Schaumburg golf event funds recreation scholarships, park improvements
Links Technology, an IT support services company in Schaumburg, has served as the title sponsor of the Schaumburg Park Foundation golf outing for nine years, and its chief operating officer says the reason is simple.
"My family has lived in Schaumburg for more than 40 years," says Jim Burke, whose father, Brian, founded the company in 1999.
"My sister and I grew up doing things with the park district," Jim Burke adds. "This is a tightknit community. This is our chance to do something for the greater good."
In fact, the Links Technology Cup golf outing is the largest fundraiser for the Schaumburg Park Foundation. Its 9th annual outing drew a near record turnout, with 160 golfers descending on the Schaumburg Golf Club.
Additional sponsors included Schaumburg Bank & Trust, W-T Engineering in Hoffman Estates, Thermos Company, Chandler's Chophouse and the Daily Herald.
Players included local business people, as well as community partners and members of one of the women's leagues from the club.
They found more than golf out on the course. Each tee featured a different specialty from local restaurants, ranging from chicken fingers from the Village Tavern in Schaumburg to pizza from Moretti's and frozen custard from Culver's, to name a few.
Brian Biescke, chairman of the Schaumburg Park Foundation, said the outing typically nets $30,000. Those funds will go toward providing recreational scholarships as well as a foundation donation to the Schaumburg Park District's latest project, Bison's Bluff, a children's play area set in one area of the Spring Valley Nature Center.
An enlarged rendering of the new facility was on display at the outing. The play area is designed as a nature playground, with climbing features leading up to a playhouse, a shallow stream with large stones and logs, an artistic area for natural creations and a music area featuring natural sounds.
"Last month we presented a check for $230,000 to the park district toward that project," Biescke said. "We wouldn't be able to do that without our corporate partners. They're the reason we're so successful. They drive our success."
Last year, the foundation gave more than $15,000 in scholarships to needy families, to help afford park memberships and programming, and Tony LaFrenere, executive director of the Schaumburg Park District, said the need for scholarships is greater than ever.
"The number of needy families in the Schaumburg area is up greatly over the last 10 years," LaFrenere said, "and that's not immediately obvious when you drive down Schaumburg Road."
He added that his park district staff works with Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 teachers and counselors to identify these families and make recreational programming accessible.
"That's one of the missions of our foundation board, to get local corporations involved in the community," LaFrenere added, "Our park programs are only half-funded by property taxes. We rely on memberships and fees, but the corporate partnerships help us make up the difference."