Annual Golf Event Raises Over $100,000

Blue skies and a light breeze on Monday, August 13 helped tee off the 29th Annual Kennedy Golf Invitational at Crystal Tree Golf and Country Club in Orland Park. This event, hosted by the St. Coletta’s of Illinois Foundation, helped raise over $100,000 to support those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The day started with a lunch-time program that featured a parent of one of the students at the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. School. She shared a moving personal story of the progress her son has made while attending the therapeutic day program and what a difference it has made in his life as well as hers. The St. Coletta’s Choir ended the afternoon program by singing “Love Can Build a Bridge” and “God Bless America.” With joy and pride in their voices, the choir left their mark on the hearts of all who attended.

This annual event, which started in 1989, has grown in support from a small group of golfers wanting to make a difference, to 120 golfers dedicated to helping make St. Coletta’s mission happen.

Once on the course, golfers had two chances to snag a new car if they landed a hole-in-one which were sponsored by Shirey Cadillac and Kowalis Auto Group. Golfers tried to win a 2018 Lexus RX350L at Hole 10 or a 2019 XT5 Cadillac at Hole 15. New to Hole 12 for 2018 was “Beat the Nun.” Sr. Maryann Dosen, ssfcr, known as the “original” Beat the Nun, was delighted to use her golf skills to help raise money for St. Coletta’s. Golfers who participated were also entered into a raffle to win a custom Bettinardi putter. Throughout the event, golfers also competed in a tournament for a chance to win one of three flights: CDGA, Peoria and CDGA Women’s Division.

Raffle tickets were sold for a chance to win the Lexus Champions for Charity Raffle for a 3-day experience at Pebble Beach, December 5-9th, 2018. Raffle winners, Pam and Peter Glanvill will have the opportunity to compete in a 54-hole event at Pebble Beach Golf Links, The Links at Spanish Bay and at Spyglass Hill Golf Course while representing St. Coletta’s. A $100,000 charity purse will be divided between the first through tenth place net finishers’ charities and first through fifth place gross finishers’ charities.

Winners on the course that day included:

John Rodney, Mel Rodney, James Rodney and Mark Dodson for the Men’s CDGA Division; Marilyn Nero, Pam Glanvill, Terry Ready, and Wanda O’Hara for the Women’s Division; Bill Waddell, Joe Waddell, Bob Standring and Peter Doyle for the Peoria Division. Tom Kiley claimed the Bettinardi putter as the winner of the “Beat the Nun” Raffle.

St. Coletta’s of Illinois Foundation is very grateful for the leadership of the Golf Committee. The 2018 Golf Committee consists of Chairman Bill Rybak, Lizzy Coghill, Jeff Kowalis, Dave Langevin, Kathy Langevin, Dan Michalak, Marilyn Nero, Andrea Ramirez-Justin, Tom Shirey and Ed Wood. Major Event Sponsors included Shirey Cadillac and Lexus of Orland, CIBC, Invesco, Currie Motors, Grant Thornton, Paul Lang, and Chuck and JoAnn Shomo.

For additional information regarding St. Coletta’s of Illinois and its programs, please contact Annette Skafgaard at 708-342-5200. To learn more about the Foundation, contact Carrie Seida at 708-342-5246.

Sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Coletta’s of Illinois, Inc. is a non-profit organization, providing services for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the areas of residential care, educational programs, medical care, vocational services, religious and pastoral care, and specialized facilities.

Pictured: A caddy from Crystal Tree and Sister Mary Ann Dose, ssfcr (far right) poses with Reverend Don Borling of All Saints in Orland Park, Peggy Sullivan, Doug Klang and Kathy Klang at the 29th Annual Kennedy Golf Invitational. The Kennedy Invitational went on to raise over $100,000 to support the programs and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities at St. Coletta's of Illinois.