Fundraiser honors Buffalo Grove HS teen killed in crash
A 16-year-old Arlington Heights resident whose life was tragically cut short two years ago will be remembered Friday at a fundraiser for the memorial fund named in his honor.
The first of what organizers believe will be an annual event, the Corey Diamond Memorial Fund FUNdraiser will be held from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Friday at Arlington Bowling Lanes, 3435 N. Kennicott Ave., Arlington Heights.
The event includes dinner, dessert, open bowling, Baggo and other games, raffles and prizes. Tickets are $35 per person.
Corey Diamond was killed July 23, 2006 when the car he was riding in was struck by a U-Haul truck being pursued by police in Buffalo Grove. He had just completed his sophomore year at Buffalo Grove High School.
In the intervening two years Corey's parents, Ed and Melanie Diamond of Arlington Heights, have set up the memorial fund to help support some of Corey's favorite music, arts and community service programs.
"Corey used to bowl a lot when he was in junior high and we even held his Bar Mitzvah party at Arlington Lanes, so we decided to hold this fundraiser there," explained Ed Diamond. "They have 40 lanes and should be able to accommodate a lot of people. We are expecting between 150 and 200 to come."
The Corey Diamond Memorial Fund was established with funds sent in lieu of flowers at the time of Corey's funeral. Since that time the formal papers have been filed and the fund established.
The initial funds collected bought band instruments for the local middle school, intended for students who cannot afford to purchase or rent them. Some of the money also supported Boy Scout Troop 140's work with a Waukegan soup kitchen.
"I hope that Corey would be happy with what we have been doing because everything we are funding were his favorite projects," his father said.
Corey was a top tier trumpet player at Buffalo Grove High School and planned to pursue a career in music. And the Boy Scout troop the fund has helped is the one through which Corey achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at the age of 14. Based at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Buffalo Grove, the troop still benefits from Ed Diamond's participation and leadership.
Now it is time, according to Diamond, to replenish the fund and continue its good works in Corey's name.
Diamond hopes that in the future, in addition to supporting the programs they have supported in the past, the Corey Diamond Memorial Fund can provide money for various environmental programs at Buffalo Creek, the park in the Lake County Forest Preserve District and Buffalo Grove Park District where Corey did his Boy Scout Eagle project and liked to fish with his father.
People interested in Friday's fund-raiser are asked to register. Forms can be downloaded at www.coreydiamondmemorialfund.org. But registration will even be accepted at the door.