4-day fundraiser, karaoke planned for Addison boy, 10, killed in crash
Friends and family of a 10-year-old Addison boy killed last month when the minivan he was riding in plunged into a detention pond off Interstate 90 have planned a four-day fundraiser starting Friday.
The fundraiser, which runs through Sunday and continues Friday, April 12, is for the family of Cameron V. Simmons, who was a fourth-grade student at Black Hawk Elementary School. It will be held at the Downers Sand Club Sports Bar and Grill, 1211 Butterfield Road, Suite B, Downers Grove, where his grandmother is a karaoke DJ.
"We wanted to do something that's going to give his family 100 percent (of the money raised)," said Jen Drews, who is friends with Cameron's grandmother, Susanne Trudeau. "We wanted to do something that could have everyone come out and show their support."
Drews, of Romeoville, is a bartender at the club and her daughter was friends with Cameron. Drews said the family has medical bills and funeral expenses for Cameron, who was buried in a special casket with the Air Jordan logo on it because of his love for Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
The fundraiser kicks off with karaoke from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and the $10 fee will go toward the fundraiser - Drews said it's normally free to sing on Fridays. Four DJs on two stages will encourage people to challenge others to sing a song and if the person declines, he or she must match the dollar amount of the challenge.
"You can challenge anybody to sing anything," Drews said. "If somebody challenges you to sing a song for $50, that song raised $100 because you have to match the donation. This is for Cameron and his family."
Saturday will include free bingo from 3 to 6 p.m., a "sip and shop" event from 4 to 7 p.m. and a DJ and live music featuring five artists. The cover charge is $10.
Sunday is kids karaoke from 3 to 6 p.m. The cost is $5 per kid, but adults are free. The afternoon also will have face-painting, "Bozo Buckets," and adult karaoke from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Like Friday, entry is $10 per adult and there will be song challenges.
Finally, at 7 p.m. April 12, the bar will host a volleyball tournament, along with karaoke and a raffle.
On all four days, 10 percent of food and beverage sales will be donated to Cameron's family.
For more information, call (708) 497-9689.
The crash that killed Cameron occurred March 17 at the I-90 and Route 47 interchange near Huntley. Illinois State Police Trooper Duane Chappell, the agency spokesman, said the investigation is ongoing and no citations have been issued.