Chicago-area golfers helped raise more than $110,000 for One Hope United

LAKE VILLA, Ill. (Sept. 17, 2010)—Just two weeks before the 20^th year of its charity golf outing, One Hope United feared the worse. Only half the number of participants from past years had registered.

“We couldn’t lose hope because that is what we are all about,” said Joyce Heneberry, senior vice president of development for One Hope United. “We sent out e-mails, made calls and heavily relied on our volunteers to recruit participants.”

And it worked. One Hope United, a nonprofit human service organization, attracted 235 golfers on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010, taking up two golf courses. Golfers hit the links at both Bonnie Brook Golf Course in Waukegan and Shepherd’s Crook Golf Course in Zion for 18 holes of golf. The day also included lunch and a dinner program at Bonnie Brook.

Participants at Bonnie Brook also got a big surprise, in the form of an almost seven-foot tall Chicago Bulls’ star when Joakim Noah made an appearance in the late afternoon. Noah drove around in a golf cart high-fiving the participants before he sat down to have a serious chat with clients of One Hope United’s CARE Residential Treatment Program.

Many of boys in the CARE program are involved in the legal system, struggle to fit in with their peers and have trouble with authority figures. Many are dealing with significant family changes such as divorce or death of a parent and cannot manage their emotions or behaviors without significant support. One Hope United offers structure and supervision to these youth in a safe, nurturing environment that focuses on developing life skills and relationships. The goal for each youth is to return to a family setting, whether it is with their own family or a foster family.

Noah putted around the green, posed graciously for pictures and even sat down for a private mentoring conversation with teen boys from the CARE Program. Before Noah left, he signed photos, a basketball and a jersey to be auctioned off during the dinner program.

The Chicago Bulls’ jersey signed by Joakim Noah was auctioned off for $500 and the signed basketball for $550. The most honest golfer at each table received a signed Noah photo.

After adding up registration fees and funds raised during live and silent auctions, the event raised more than $110,000, which is $15,000 more than the golf outing has brought in during its 20 years.

What really took the cake was the live auction from One Hope United’s youngest volunteer, Abby Bergl, 5. Her custom baked golf ball cake and painted ceramic platter were auctioned off for $900. This was the second time Bergl’s custom baked goods have raised money for the nonprofit agency. In fall of 2009, her cupcakes sold for $2,000 at One Hope United’s annual fashion show event.

Pictured: Abby Bergl, Auctioneer Jim Miller and OHU Intern Ashley Anderson.

All profits from the golf outing, including silent and live auction funds, benefit the nonprofit programs of One Hope United.