Kiwanis Club of Elgin wins Literacy Connection's 21st annual Trivia Bee
The Kiwanis Club of Elgin was crowned champions at The Literacy Connection's Trivia Bee, giving the team three wins in a row at the annual contest.
Twenty-one teams competed on Saturday, April 28, in the 21st annual fundraiser at the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin.
The Kiwanis Club of Elgin (Elgin Noon Kiwanis) team - John Steffen, Glenn Fermoyle, Deb Stowell and Tom Cotter - took first place by a one-point margin.
Second-place went to "Educated Fleas," with Timothy Anderson, William Demaree, Ryan Kerr and Dennis Lynch. The third-place team was Community Crisis Center, including longtime competitors Anna Whitmer, Chuck Whitmer, Ryan Baechler, and Tim Stauffer.
Winning team members received individual trophies and gift cards. Also competing were: Team ECCFA, High Hopes, Team Christenson, Friends of the Algonquin Library, Densa, Eye-Q, and St. Charles Shamrocks.
More than 60 spectators attended.
Stew Cohen, news director for WZSR Star 105.5 and SFXF 103.9 radio stations, was the master of ceremonies and questions.
Cohen read the trivia questions in three increasingly difficult rounds of competition.
The fundraiser included raffle drawings and more than 40 gift basket raffle items.
The grand prize winners were Roberto Gomez, who won Cubs tickets; Tim Stauffer, who won two tickets to "Hamilton"; Patty Pearsall who won Cubs in Milwaukee tickets and a hotel certificate; and Marsha Callahan who won $250 cash.
Prizes were donated by businesses, organizations, community members, board members, volunteers, and staff of The Literacy Connection.
A Fund-A-Need campaign raised $388 for a computer for the nonprofit agency. Donations are being accepted on the agency website, www.elginliteracy.org/how-to-help/fund-a-need.
"We hope to have raised close to $20,000," said Christine Awe, Trivia Bee chairwoman for The Literacy Connection. "The money raised by team participation and raffles supports the adult volunteer literacy program, which helps adults with low literacy or limited English to improve their skills and improve their lives. The agency thanks the many local businesses, organizations, and individuals who supported this event."
The Literacy Connection encourages businesses and organizations in the community to begin forming teams for next year's competition.
The Literacy Connection serves 16 northwest suburban Chicago communities including Algonquin, Bartlett, Carpentersville, Cary, Elgin, South Elgin, East Dundee, West Dundee, Gilberts, Hanover Park, Hampshire, Hoffman Estates, Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Streamwood, and Schaumburg.
The agency provides customized one-on-one adult tutoring, English conversation groups, and family literacy programs.
To learn more, visit www.elginliteracy.org, email info@elginliteracy.org, or call (847) 742-6565. Follow www.facebook.com/literacyconnection.
Why donate to The Literacy Connection?
When considering a donation to The Literacy Connection, remember your gift can help an adult learner get a job, earn a sustainable income, and climb out of poverty.
• 68 percent of The Literacy Connection's learners are working, yet 59 percent are at or below the poverty line.
• Of adults with the lowest literacy levels, 43 percent live in poverty.
• 70 percent of welfare recipients have low literacy levels.
• Low literacy costs the U.S. at least $225 billion each year in non-productivity in the workforce, crime, and loss of tax revenue due to unemployment.