughout the year as well.

Q: How much of your charity's fundraising comes from this event? What are your other major events?

A: We have three major fundraising events throughout the year - spring benefit (held in April, the biggest fundraiser we host), a luncheon in the fall and this golf outing. The golf outing is the smallest contributor fundraising-wise but it is also the newest fundraising event we host.