Football legends come to Libertyville for school FUNraiser

Seven football legends including former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka will gather for a fundraiser to benefit a Catholic high school in Waukegan geared for low-income students.

Dave Casper, a National Football League Hall-of-Fame tight end who won a Super Bowl with the Oakland Raiders, once again has assembled the gridiron stalwarts for St. Martin de Porres High School. Casper owns a financial services company in Vernon Hills.

Called the Football FUNraiser, it will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7, at Mickey Finn's Brewery in Libertyville. The cost is $100 in advance or at the door.

Ditka and Casper won't be the only NFL Hall-of-Famers at the event. Dan Hampton and Ted Hendricks, defensive players who won Super Bowl games with the Bears and Raiders respectively, also will attend.

Also expected at Mickey Finn's are Emery Moorehead from the Super Bowl XX-champion Bears and University of Notre Dame stars Johnny Lattner and Gary Potempa. Lattner won the Heisman Trophy in 1953, while Potempa enjoyed a national championship with the Fighting Irish in 1973.

St. Martin, a co-educational college preparatory school, has grown steadily since opening in fall 2004. The school, which began with about 100 students from low-income households, has more than doubled.

Donors and a growing list of business partners have been an integral part of St. Martin, which draws most of its pupils from Waukegan and North Chicago. Five religious congregations and lay individuals were behind the creation of St. Martin de Porres.

Keleigh Casper, the Hall-of-Famer's daughter, said the fourth fundraiser will be a good way to network, support St. Martin de Porres and meet the football legends, but isn't meant to be an autograph session. She said the school and some students will be introduced to the crowd.

One attendee who came for last year's gathering of football stars learned about St. Martin de Porres and eventually hired a team of students to work at his business for a work-study program for the current academic year, Keleigh Casper said.

Register early as capacity will be limited for this year's fundraiser at Mickey Finn's.