Bag a prize at tournament to help youth have fun

The bags tournaments are fundraisers for the Elgin Youth Scholarship Program. Elgin families who cannot otherwise afford for their children to be involved in recreation programs are given vouchers to do so with these funds.

The city of Elgin and the Elgin Jaycees are hosting a series of these contests at Asian Fest and Fiesta Salsa, sponsored by the Elgin Public House and Elgin Community Network.

Come out and have fun playing against your neighbors or buddies, maybe win a prize and help raise funds for kids. The Elgin Public House has provided financial sponsorship for the tournaments.

The bags tournaments will be held at the following upcoming city festivals:

• Asian Fest: 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at Festival Park in Elgin on South Grove Avenue

• Fiesta Salsa: 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 13, at Festival Park.

The cost to compete in these tournaments at Festival Park is $3 for 12 throws. Scores are cumulative and contestants may play as many times as they wish. Scores will be tallied, and the three highest scores at the end of the tournament will win prizes.

All of the proceeds will benefit the Elgin Youth Scholarship Program, which helps underprivileged children pay for participating in the Elgin Parks and Recreation Department's various programs.

Additional sponsors who have donated gift certificates to be awarded to the winners of the tournaments are: Douglas Street Sports Bar and Grill, Martini Room, Mad Maggie's, Al's Café & Creamery, The Centre of Elgin, The Hemmens Cultural Center and The Highlands of Elgin.

For the past 89 years, Jaycees have been a force for good in America and around the world. Jaycees helped establish Airmail services and have raised millions of dollars for causes such as the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life, Muscular Dystrophy Association and March of Dimes.

The Jaycees have built parks, playgrounds, hospitals, run community festivals, donated monies to local charities and conducted support programs in our local communities. Notable Jaycees include past U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and Gerald Ford and sports legend Larry Bird.

On Aug. 20, John Felton, Elgin Jaycees president, said, "There are many reasons people join the Jaycees. Some join for the networking opportunity because we are a worldwide organization existing in 115 countries. Some join to make new friends, serve their community, and challenge themselves by learning how to organize projects or to learn valuable leadership skills.

"The Jaycees (Junior Area Chamber of Commerce) is a leadership development organization existing to teach leadership skills to individuals age 18 to 41 through volunteering in the community."

For information on the Illinois Jaycees or the Elgin Jaycees chapter, contact (847) 230-4496, e-mail President@ElginJaycees.org, or visit www.elginjaycees.org.