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“Strikes for NSSRA” bowl-a-thon raises $42,000+
Northwestern University Wildcats basketball player Drew Crawford (from left), Naperville with NSSRA participant Matt La Chapelle of Wilmette and NU Wildcat basketball player Alex Marcotullio of Warren, MI | Photography with Heart
Strikes for NSSRA bowl-a-thon
BENEFITING: NSSRA programs
DATE: July 22
LOCATION: Brunswick Zone, Deerfield
ATTENDED: 120+
RAISED: $42,000+
Article Extras
Updated: October 1, 2012 6:03AM
NSSRF, the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Foundation supporting NSSRA, the local organization which provides and facilitates year-round recreation programs and services for children and adults with disabilities living in its partner communities, hosted its first bowling tournament fundraiser, “Strikes for NSSRA” on July 22 at Brunswick Zone in Deerfield.
The lanes were hopping with over 120 people in attendance including “celebrity bowlers” from the Northwestern University’s Wildcat Basketball Team and two firefighters from the Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District. Bowlers of all ages and abilities decked in special “Strikes” t-shirts created for the day enjoyed lunch, a silent auction and an award ceremony and the fun of friends and family gathered together in support of a great cause. Ron Lobert, a generous NSSRF supporter was the high scorer of the day and NSSRA staff member Katie Bonifazi scored the most strikes.
“What a wonderful way to come together as a family -- our NSSRA family,” said Craig Culp, Executive Director, NSSRA. “Participants, their family members, NSSRA staff, friends and supporters came out and had a great time together. Thanks to everyone’s amazing efforts, NSSRA will be able to accomplish so much more on behalf of its most deserving participants.”
Mishika Narula, a soon-to-be junior at Highland Park High School, was the event’s top fundraiser, raising a whopping $20,000 in support of NSSRA’s efforts. Narula was recently recognized as NSSRA’s “Friend of the Year” at NSSRA’s Shining Stars awards banquet in May of 2012, having previously donated $2,000 of her proceeds from her “Power of Pops” cake pops charity (www.powerofpops.com). Inspired by her cousin with disabilities back in India and her family which holds giving back to community in very high regard, Mishika applied her energy, entrepreneurial spirit and love of baking and had turned it into an impressive donation to NSSRA through the sale of her self-made cake pops. Mishika has also volunteered her time at NSSRA.
“We were already most impressed by Mishika and her work supporting NSSRA through her “Power of Pops” cake pop charity and her volunteerism. Now, we are truly blown away,” said Rick La Chapelle President of the Board of Trustees of the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Foundation (NSSRF). “All of us at the Foundation are greatly moved by Mishika and her family’s belief in our cause - recreation programs and services for children and adults with disabilities - and their generous support of NSSRA.”
NSSRA thanks all the participants and donors who contributed to the success of the event with a special note of gratitude to its generous sponsors, including Perfect Game Sponsors ($2,500 donation) the Slotnick Family, the Kavanaugh Family and Bank of America; King Pin Sponsors ($1,000 donation) Oak Wealth Advisors, the Medansky Family, Keep on Keeping on Foundation and the La Chapelle Family Foundation; Strikes and Spares Sponsors ($500 donation) Joan Golder, Gregg and Sue Hartemayer, the Senser Family, Joseph H. Goldberg Family Foundation and Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton and Taylor; and Lane Sponsors ($100) the Wilner Family, Rhoda and Alan Maslov, Herb and Bonnie Horn and Oliver Wyman.
Proceeds from Strikes for NSSRA will raise funds for an accessible van that NSSRA will use to transport participants to and from its programs.
ABOUT NSSRA: The Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA) provides and facilitates year-round recreation programs and services for children and adults with disabilities who live in its partner communities. NSSRA is an intergovernmental partnership of ten park districts, two cities and one village in the northern suburbs of Chicago. It includes intergovernmental partnerships with the Park Districts of Deerfield, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Kenilworth, Lake Bluff, Northbrook, Northfield, Wilmette, and Winnetka, the Cities of Highwood and Lake Forest, and the Village of Riverwoods. For more information, visit nssra.org.
ABOUT NSSRF -- NSSRF is the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Foundation, the supporting foundation behind NSSRA, the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association While NSSRA gratefully receives the majority of its funding from its partner agencies, NSSRF is there to bridge the financial gaps that remain. Through its fundraising efforts, NSSRF is able to provide NSSRA with financial support it needs for things like program scholarships, special events, transportation vehicles, and more. Since 1996, NSSRF has generously provided over $1 million dollars of support to further the mission of NSSRA. NSSRF received the 2011 “Excellence In Service” award from Illinois Park and Recreation’s Therapeutic Recreation Section (ITRS). For more information about NSSRA or its supporting foundation, NSSRF, visitnssra.org.
