Golf outing helps Lisle students

Golf outings offer fun with friends, time to court clients and opportunities to reward employees.

Some even raise money for a worthy cause.

With so many to choose from, finding one that combines all of the above and benefits a child's education is a winning combination.

The 15th annual Lisle Educational Foundation Golf Outing is just that type of occasion. All proceeds will enhance educational programs for students and staff in Lisle Unit District 202.

For a single fee of $150, participants are guaranteed a great afternoon with 18 holes of golf, cart, camaraderie, refreshments, buffet dinner, games of chance and prizes.

Registration is between 12:30 and 1:15 p.m. Thursday with a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. at Seven Bridges Golf Club on Route 53 in Woodridge.

"People have given us feedback in the past that our golf outing is one of the better ones around," said Lisle resident Dennis Webb, a foundation board member. "We will also have some challenges such as the closest to the pin, the longest putt, longest drive for a man and a woman throughout the course."

"Seven Bridges Golf Club continues to be one of the best public courses in Chicago and is ranked by Golf Digest with a 4-star award," said Cory Ferrell, the club's PGA head pro. "It will challenge you mentally and physically. Most of the holes offer plenty of room off the tee, but the Dick Nugent design requires precise shot-making."

Thought-provoking and challenging also can describe the innovative programs the foundation sponsors throughout the school year with the proceeds from the event.

"The Foundation helps promote opportunities for learning by students that might otherwise pass us by due to time constraints or other financial obligations," said Christine Messina, director of curriculum for the school district. Messina will begin a term as foundation president in September. She will replace Leslie Powers, who will retire after 20 years at the helm.

Powers, who is chairwoman of the golf outing, was elected the organization's first president when it began in 1987.

"Educators, interested parents and business people are the core of the foundation," Powers said. "The goal has been always to enhance the learning experiences for students."

Members on the foundation today are: Pam Ahlmann, Kari Altpeter, Carolyn Bowman, Marilyn Buchholz, Norman Canfield Jr., Michael Costin, Keith Filipiak, Keith Krestan, Peter Lueck, Jane McGrath, Messina, Powers, Jim Renn, Webb and Eric Williams.

As a Lisle businessman and CFO at the Lisle Savings Bank, Renn is an active community participant and the newest committee member.

"Since the education of our children is so critical to the future of our community, our state and our country, how could you not want to assist our local school district?" Renn said.

Educators in the district who wish to add a special program, schedule a speaker, plan a field trip and enrich the educational experience of their students may apply for a grant. Each month, board members review and consider grant applications.

"The board wants to know in the application how many students it will impact, is it recurring, do teachers need special training and how will the program be publicized," Powers said. "We approve about 99 percent of what comes in. We typically do not support things that have other groups that help such as athletics that has the booster club although we may partner with them."

The board looks for programs that have the potential to make a lasting impression on students.

"When you see the kids get so excited about a program, you think back to when you were in school yourself," Powers said. "There is always something that stands out, when someone came in to give a talk or you saw a special movie."

The foundation in the past has funded national speakers such as Jim Trelease to inform teachers and parents about the importance of reading aloud to students; Timothy Coffman, a noted trombonist to hold jazz workshops; and John Morello to perform "I Am Dirt."

New this year was Challenge Day for 300 high school and eighth-grade students.

"Challenge day was a huge success," Powers said of the three-day event. "It challenged students to stop and think how they treat others. We brought in people to run the program with the help of teachers and volunteers."

Other programs through the years have included an Artist in Residence program, outdoor education and many fine arts programs.

This year, Scheisher Elementary School's gifted program saw a presentation using Legos to study mathematical concepts and in the past they studied opera, which ended with students participating in an opera with costumes and wigs before the whole school.

In the high school art program, students participated in clay art and a raku firing. Fourth-grade students were part of the Kids Design Engineering program at the DuPage Children's Museum to study pneumatic power. Each was challenged to craft an invention to go further than two feet either by land, sea or air.

"Teachers appreciate the funding to allow them to provide opportunities for their students they might not otherwise be able to do," Messina said.

Donations to the foundation are welcomed. School families are asked for a donation in their registration process each fall. To register for the golf outing, make a donation or donate a raffle prize, call Buchholz at (630) 493-8212.

"It is important that we provide it for the children," Powers said. "I am really proud that we have affected so many kids in so many different ways."