Golf outing nets $30,000 for charity

It was Hawthorn Woods' first charity outing.

But it was no small haul for the village, which brought in $30,000 at a golf outing at the Hawthorn Woods Country Club on Oct. 1.

The money will go directly to fund research at the American Cancer Society, something of an adopted cause for the community.

The ACS awarded Hawthorn Woods its "Standing Community of Hope" honor after the village board passed a restrictive smoking ban on the first of this year.

"It just sort of seemed like a natural," said Hawthorn Woods Mayor Keith Hunt, who attributed the event's success to the village "having a great number of generous friends who are willing to support a very good cause."

The day included golf and silent and live auctions to raise money for cancer research.

Hunt said a donation by developer Toll Brothers made the event possible. In the 2003 original annexation agreement with the village, Toll Brothers agreed to provide free golf every year for a charity or village-related event.

"It's really because of them we were able to do this," Hunt said.

And though the golf was free, donors contributed as much as $2,500 each to make up the $30,000 total. A $2,500 donation entitled businesses or individuals to be named "major sponsors."

Donors at the major sponsor level included RA Mancini Contractors, Cambridge Bank, Kemper Sports Management, Colony Press, Freeborn and Peters, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ayoub International, The Custom Companies, Aqua Illinois, Laner Muchin Dombrow Becker Levin and Tomlinberg, Schain Burney Ross and Citron, and Peter Baker and Son.

Hunt said the recent charity event won't be the village's last. Future fundraisers could benefit scholarships, he said.

"We're just very grateful about the outpouring of support and generosity the community showed," he said.