Little City raises $262,000 at golf invitational
The 56th Annual Little City Invitational raised more than $262,000 Monday as roughly 170 golfers came to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities on a beautiful day at Twin Orchard Country Club in Long Grove.
Funds raised at the Monday event will go to support programs across Little City and vital training courses for the staff who care for and support those served at the agency. Little City Executive Director Shawn Jeffers said the impact of the long running event has only grown over the years and was especially memorable this year as Little City celebrates its 60th anniversary.
"In many ways the Little City Invitational was the first big event that helped Little City gain the public awareness and support that has helped it grow into what it is today," Jeffers said. "To see the event so strong and people coming together to celebrate our past and support our future was truly inspiring."
This year's event honored Gary Shutan with the Morrie Kellman Humanitarian Award for his efforts both personally and corporately to better our community through volunteerism and philanthropy. Shutan, a partner at Wipfli LLP., has continued to foster the long relationship between Wipfli and Little City through his incredible donations and ability to engage his employees in valuable volunteer work.
"We all know how special of a place Little City is," Shutan said. "I am just honored to be here and receive this award. It's been such a great relationship and I hope to continue giving as much as I can to support this very important mission."
Shutan's giving spirit was matched by attendees at the event as donors not only gave generously during the live and silent auctions but also during the Fund-A-Need, which brought in $16,200 for much needed technology to improve Little City's staff training programs. The new computers and software will help Little City reach all its employees with the vital training they need to continue delivering care and support at the highest level for the people they serve.
Little City serves more than 1,200 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Cook County in programs including residential, recreational, educational, employment services and foster care and adoption placements.
Little City wants to thank everyone who made the Invitational another memorable event.
A special thank you to our sponsors: Birdie Sponsors: Wipfli LLP, Trivest; Par Sponsors: Abt, J.C. Anderson, Barbara Bradford & Bob Sherman, CIBC, Chicago Blackhawks Foundation, Dentons, Friends of Kevin Desmond, Dussias Wittenberg Koenigsberger LLP, Jack George, Alec K. and Viena P. Gianaras Foundation, Ed & Andrea Hockfield, Hockfield, Keystone Capital, McHugh Construction, Mesirow Financial, RSM, Ethel & Joel Sharenow, Sysco Chicago, TTSG, William Blair & Co., Wintrust, The Hal Wolken Family & Sonic Drive-In's; Golf Hat Sponsor: CIBC; Golf Ball Sponsor: Wipfli LLP; Locker Room Sponsor: Dentons