McTigue Financial Group tees off to raise funds for childhood cancer research

Pediatric cancer research will receive a boost after golfers hit the links and chipped in to raise awareness of the need for funding. Close to 100 golfers turned out for the inaugural McTigue Financial Group Client Appreciation and Invitational Golf Tournament at LaGrange Country Club, helping raise nearly $35,000 for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.

"We are grateful to all who have joined us in supporting childhood cancer researchers to find new treatments and cures for childhood cancers," said John W. McTigue, Managing Partner of Northwestern Mutual's McTigue Financial Group in Rosemont. Cancer is the number one disease killer of children, yet less than 5% of the National Cancer Institute's research budget is dedicated to childhood cancers.

The group of golfers, volunteers and sponsors were greeted by a special guest, Jay Scott, co-executive director of ALSF. When his daughter Alexandra "Alex" Scott decided to hold a lemonade stand to help doctors find new treatments and ultimately cures for all childhood cancers, Jay, and his wife Liz supported Alex's mission every step of the way. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of supporters across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation has raised more than $100 million toward fulfilling Alex's dream of finding a cure, funding over 500 pediatric cancer research projects nationally.

Northwestern Mutual launched its Childhood Cancer Program in 2012 to accelerate the search for cures to childhood cancers and to provide support to families battling the disease. Northwestern Mutual is committed to working with nonprofit partners such as ALSF. To date, Northwestern Mutual and its network have raised more than $8 million for the cause and helped to fund 65,000 hours of research to help discover life-saving treatments for kids. Northwestern Mutual is also committed to helping ease the financial and emotional impacts of childhood cancer on families and children.

So far this year, The McTigue Financial Group has raised more than $115,000 for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, by hosting lemonade stands in the community, participating in races, attending special events and engaging its staff and representatives in fun office fundraising events.

The firm also secured sponsors for the golf event, including Fidelity Investments, Russell Investments, MFS Investment Management, Single Path LLC, Pat Schmidt, American Century, Chris Sangalis, Corporate Concepts, Pimco, One North Kitchen and Bar, and Financial Advisors Tom Canale, Bill Shean, Steve Braun, John Roland, Ben Voigt and Dan Gould to support the cause.

Every $50 raised funds one hour of research.